Florida headed to Stanley Cup playoffs, 2nd time since 2000
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) The Florida Panthers are going to the playoffs, just their second trip in the last 15 seasons.
The Panthers clinched their spot Sunday when Boston lost to Chicago. Florida has not won a playoff series since 1996, making the Stanley Cup final that year but getting knocked out in the first round in 1997, 2000 and 2012.
Florida leading scorer Jaromir Jagr is going to the postseason for the 18th time in his NHL career. It's the first trip to the playoffs for young Panthers stars like Aaron Ekblad, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck and Nick Bjugstad.
Jagr says ''there's so many doubters about our team and that's fine with us.''
The Panthers have four games left in the regular season, starting Monday in Toronto.
