(Betting Express) - One good thing about being a member of the lowly Southeast Division is that a team can seemingly go on all types of win droughts and still remain in the thick of the division race.

For example, the Florida Panthers had won just four outings over a 15-game stretch from late December to the end of January. In most divisions that would certainly drop a team down the standings, but after winning their first two tests of February, the Panthers are still tied for third in the division and just three points out of first place.

As of Monday, Carolina and Atlanta are tied for first in the Southeast with 56 points apiece. Washington and Florida are just three points behind and Tampa Bay is in last with 47 points.

It's not a far stretch to say that only the Southeast champion will make the playoffs from the division this year. After all, every team in the division is currently behind the Boston Bruins, who are the eighth and final playoff seed in the East with 59 points.

The Panthers haven't made the postseason since 2000 and their stretch of six straight seasons without a playoff berth is the longest run of any team in the league.

Still, Florida is unlikely to make any blockbuster trades at the deadline this year because the club will probably prefer to keep its young nucleus together rather than trade for a veteran.

The Panthers will play the second test of a five-game road trip this Tuesday in Toronto.