Panthers win 5th straight, on prowl for final wild-card spot

Don't look now, but the Florida Panthers are red hot and closing in on the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

With their 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres Friday night, the Panthers have won five straight games and are now 12-3-0 since the All-Star break, putting them in an enviable position among those fighting for a spot in the postseason.

The Panthers are now just one point behind both the Blue Jackets and Hurricanes with three games in hand, and with the ROW (regulation plus overtime wins) tiebreaker in their back pocket.