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1983-84 END OF SEASON: WHALERS HARPOON THE WALES
Just a fantastic pun in the title there. I never really thought about how fitting it was that the Whalers were in the Wales Conference until now.
A great season for Hartford as we finish with 110 points, our best ever showing and tops in the division and conference. Only the Oilers with a whopping 136 points had more in the NHL.
I like our tactical/lines setup now for sure. A lot of our success comes down to having a lot of good players now, but I believe the changes helped as well. If you check the player stats, our 4th Line members were 2, 3, and 4th in the league in GA/60. That's remarkable and more than anyone could dream from a checking line. Gaeten Duchense also got a Selke nomination.
Also, we were #2 or #1 in all major statistical categories. Tops in PP and PK %. But still near the bottom in drawing penalties, I guess that's the price you pay for playing less aggressively. Joe Mullen was 2nd in goals with 68, half of them on the power play. Ron Francis was near the top in assists and points. And everyone's plus-minus is much improved too. Our goalies were almost an even platoon, with Greg Millen seemingly hotter.
Millen will get the nod against the Buffalo Sabres, who we face in the 1st Round.
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