Northampton's entry in the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League (LVSHL) began this week arguably sitting atop the LVSHL Non-Pure Division, but it hasn't felt like a seat in the penthouse all season long for the Konkrete Kids.

They began the week with a 3-3-1 record and seven total points in seven games, while Easton entered play with a 4-2-0 mark with eight points. However, the Kids had a 3-0 mark in divisional play while Easton posted a 4-1 slate in the same bracket.

Yet the program that lost in the Non-Pure divisional finals last season and captured three titles in recent years feels like they have been missing a gear in the overall process. The Kids also began the week with a 0-2-1 mark, a rather uncharacteristic streak.

"We just seem to be missing something," said veteran head coach Brian Ruff. "We have come up short in some games and have responded in others. This is a team that has a significant amount of players back. We did lose some people, but we have a good nucleus back.

"We also have some younger players who have been working themselves into our lineup and that will help us in the future."

Veteran Gunnar Mishko is the Kids' leading scorer with eight goals and six assists for 14 points. He is one of three double-figure scorers for Northampton along with Derrick Wruble (7-5-12), and Tyler Feist (4-6-10). Goalie Adam Orsulak (3-2, 4.24 GAA) appears to be working himself back into shape after a slow start due to a concussion.

Senior defenseman Dan Farkas (5-3-8) has been a part of the team's recent glory days and believes his team can quickly get back on a fast track and off an early season rumbled path.

"We don't know quite what it is," said Farkas. "We know we can do better, but we something seems to happen to affect us. We're working hard, but we know we know we can push ourselves further.

"It will be a competitive league and teams are coming hard at us. We also face teams in the other division more often and it will be a challenge for us."

The Kids' last game was a 4-4 tie with Pure Division contender Freedom, who beat them earlier this season.

In that game, Northampton rallied from a 3-0 deficit heading into the final period and pumped in four goals before Freedom skipped one in the nets to tie the game. The flurry of goals has been a trend the Kids would rather turn into a steady flow.

They will get back into action Monday against division foe Phillipsburg and then will entertain fellow foe Becca/Central the following week before a holiday break.

"We have been getting behind and starting slow," added Farkas. "Maybe we're a little too relaxed or too confident. Sometimes, we may have felt like we can just show up and don't have to work to get a win.

"We just have to be more consistent throughout the rest of the season."

If they do, the Kids will be more at home setting the pace.