Erin Brown

SUNRISE, Fla. -- It is far from matching the aura of traditional hockey markets, but the South Florida area might once again be turning its attention to ice hockey

And no, it isn't because we've had temperatures nearing the 90s in recent days.

The Florida Panthers are playing some pretty impressive hockey, going 8-0-1 over the past three weeks and actually planting the idea among fans that the playoffs are within reach. It isn't a pipe dream either, as Florida is three points out of the eighth seed in the East.

Of course, the Panthers have been in this situation before. As Wes Goldstein noted in his piece earlier this week, streaking in March has been a annual ritual for Florida. The one thing that may propel these Panthers into the postseason, though, are the crowds turning out at the BankAtlantic Center.

Florida has drawn crowds of at least 18,500 in three of its past four games. The team is showing up on the front of the sports page or earlier in the local newscast on a daily basis. Head to a bar, gym, golf course or some other sports-themed place and chances are you'll overhear some kind of chatter related to the Cats.

"We've been playing good hockey lately, and that's the reason we're on the front page," Florida winger Radek Dvorak said. "It's been a long time, we've had ups and downs during the season, but we came together. The whole team is playing the way we're suppose to play."

South Florida, with a very transient population, will only fall in love with a hometown team if they're winners. Even though the Panthers aren't taking aim at the Presidents Trophy or a Southeast Division title, they're the best team this region has seen since the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship in June 2006. (Yes, professional teams in South Florida suck that bad.)

With the spotlight off of every other team in the region, Florida has a very real opportunity to capture some of the attention it once garnered during the 1995-96 season in which they advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Dvorak couldn't help but notice the similarity of the crowds during that season and the ones now.

"You feel the crowd all 60 minutes," he said. "You can hear that. It's nice to see that. I'd compare it to the '95-96 season.

"It's nice to see all those fans at the rink. It gives you energy. When you have a crowd like we're getting the last month or so, it's nice to see that. We've been winning games, and a reward for all those fans."

As long as the Panthers can keep up their winning ways, the fans will continue to reward them, too.