For the Florida Panthers, it sure seems like it right now. Winners in six of their last seven games, the defending Stanley Cup champions will look to keep on rolling when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Sitting at 18-13-2, a win would put the Panthers back in a playoff spot.

Entering Week 16 at 7-7, the Panthers can only punch their ticket to the postseason by way of a division title. The same goes for their upcoming opponent in the 7-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom they currently sit side-by-side atop the NFC South.

The Carolina Panthers will almost certainly be picking around the middle of the first-round. If they make the playoffs, they're probably going to pick 19th. If

The NHL trade window is closed with the arrival of the holiday roster freeze. Let's look at the best deals since 2000.

The Panthers have not fared well against the Buccaneers of late. Since 2020, Tampa Bay is 9-1 against Carolina, including wins in their last five. That said, Tampa Bay is just 1-5 in their last 6 games after starting the season 6-2. Since Week 10, the Bucs' defense ranks T-29th in pts/game allowed (29.3) and 30th in yds/game allowed (384.0).

It’s down to the nitty gritty when it comes to the 2025 NFL postseason. The hard-to-figure Panthers have a chance to win their first division title since 2015.

The Panthers faced early adversity and were last in the Eastern Conference as recently as Dec. 3. But now they’re 6-1-1 in their past eight games and one point behind the New Jersey Devils, who hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the East.

Tampa Bay blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in a 29-28 "Thursday Night Football" loss to Atlanta last week, with a leaky defense, a Baker Mayfield interception and an ineffective running game all playing roles. Coach Todd Bowles unloaded on his team in an uncharacteristic, explicit post-game tirade.

In the last few weeks, Carolina Panthers star receiver Tetairoa McMillan has faded a bit. He's scored two touchdowns in the last three weeks, but he hasn't had