Panthers' Rowe: 'We knew we were going to be in a playoff position'

Never any doubt.

So says Florida Panthers general manager and interim head coach Tom Rowe, who stepped behind the bench after Gerard Gallant guided the club to a disappointing 11-10-1 record after 22 games.

The Panthers have amassed 43 points (17-12-9) in 38 games since the move, and have crept within striking distance of a playoff spot, on which Rowe fully intends to pounce.

"We're in a good position," Rowe said. "If anybody thought we we're going to be here, I think most people would say no, except every guy in that room. We knew we were going to be in a playoff position. We're there and we're going to get it done."

The Panthers sit level with the New York Islanders at 66 points, but can't claim the second wild-card spot thanks to the NHL's tiebreaking rules.

Florida is the NHL's hottest team and trending in the right direction after going 8-2-0 in their past 10, a stretch certainly boosted by a return to full health for top-line forwards Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau.

Whether the Panthers can hold off the competition and clinch a spot is another matter. According to Sports Club Stats, their chances stand at 31.1 percent, 10th highest in the Eastern Conference.

Still some work to be done to erase all doubt, it would seem.