PITTSBURGH -- Since Michel Therrien was replaced as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins in mid-February, the team has caught fire, heating up the Igloo and the entire NHL.

Relative unknown Dan Bylsma, the former coach of the Pens' AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre Scranton, succeeded Therrien and has led the team to a 13-2-3 record since taking over as interim head coach.

As of Thursday, the team had risen to the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference after barely staying in playoff contention.

WTAE Channel 4 Action News Anchor Sally Wiggin talked to the man formerly known as "Disco Dan" about how the team's climb back into contention.

Bylsma, a former NHL player, said he acquired the nickname while playing in the minor leagues when a fellow player made him relinquish his previous nickname of "Bysie."

"Well, I played with a few of the players here, so occasionally hear it," said Bylsma of his "Disco Dan" alias. "I do occasionally polish a dance floor, but it is not very good."

But Bylsma has polished the Penguins back into a contender.

Only six first-time coaches in NHL history have had a higher rate of success to start, but Bylsma refuses to take all the credit.

"To get a team with the quality players like the Pittsburgh Penguins is a unique opportunity," said Bylsma. "I don't know if I came up with a magic formula or magic words, but I think from a distance, identified this is how we need to play -- how we can play -- and that the players really wanted to play that way."

Bylsma, who played with both the Los Angeles Kings and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim during his NHL career, wanted his players to be more aggressive.

"My wife said to my agent, who was my player agent, I think his playing career he's always battling and working to try and get better and try to get to the NHL -- always fighting to make it -- and she thinks this is a career that's probably more suited to my strengths as a person," said Bylsma.

The youngest of four boys, Bylsma was born in Grand Haven, Michigan, drawing strengths from his family.

He has written four books with his dad, one called, "So Your Son Wants To Play In The NHL."

"I was more the man I am because of my parents, because of my family, because of the decisions they made for me as a person because of my hockey career," said Bylsma.

As for next season, Bylsma said in order strip the "interim" tag from his title, he'll have to keep acting like a head coach.

"I want to be the head coach. I think that's what will be in store for me because I think that's the way I act. I act like I'm the head coach," said Bylsma.