from Craig Custance of ESPN,
The New York Rangers bounced back from an ugly loss with a convincing 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Monday. The Rangers dominated the first two periods against the Panthers, who have now dropped consecutive games and could slip out of first place in the Atlantic Division if the Tampa Bay Lightning win Tuesday night.
Florida has been a fantastic story this season, but they don't match up all that well with the experienced Boston Bruins, their potential first-round opponent if they finish second in the Atlantic.
The Panthers have five wins this month, but all five have come against teams outside a playoff spot. You have to go back to Feb. 4 to find a regulation win over a team currently in a playoff spot.
What's our level of concern with the Panthers? Do they have to win the division to have a fighting chance of getting out of the first round?
more from the ESPN hockey guys on the Panthers and the Eastern Conference playoff race (Burnside)...
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