PITTSBURGH — During the last season played two years ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins found themselves in the same position they are in today.

With 20-some games to play, both Pittsburgh teams had endured horrific 18-game stretches and had the worst record in the league — by far.

The 2003-04 Penguins recovered from an 18-game losing streak to close with the second-best 20-game finish (12-5-3) in NHL history.

Heading into their game tonight in Carolina, the current edition of the Penguins has won only once in their last 18 games. With 25 games to play, can history repeat itself and the Penguins close out with a strong run?

Players expressed doubt — at least with the Penguins as currently constructed.

"We will see what happens," said center Ryan Malone, one of only seven non-goalies on the active roster who were around for the 2004 late-season charge.

"I think the biggest thing two years ago was we ended up (acquiring) some character-type guys like Landon Wilson, Jon Sim and Lasse Pirjeta, some older guys that have been around like Ric Jackman. ... We've got the trade deadline coming up and if (General Manager Craig Patrick) wants to make any moves, we will see."

Of the veterans Malone cited, only Jackman remains — and he recently was quoted as requesting a trade if he continued to be a healthy scratch.

Defenseman Brooks Orpik, who was developing into the Penguins' leader during the last season played, indicated that a roster shake-up at the March 2 trading deadline might do the team good. He also said he saw "no signs" that this team can pull off a repeat of the 2003-04 team's resurgence.

"It's not like that team was a lot better than this team," Orpik said. "(But) guys came to the rink every day and worked hard. A lot of it is confidence. You get a few wins and start rolling with guys that want to be here. Right now we're losing and guys are just kind of showing up."

Defenseman Rob Scuderi said he believes that the 2003-04 Penguins were able to focus for 60 minutes per night — something missing this spring that he sees as correctable.

Orpik, however, said he believes that the trouble this season runs deeper.

"Everyone got along so well on that team," Orpik said. "For a lot of guys, it was their first real big opportunity in this league. I don't want to point the finger at anyone and I will point at myself, too, but I think a lot of people right now are just happy with where they are at. And some guys aren't really realizing the opportunity we have. I think a lot of us here, if we were (in) a lot of other (organizations), we wouldn't have this opportunity."

Notes: Defenseman Sergei Gonchar practiced briefly with the team Thursday but winger Michel Ouellet did not. Both were feeling the effects of hits sustained Monday in Ottawa and neither knew if they would be able to play Friday.