CANONSBURG - For most of the season the Pittsburgh Penguins were the doormats of the National Hockey League - a quick fix for struggling teams and a walk in the park for Stanley Cup contenders.

But since ending their ignominious 18-game skid that wasn't a record only because they earned a point in an overtime loss to St. Louis, the Penguins have gone through a metamorphosis from doormat to spoiler.

"We've been working hard for each other and it's paid off," defenseman Dick Tarnstrom said. "It seems like we've put everything together and played hard hockey."

Pittsburgh (17-44-7-4) is on its best roll of the season. After stopping the 18-game losing streak with a Feb. 25 overtime win in Phoenix, the Penguins are 6-2-2, the best 10-game stretch for the team since going 7-1-2 from Oct. 12-Nov. 2, 2002.

Included in those games are home wins over Stanley Cup hopefuls Dallas and Toronto and a tie Sunday against Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia.

"You can't compare this with a month ago," goaltender Sebastien Caron said. "This is a new wave. It's going on (on) the ice, it's going on in the (dressing) room. It's fun now to be here now that we're winning."

One of the key reasons for Pittsburgh's sudden spurt has been improved play from forwards Aleksey Morozov and Milan Kraft.

Morozov, who struggled through a 33-game skid without a goal earlier this season - and once went through a drought of 46 games - has scored in three straight for the first time in his career and netted two in the tie with the Flyers.

Kraft, who like Morozov is a former Penguins first-round pick, had his first three-assist game against the Flyers and has four goals and 12 points during the recent 10-game push.

"We need both of those guys," coach Eddie Olczyk said. "The best part about it is they're both creating because, more times than not, they're not on the ice together."

Pittsburgh's surge has, however, put the team in a precarious predicament. The Penguins are now within seven points of both Washington and Columbus of getting out of the league basement, which would reduce their chances of winning the draft lottery and obtaining this year's first-overall pick.

"There are no guarantees as far as where we end up," Olczyk said.

In 2003, general manager Craig Patrick traded up two spots to select goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury No. 1, the first time the Penguins chose first since taking Mario Lemieux in 1984.

For a team trying desperately to rebuild with youth, having the first overall pick for the second straight season - especially if that pick is Russian forward Aleksander Ovechkin - could certainly bolster a lineup whose 160 goals are fourth-lowest in the league.

Still, the people on the bench every night don't want to finish last.

"My goal from day one is that we want to play as well as we can and whatever happens, happens," Olczyk said. "I coach to win. Our players play to win and that's where it is."