The Whalers are having a strong start, going 9-4 to start the season. They are first in goals against, and second in goals for. So how do they improve when they are so good? Well they could be first in scoring, and that means the centers, especially past the first line, need to start putting the puck in the net more. The centers have 6 total goals, and 5 of them belong to first-liner Nikiforov.  The team's defense has 5 players with at least 1 goal, 3 of them with more combined the rest of the centers! They need to start listening to when the crowd yells "SHOOT!" more. Two of the centers are dead last on the team shots among players.


In fairness, the centers do take up the majority of the assists on the team. Somebody needs to set up the other players to score.

Also, the team needs to get its shit together during the powerplay.  The percentage of goals scored should be higher and the team has allowed the most shorthanded goals in the league at 3 while scoring only 5.  They also need to figure out a way to draw more penalties. 


As for being shorthanded, the team could do better there as well.  The vaunted defense and stout goaltending that has allowed the fewest goals against in the league is decidedly average when shorthanded.