2020–21 Florida Panthers season

National Hockey League team season

2020–21 Florida Panthers
Division2nd Central
2020–21 record37–14–5
Home record20–5–3
Road record17–9–2
Goals for189
Goals against153
Team information
General managerBill Zito
CoachJoel Quenneville
CaptainAleksander Barkov
Alternate captainsAaron Ekblad
Patric Hornqvist
Jonathan Huberdeau
Keith Yandle
ArenaBB&T Center
Minor league affiliate(s)Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch (AHL)[1]
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsAleksander Barkov (26)
AssistsJonathan Huberdeau (41)
PointsJonathan Huberdeau (61)
Penalty minutesRyan Lomberg (67)
Plus/minusMacKenzie Weegar (+29)
WinsSergei Bobrovsky (19)
Goals against averageChris Driedger (2.07)

The 2020–21 Florida Panthers season was the 27th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established in 1993. Head coach Joel Quenneville coached his second season with the team.[2] On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Panthers would play this season in the Central Division and would only play games against the other teams in their new division during the regular season, and potentially, the first two rounds of the playoffs.

On April 27, the Panthers clinched a playoff berth after a 7–4 win over the Nashville Predators.[3] In the first round, they met their rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs for the first time. They were eliminated with a 4-0 loss in game six on May 26, continuing the league's longest playoff series win drought.

Standings

Central Division
Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Carolina Hurricanes 56 36 12 8 27 179 136 +43 80
2 x – Florida Panthers 56 37 14 5 26 189 153 +36 79
3 x – Tampa Bay Lightning 56 36 17 3 29 181 147 +34 75
4 x – Nashville Predators 56 31 23 2 21 156 154 +2 64
5 e – Dallas Stars 56 23 19 14 17 158 154 +4 60
6 e – Chicago Blackhawks 56 24 25 7 15 161 186 −25 55
7 e – Detroit Red Wings 56 19 27 10 17 127 171 −44 48
8 e – Columbus Blue Jackets 56 18 26 12 12 137 187 −50 48
Source: National Hockey League[4]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
e – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[5]

2020–21 game log
January: 5–0–1 (Home: 2–0–0 ; Road: 3–0–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
— January 14 Dallas – Florida Postponed due to COVID protocol.[6] Rescheduled for February 22.
— January 15 Dallas – Florida Postponed due to COVID protocol. Rescheduled for May 10.
1 January 17 Chicago 2–5 Florida Driedger 4,147 1–0–0 2 [7]
2 January 19 Chicago 4–5 Florida OT Bobrovsky 3,667 2–0–0 4 [8]
— January 21 Florida – Carolina Postponed due to COVID protocol.[9] Rescheduled for February 17.
— January 23 Florida – Carolina Postponed due to COVID protocol. Rescheduled for March 7.
3 January 26 Florida 4–3 Columbus SO Bobrovsky 0 3–0–0 6 [10]
4 January 28 Florida 2–3 Columbus SO Driedger 0 3–0–1 7 [11]
5 January 30 Florida 3–2 Detroit OT Bobrovsky 0 4–0–1 9 [12]
6 January 31 Florida 3–2 Detroit Driedger 0 5–0–1 11 [13]
February: 8–4–2 (Home: 5–3–2 ; Road: 3–1–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
7 February 4 Nashville 6–5 Florida OT Bobrovsky 3,698 5–0–2 12 [14]
8 February 5 Nashville 1–2 Florida Driedger 3,977 6–0–2 14 [15]
9 February 7 Detroit 4–1 Florida Driedger 3,706 6–1–2 14 [16]
10 February 9 Detroit 1–2 Florida Bobrovsky 3,477 7–1–2 16 [17]
11 February 11 Tampa Bay 2–5 Florida Bobrovsky 3,808 8–1–2 18 [18]
12 February 13 Tampa Bay 6–1 Florida Bobrovsky 4,509 8–2–2 18 [19]
13 February 15 Florida 6–4 Tampa Bay Driedger 100 9–2–2 20 [20]
14 February 17 Florida 4–3 Carolina OT Driedger 0 10–2–2 22 [21]
15 February 19 Florida 7–2 Detroit Driedger 0 11–2–2 24 [22]
16 February 20 Florida 1–2 Detroit Bobrovsky 0 11–3–2 24 [23]
17 February 22 Dallas 1–3 Florida Driedger 3,510 12–3–2 26 [24]
18 February 24 Dallas 3–0 Florida Driedger 3,324 12–4–2 26 [25]
19 February 25 Dallas 2–3 Florida Bobrovsky 3,844 13–4–2 28 [26]
20 February 27 Carolina 4–3 Florida SO Bobrovsky 4,281 13–4–3 29 [27]
March: 10–5–1 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 6–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
21 March 1 Carolina 3–2 Florida OT Driedger 3,817 13–4–4 30 [28]
22 March 4 Florida 5–4 Nashville Bobrovsky —[a] 14–4–4 32 [29]
23 March 6 Florida 6–2 Nashville Bobrovsky —[a] 15–4–4 34 [30]
24 March 7 Florida 2–4 Carolina Driedger 2,924 15–5–4 34 [31]
25 March 9 Florida 4–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 3,448 16–5–4 36 [32]
26 March 11 Florida 5–4 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 3,739 17–5–4 38 [33]
27 March 13 Chicago 2–4 Florida Bobrovsky 4,721 18–5–4 40 [34]
28 March 15 Chicago 3–6 Florida Bobrovsky 4,512 19–5–4 42 [35]
29 March 18 Nashville 2–1 Florida Bobrovsky 4,559 19–6–4 42 [36]
30 March 20 Nashville 0–2 Florida Driedger 4,358 20–6–4 44 [37]
31 March 21 Florida 3–5 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 3,800 20–7–4 44 [38]
32 March 23 Florida 2–3 Chicago Driedger 0 20–8–4 44 [39]
33 March 25 Florida 0–3 Chicago Bobrovsky 0 20–9–4 44 [40]
34 March 27 Florida 4–3 Dallas OT Bobrovsky 4,209 21–9–4 46 [41]
35 March 28 Florida 4–1 Dallas Driedger 4,026 22–9–4 48 [42]
36 March 30 Detroit 1–4 Florida Bobrovsky 4,321 23–9–4 50 [43]
April: 10–5–1 (Home: 6–1–1 ; Road: 4–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
37 April 1 Detroit 2–3 Florida OT Driedger 4,359 24–9–4 52 [44]
38 April 3 Columbus 2–5 Florida Bobrovsky 4,375 25–9–4 54 [45]
39 April 4 Columbus 0–3 Florida Driedger 4,069 26–9–4 56 [46]
40 April 6 Florida 2–5 Carolina Bobrovsky 4,987 26–10–4 56 [47]
41 April 8 Florida 0–3 Carolina Driedger 4,987 26–11–4 56 [48]
42 April 10 Florida 1–4 Dallas Bobrovsky 4,165 26–12–4 56 [49]
43 April 13 Florida 3–2 Dallas OT Driedger 4,199 27–12–4 58 [50]
44 April 15 Florida 2–3 Tampa Bay OT Driedger 3,800 27–12–5 59 [51]
45 April 17 Florida 5–3 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 3,800 28–12–5 61 [52]
46 April 19 Columbus 2–4 Florida Bobrovsky 4,041 29–12–5 63 [53]
47 April 20 Columbus 1–5 Florida Knight 4,132 30–12–5 65 [54]
48 April 22 Carolina 4–2 Florida Bobrovsky 4,683 30–13–5 65 [55]
49 April 24 Carolina 3–4 Florida OT Driedger 4,838 31–13–5 67 [56]
50 April 26 Florida 1–4 Nashville Driedger —[a] 31–14–5 67 [57]
51 April 27 Florida 7–4 Nashville Knight —[a] 32–14–5 69 [58]
52 April 29 Florida 4–3 Chicago OT Knight 0 33–14–5 71 [59]
May: 4–0–0 (Home: 3–0–0 ; Road: 1–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
53 May 1 Florida 5–4 Chicago Bobrovsky 0 34–14–5 73 [60]
54 May 3 Dallas 4–5 Florida OT Knight 4,702 35–14–5 75 [61]
55 May 8 Tampa Bay 1–5 Florida Bobrovsky 5,040 36–14–5 77 [62]
56 May 10 Tampa Bay 0–4 Florida Driedger 5,040 37–14–5 79 [63]

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)   Postponement

Playoffs

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa Bay won 4–2
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap
1 May 16 Tampa Bay 5–4 Florida Bobrovsky 9,646 0–1 [64]
2 May 18 Tampa Bay 3–1 Florida Driedger 9,646 0–2 [65]
3 May 20 Florida 6–5 Tampa Bay OT Bobrovsky 9,508 1–2 [66]
4 May 22 Florida 2–6 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 9,762 1–3 [67]
5 May 24 Tampa Bay 1–4 Florida Knight 11,551 2–3 [68]
6 May 26 Florida 0–4 Tampa Bay Knight 10,092 2–4 [69]

Legend:   Win   Loss


Draft picks

Below are the Florida Panthers selection at the 2020 NHL Draft which was held on October 6–7 at NHL Network Studios.

Round # Player Pos Nationally College/Junior/Club team (league)
1 12 Anton Lundell (C)  Finland HIFK (Liiga)
2 43 Emil Heineman (LW)  Sweden Leksands IF (SHL)
3 74 Ty Smilanic (C)  United States U.S. NTDP (USHL)
3 87 Justin Sourdif (RW)  Canada Vancouver Giants (WHL)
4 105 Zachry Uens (D)  Canada Merrimack Warriors (H-East)
5 153 Kasper Puutio (D)  Finland Everett Slivertips (WHL)
7 198 Elliot Ekmark (C)  Sweden Linkoping J20 (SuperElit)
7 212 Devon Levi (G)  Canada Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Spectators were in attendance, but the exact number was not reported.

References

  1. ^ "Syracuse Crunch will have dual affiliation in 2021". The Post-Standard. January 6, 2021.
  2. ^ Whyno, Stephen (October 6, 2020). "NHL trageting Jan. 1 to begin next season". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "Panthers rally past Predators, clinch playoff berth". NHL.com. April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "NHL Hockey Standings". www.nhl.com. National Hockey League.
  5. ^ "2020-21 NHL schedule announced". NHL.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "NHL schedule changes; Stars open season Jan. 22 due to coronavirus". NHL.com. January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Florida Panthers - January 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  8. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Florida Panthers - January 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Hurricanes games postponed through Jan. 23 because of COVID-19". NHL.com. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  10. ^ "Florida Panthers - Columbus Blue Jackets - January 26th, 2021". NHL.com.
  11. ^ "Florida Panthers - Columbus Blue Jackets - January 28th, 2021". NHL.com.
  12. ^ "Florida Panthers - Detroit Red Wings - January 30th, 2021". NHL.com.
  13. ^ "Florida Panthers - Detroit Red Wings - January 31st, 2021". NHL.com.
  14. ^ "Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers - February 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  15. ^ "Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers - February 5th, 2021". NHL.com.
  16. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Florida Panthers - February 7th, 2021". NHL.com.
  17. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Florida Panthers - February 9th, 2021". NHL.com.
  18. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers - February 11th, 2021". NHL.com.
  19. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers - February 13th, 2021". NHL.com.
  20. ^ "Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning - February 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  21. ^ "Florida Panthers - Carolina Hurricanes - February 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  22. ^ "Florida Panthers - Detroit Red Wings - February 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  23. ^ "Florida Panthers - Detroit Red Wings - February 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  24. ^ "Dallas Stars - Florida Panthers - February 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  25. ^ "Dallas Stars - Florida Panthers - February 24th, 2021". NHL.com.
  26. ^ "Dallas Stars - Florida Panthers - February 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  27. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - February 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  28. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - March 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  29. ^ "Florida Panthers - Nashville Predators - March 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  30. ^ "Florida Panthers - Nashville Predators - March 6th, 2021". NHL.com.
  31. ^ "Florida Panthers - Carolina Hurricanes - March 7th, 2021". NHL.com.
  32. ^ "Florida Panthers - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 9th, 2021". NHL.com.
  33. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - March 11th, 2021". NHL.com.
  34. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Florida Panthers - March 13th, 2021". NHL.com.
  35. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Florida Panthers - March 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  36. ^ "Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers - March 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  37. ^ "Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers - March 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  38. ^ "Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning - March 21st, 2021". NHL.com.
  39. ^ "Florida Panthers - Chicago Blackhawks - March 23rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  40. ^ "Florida Panthers - Chicago Blackhawks - March 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  41. ^ "Florida Panthers - Dallas Stars - March 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  42. ^ "Florida Panthers - Dallas Stars - March 28th, 2021". NHL.com.
  43. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Florida Panthers - March 30th, 2021". NHL.com.
  44. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Florida Panthers - April 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  45. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Florida Panthers - April 3rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  46. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Florida Panthers - April 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  47. ^ "Florida Panthers - Carolina Hurricanes - April 6th, 2021". NHL.com.
  48. ^ "Florida Panthers - Carolina Hurricanes - April 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  49. ^ "Florida Panthers - Dallas Stars - April 10th, 2021". NHL.com.
  50. ^ "Florida Panthers - Dallas Stars - April 13th, 2021". NHL.com.
  51. ^ "Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning - April 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  52. ^ "Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning - April 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  53. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Florida Panthers - April 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  54. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Florida Panthers - April 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  55. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - April 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  56. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - April 24th, 2021". NHL.com.
  57. ^ "Florida Panthers - Nashville Predators - April 26th, 2021". NHL.com.
  58. ^ "Florida Panthers - Nashville Predators - April 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  59. ^ "Florida Panthers - Chicago Blackhawks - April 29th, 2021". NHL.com.
  60. ^ "Florida Panthers - Chicago Blackhawks - May 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  61. ^ "Dallas Stars - Florida Panthers - May 3rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  62. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers - May 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  63. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers - May 10th, 2021". NHL.com.
  64. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers - May 16th, 2021". NHL.com.
  65. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers - May 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  66. ^ "Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning - May 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  67. ^ "Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning - May 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  68. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers - May 24th, 2021". NHL.com.
  69. ^ "Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning - May 26th, 2021". NHL.com.
  • v
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Franchise
History
Personnel
Owner(s)
Sunrise Sports and Entertainment (Vincent Viola, chairman)
General manager
Bill Zito
Head coach
Paul Maurice
Team captain
Aleksander Barkov
Current roster
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