The Panthers have passed the midway point of this season and go into Monday’s home game against Vancouver atop their division this late in a season for the first time since 2000.

Stephen Weiss has been with the team since being the fourth overall pick in the 2001 draft held in Sunrise.

He has seen some bad hockey over this past decade and has seen many of his friends leave the organization. Weiss also has witnessed the organization change direction time and again. General manager Dale Tallon went on a shopping spree last summer and made wholesale changes.

On opening night against the Islanders, Florida had 14 different players from its 2010-11 season-opening roster. The team has meshed more quickly than nearly anyone expected, and a lot of credit goes to first-year coach Kevin Dineen.

“With all the uncertainty ... it was a great start,’’ Dineen said. “We just need to keep going and not take our foot off the gas.’’

Florida ended the first half of the season 20-13-8 and has been atop the Southeast Division since Nov. 19. The Panthers had an eight-point lead in the division recently, but their cushion has been pared. Winnipeg is just three points back, and Washington is four back.

The Panthers, who have lost six of their past eight games, know this upcoming stretch is crucial to making the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Florida’s postseason drought of 11 years and 10 seasons is the longest in NHL history, and it’s ready for it to end. Now.

“We need this to be a big month for us,’’ Weiss said. “There are no excuses. Our guys have really come together and have bought into the system. ... These guys may be new here, but they want to stop the trend of what’s gone on.’’

What went right

• Top trio: The line of Weiss centering newcomers Tomas Fleischmann and Kris Versteeg was an instant hit; all three spent time together in the NHL’s top 20 scorers. Weiss was Florida’s top scorer last season but was tied for 99th in the NHL.

• Scoring from the back: Brian Campbell’s 30 assists are tied for third in the league, and Jason Garrison’s career-high 11 goals lead all NHL defensemen.

• Goalie: When Tomas Vokoun bolted for free agency, the Panthers quickly landed Jose Theodore. He came with a lot of question marks but has relished the chance to be a starter again and has thrived. Theodore, Scott Clemmensen and rookie Jacob Markstrom have given Florida a chance to win almost every night.

What went wrong

• Road weary: Early on, the Panthers had the most road wins in the league. But that has changed of late as Florida has lost six in a row away from Sunrise.

• Overtime woes: The Panthers have never been good in shootouts, and that has been the case again this year. Florida has won two of six shootouts and is 3-8 in overtime this season.

• Battle scars: The Panthers had seven forwards on the injured list at one point. Florida currently has five injured players and has lost 158 man games to injury.

Up next

• Tough teams: If the Panthers are indeed an elite team in the Eastern Conference, they’ll have plenty of chances to prove it. Starting Monday, the Panthers play some of the top teams in the league as Vancouver, Pittsburgh and Boston come to Sunrise.

• Top line: As good as Weiss, Fleischmann and Versteeg have been, they have hit a wall. In their first 25 games together, they combined for an average of 1.32 goals and almost two assists per game. In the past 15 games — Weiss missed two with a rib injury — they have averaged less than a goal and assist.

• Buyers: For the first time in years, the Panthers are expected to be buyers at the trade deadline next month. Although Tallon isn’t expected to go crazy, at least he won’t be dumping salaries like last year.