You forgot the mathematics of a bird in the hand being worth 2 in the bush.
Panthers win % is basically 50%, which means they are likely to get 5 or 6 points in those 10 games. I'd much rather have the points in the bank than to need to win 5 straight and make up the difference. The optics of it look like they are close but they are a long ways behind us.
Yeah, the Panthers aren't catching up to us and they definitely aren't a team I'd be afraid of at all. We completely outplayed them despite missing Matthews, being on a back to back and a 3rd game in four nights. We looked like the faster team despite the previous game going into a SO.
If people remember, everyone here was afraid of the Panthers last year around this time when they went on a hot streak and became the first team from the East in like 5 years to sweep the California road trip. They fizzled like an open Pepsi can a couple games later.
Leafs are stuck in third place unless they win or lose out.
I just hope we use the last few games remaining to try out some new things...change up the stagnant PP, give more ice time to players who can help you win instead of players who help you stay tied in a game etc.