Allowing more than four goals per game is not a recipe for a successful season. On the other hand, scoring more than four goals per game can help even things out.

Despite giving up 39 goals in its first nine games, the Manchester West boys hockey team is near .500 thanks to a potent offense that has scored 39 times.

Although a 4-5-0 record has the Blue Knights in contention for a playoff spot, head coach Bob Rougier knows his team’s defensive performance must improve if the group hopes to reach the Division I postseason.

“Everyone wants to score goals, but no one wants to keep them out of our net,” said Rougier. “That will help us a lot.”

During a contest with city rival Central on Wednesday, Jan. 21, the team’s Achilles’ heel was clearly on display.

The Blue Knights jumped to a 3-0 second-period lead following Keith Pilotte’s second goal of the game. But West’s defense then allowed four unanswered goals in the final period and a half to leave the ice with a 4-3 loss. “I don’t know what needs to change. It won’t be easy,” said Rougier after the game. “We played the same way throughout the game, but we need better team defense.”

Offensively, Pilotte, Andrew Sterling and Devin Greaney have combined to lead an attack that has produced 4.33 goals per game, including a 9-3 victory against Nashua North following the loss to the Little Green.

After the win, the Blue Knights found themselves in 10th place in Division I, but within striking distance of several teams currently ahead of them.

Rougier said the goal for his team is to surpass last season’s record of 8-8-0 and make the playoffs.

“I think that if we pull things together, good things can happen (in the playoffs),” he said. “We can score goals all the time, but without that team defense it doesn’t mean anything.”