Carolina isn’t just in the playoff hunt. They’re back in the national spotlight, and every remaining snap could shape the NFC South title race.

Nathan MacKinnon was one of six Colorado players to score as the red-hot Avalanche cruised to a 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

Meanwhile in the NFC, the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are floundering, the Detroit Lions might not even make the postseason and there's also no clear team-to-beat in their place, with only a single game separating the one seed and the seventh seed.

Saints' offense faces a critical blow as star running back Alvin Kamara misses a third straight game, elevating rookie Devin Neal to lead the backfield.

The Panthers' problems on third down are directly related to their inability to find good pass rushers, and to let their best go.

Gavin Brindley had a goal and an assist in his return to the lineup, Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson and Sam Malinski also had a goal and an assist, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Florida Panthers 6-2 in Denver on Thursday night.

Panthers coach Dave Canales says he isn't changing his approach with his team two wins from making the playoffs for the first time since 2017.