The Plum High School hockey team went winless through its final 11 games of last season, costing itself a playoff berth.

Then it had six seniors graduate and its top scorer opted to play amateur hockey with the Junior Penguins.

Predictably, the Mustangs started off slow this season, not winning either of their first two games. But a 2-0 win against Canon-McMillan on Nov. 2 began a four-game unbeaten streak that has re-instilled confidence in the team.

"We've been playing better than what we expected," coach Stu Rulnick said before Plum (3-2-2) lost to reigning PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup champion Shaler, 7-0, on Monday.

"We're just playing well on both ends of the ice. We're playing well defensively and well offensively. We were struggling scoring a little at the beginning of the year and now we're starting to put it in the net more and that's definitely helping."

Plum has posted four consecutive losing seasons but the seeds for ending that run were sown last season, when the team started 6-0 and 7-2-2 before the late-season swoon that was not as devastating as it might appear on paper. The Mustangs played overtime in five of their final 11 games and eight of those losses were decided by one goal.

"The biggest thing right now is they were really disappointed they didn't make the playoffs last year, so that is our No. 1 goal -- to get to the playoffs," Rulnick said.

Vince Somma averaged roughly a goal and an assist per game last season for Plum (21 goals and 20 assists in 22 games) but the team knew it would not have him this season due to his commitment to the Junior A Amateur Penguins.

Last season's second-leading scorer, Dave Smith, was among the seniors who graduated. Many younger players have stepped in to take their places and have performed admirably.

"We knew about a couple kids coming in; we just didn't know they'd play as well as they're playing right now," Rulnick said. "If they learn and pick up the system, they'll continue to be doing really well; it's unexpected.

"We lost a couple guys, so they knew we had to work hard this year to make the playoffs. That's our goal, to make the playoffs."

A senior core, led by captain Paul Asmann, a defenseman, and forwards Adam Hoener and Cody Brenner, both alternate captains, are leading the charge in the turnaround.

"We were surprised at the beginning, but our team has a lot of heart this year," Asmann said. "Our whole team is playing well together."

Heading into the week, Hoener led the team with seven goals while playing in only four games. He is playing on what has been the Mustangs' top line along with Brenner and sophomore Hunter Brett.

The line of senior Lenny Dunnivan and juniors Tyler Galanis and Cody Censi combined for eight goals and eight assists through six games, and junior Nick Cicolini, sophomore Dom Andreoli and freshman Jordan Gable have formed an effective third line.

Asmann is the most veteran member of a defenseman corps that includes juniors Cory Sakolsky, Jason Pastucha and Steve Susala and sophomore Chris Kreig.

Senior Shane Leonizio has been strong in goal with a 2.41 goals-against average and a 90.3 percent save percentage.

"They're playing as a team, offensively and defensively playing as a team, and they're a good group together," Rulnick said. "They seem to get along really well and want to play for each other."

Plum has already played the two reigning Penguins Cup finalists and has a victory against league power Pine-Richland, too.

It's early, but Plum is beginning to believe that a deep run in the Penguins Cup playoffs is possible. The semifinals and final are played at Mellon Arena.

"We want to make it all the way to Mellon Arena," Asmann said. "We're pushing as hard as we can."

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