The 24th-seeded ’99-’00 Florida Panthers

• Len Barrie (C)
  • 16 GP   1 G   2 A   3 P   -5   29 S   0 GWG   8 PIM   0 Stars
• Pavel Bure (RW)
  • 16 GP   13* G   11 A   24* P   +12*   74 S   4* GWG   6 PIM   8 Stars
• Radek Dvorak (RW)
  • 1 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   Even   1 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Brad Ference (D)
  • 14 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   -1   1 S   0 GWG   2 PIM   0 Stars
• Bret Hedican (D)
  • 16 GP   1 G   10 A   11 P   +7   28 S   0 GWG   9 PIM   2 Stars
• Viktor Kozlov (C)
  • 16 GP   6 G   9 A   15 P   +12*   47 S   1 GWG   0 PIM   3 Stars
• Paul Laus (D)
  • 16 GP   0 G   2 A   2 P   -1   15 S   0 GWG   19 PIM   0 Stars
• Scott Mellanby (RW)
  • 16 GP   7 G   7 A   14 P   -5   82 S   0 GWG   14 PIM   3 Stars
• Ivan Novoseltsev (LW)
  • 16 GP   2 G   4 A   6 P   -3   6 S   0 GWG   2 PIM   0 Stars
• Mark Parrish (RW)
  • 16 GP   8 G   7 A   15 P   -4   60 S   0 GWG   4 PIM   1 Stars
• Lance Pitlick (D)
  • 16 GP   1 G   2 A   3 P   -2   9 S   0 GWG   6 PIM   0 Stars
• Richard Shulmistra (G)
  • 3 GP   0 GS   0-0-1   0.67 GAA   .947 SV%   0 SO   0 Stars
• Mike Sillinger (C)
  • 16 GP   6 G   18* A   24* P   -6  102* S   0 GWG   14 PIM   6 Stars
• Todd Simpson (D)
  • 16 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   -3   24 S   0 GWG   13 PIM   0 Stars
• Jaroslav Spacek (D)
  • 16 GP   5 G   3 A   8 P   -2   44 S   1 GWG   2 PIM   1 Stars
• Cam Stewart (LW)
  • 16 GP   1 G   1 A   2 P   -4   14 S   0 GWG   2 PIM   0 Stars
• Robert Svehla (D)
  • 16 GP   7 G   12 A   19 P   +10   52 S   2 GWG   2 PIM   9* Stars
• Mike Vernon (G)
  • 16 GP   16 GS   9-6-2   3.69 GAA   .903 SV%   0 SO   7 Stars
• Chris Wells (C)
  • 13 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   +1   0 S   0 GWG   2 PIM   0 Stars
• Ray Whitney (LW)
  • 16 GP   7 G   10 A   17 P   +12*   59 S   1 GWG   4 PIM   3 Stars
• Mike Wilson (D)
  • 13 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   -1   2 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Peter Worrell (LW)
  • 16 GP   0 G   3 A   3 P   -2   14 S   0 GWG   23* PIM   0 Stars

* – Team Best

Team Stats:

• Record: 9-6-3
• Goals Scored: 66
• Goals/Game: 4.13
• Goals Allowed: 62
• Goals Allowed/Game: 3.88
• Shots: 670
• Shots Allowed: 649
• Shots/Game: 41.9
• Shots Allowed/Game: 40.6
• # of PP’s: 36
• PPG’s: 9
• PP%: 25.0%
• TSH: 32
• PPGA: 8
• PK%: 75.0%
• Penalties in minutes: 138 – 5th-most in tournament

In 22 years of existence, the Florida Panthers have made the playoffs just five times. They made a miracle run to the Stanley Cup Final in their first playoff appearance, in just their third year of existence. However, since then, they haven’t won a single series. The ’99-’00 Panthers were making their first appearance in the Ultimate NHL Playoff. They matched what last year’s representative did by making it out of the First Round. However, they then made a mini-run by making it to the Third Round.

First Round:

Defeated 41st-seeded ’20-’21 Hamilton Tigers, 4-1

Second Round:

Defeated 9th-seeded ’19-’20 Ottawa Senators, 4-2

Third Round:

Lost to 25th-seeded ’83-’84 Washington Capitals, 4-1

Led by head coach Terry Murray, the ’99-’00 Florida Panthers posted a record of 43-27-6-6, which was good for 98 points and 2nd in the Southeast Division. Florida averaged 2.98 goals per game, which was ranked 6th in the league, out of 28 teams. They allowed an average of 2.55 goals per game, which was ranked 9th. According to Hockey Reference, they had the easiest strength of schedule in the league while their gave Florida a SRS rating of 0.28, which was 9th-best in the tournament. That 0.28 rating was a franchise-best until this very NHL season. The Panthers qualified for the, but unfortunately went up against a dominant New Jersey Devils team, who promptly swept them out of the Conference Quarterfinals.

The Russian Rocket was Florida’s top weapon. Pavel Bure scored 58 goals to lead them in goal scoring and totaled 94 points lead them in overall scoring. Ray Whitney was second behind Bure in both goals (29) and points (71). 24-year-old Viktor Kozlov was a close third behind Whitney with 70 points, but did pace them in assists with 53 while Whitney’s 42 helpers were good for second. The Panthers featured some notable tough guys, including defensemen Todd Simpson and Paul Laus, who were first and second on the team in PIMs, with 202 and 172, respectively. In goal, Florida had five different goalies mind the twine during the regular season. Mike Vernon and Trevor Kidd appeared the most, 34 and 28 appearances, respectively. As a whole, the unit played fairly well. Posting an overall .926 save percentage and a 2.48 goals against average. Vernon posted a 2.47 goals against average and a .919 save percentage to lead the tendies. To nobody’s surprise, Bure posted Florida’s highest Point Share at 13.5 while the second-highest rating belonged to long-tenured defenseman Robert Svehla, who is probably one of the more underrated Panthers in their history.

Up next are the 23rd-seeded ’79-’80 Buffalo Sabres!