Considering the adversity they have encountered and setbacks they have experienced in the first 50 games of the 2006-07 season, it's amazing the Panthers are only four points out of eighth place as the NHL takes its five-day All-Star break this week.

Topping the list of hurdles has been the absence of Todd Bertuzzi, the potential premier power forward who has been sidelined since leaving the lineup in mid-October. Bertuzzi has said he expects to rejoin practice shortly and should return sometime in February.

Other setbacks have included the team's horrid record on the road, where it has won only 6 of 26 games, and in the Southeast Division, where it is 4-11-2; the play of goalie Alex Auld, who is 7-13-5 with a 3.28 goals-against average; and the lack of production of forwards Chris Gratton (seven goals), Martin Gelinas (six), Juraj Kolnik (five) and Ville Peltonen (eight).

While the four-point gap between the Panthers and eighth-place New York Rangers seems relatively small, the reality is Florida is still 14th in the conference, needing to pass six teams to get into playoff position. And each of those teams has played fewer games than the Panthers.

"Our margin of error is getting slimmer and slimmer," coach Jacques Martin said after the Panthers reached the five-day break with a 4-1 victory at Washington Saturday. "We need to emphasize and recognize that.

"At some point in time we've gotta put a streak of wins together to catch up. Other teams keep winning ahead of us."

While the potential return of Bertuzzi is one reason for hope, another is the play of prospects who have for the most part performed better than expected when summoned from AHL Rochester. Martin has been particularly complimentary of the play of David Booth, Anthony Stewart and Kamil Kreps.

"Anytime those guys can come in and contribute, it's a big boost," Gratton added. "To be able to get four lines to pitch in offensively and defensively ... that's going to be important the last 32 games."

The schedule is not that difficult the rest of the way. Between now and a three-game trip to end the season, there is no trip longer than two games and three days. Only three of the season's 10 back-to-backs remain, one each in February, March and April. And 17 of the final 32 games will be at home, where Florida has gone 6-1-2 over the past five weeks.