SUNRISE, Fla. -- New York is coming to South Florida.

On Sunday, the Florida Panthers will find out if that New York is the Rangers or the Islanders as next week's playoffs loom.

On Saturday, though, the Panthers took care of business, completing the best regular season in franchise history with a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at the BB&T Center.

Florida (47-26-9), which set franchise records for wins and points (103), won the Atlantic Division title and will play host to the New York Rangers on Thursday if the Islanders beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.

But if the Islanders lose that game, they will be the ones taking on the Panthers while the Rangers play the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"They're both similar teams with a speedy group of forwards," Panthers left winger Reilly Smith said of the Rangers and Islanders. "They are both very skilled. Either way, it will be a tough matchup.

"It comes down to how we play. If we are on top of our game, we are tough to beat."

That's especially true if Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo is playing well. On Saturday, he made 25 saves and earned his 35th win, tying the franchise record he set in 2005-2006.

Luongo is one win from tying Jacques Plante (437) for sixth place in the NHL career win list.

"He was good all game," Carolina defenseman Justin Faulk said of Luongo. "He had a great save on the first shift. That's why he is one of the best in the league. He's always on his game -- a tough goalie to beat."

Eddie Lack, Carolina's backup goalie, wasn't nearly as good, allowing three goals in the first eight minutes. He took the loss in the season finale for the Hurricanes (35-31-16), who have missed the playoffs seven straight years.

On a positive note, Carolina's 86 points are the most for the franchise since 2011. Carolina went 4-3-2 in its final nine games.

Carolina center Jordan Staal, who had a goal and an assist, said he was pleased with how his team finished its season.

"We made a push and were in the playoff talks," Staal said. "We were in the mix."

The Panthers, who have won six straight games against Carolina, received goals from Teddy Purcell, Jussi Jokinen, Aaron Ekblad, Jonathan Huberdeau and an empty-netter from Smith.

Purcell and Jokinen added assists.

Florida has outscored Carolina 20-4 in the last six games in this series.

Three of those goals came quickly on Saturday, and they all came on similar plays with skaters connecting from the right wing. Purcell scored first, only 1:39 in, and he was followed by Jokinen (3:58) and Ekblad (7:40).

Florida was back on the scoreboard with only 4:56 elapsed in the second period as Aleksander Barkov dug the puck out of the right corner, fed Jaromir Jagr, who gave it up to Huberdeau in the slot.

Huberdeau's shot made it 4-0 and extended Barkov's career-long nine-game point streak.

With 9:13 left in the second period, Carolina finally got on the board as Elias Lindholm put back a juicy rebound after a shot by Staal.

The Hurricanes got as close as 4-2 on Staal's power-play goal with 15:22 left in the third period. But Luongo and the Panthers shut down Carolina from there.

"The game didn't mean a whole lot," said Panthers coach Gerard Gallant, whose team clinched the division title earlier in the week. "You are trying to get through it, trying to not get hurt and get ready for the playoffs."

Mission accomplished.

Now the Panthers are in the playoffs. The only question remains -- New York, New York, Rangers or Islanders?

NOTES: The Panthers, who began play in 1993-94, will be making just their fifth postseason appearance and their first in 2012. They haven't won a playoff series since 1996. ... Panthers D Steven Kampfer, who left Thursday's loss at Ottawa due to a sprained ankle, sat out on Saturday and was replaced by rookie D Mike Matheson, who was brought up from the AHL on emergency recall. ... Panthers D Erik Gudbranson hopes to return in time for the playoff opener next week. ... The Hurricanes have a lease in Raleigh until 2024, but there were numerous Canada-based reports this week that Carolina might move the team to Quebec City. ... The Hurricanes are for sale, but owner Peter Karmanos Jr. has said the team will not abandon Carolina. However, the Hurricanes are last in the NHL in home attendance (12,203), which is only 65 percent of capacity in their arena.