Harkins has been very low on the list of problems IMO. I think he brings a lot to that 4th line.
I'm not really a fan of his, but it seems weird people are crucifying him.
I think Glass-Adams is similar to Harkins-Carter in a sense. It would be okay if one of them were there and being complemented by two others but both together is tough to watch at times when they produce so little. That said, lately, they've been serviceable so my hatred has certainly gone down.
A two minute 5 on 3 is almost an automatic goal if your PP unit has the first clue what it's doing. I mentioned it because the fact that we only managed to score after this chance served on a silver platter is pretty telling.
We have seen this kind of scenario happen way too many times over the past few seasons to put any stock in excuses like "they were unlucky", "didn't get the bounces", etc. Yes, there is parity in the league and in isolation games like this are a nothingburger but the trend is very clear. Every time the Pens seem to be going somewhere they manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Sometimes the goalie blow. Sometimes the forwards can't score in a brothel. Sometimes the defense is amateur hour. Sometimes the entire team fails to show up.
And the common team is they are not maximising their chances for success. They love pretty passing plays which are too risky, especially when the team is nervous and in need of a goal right now. They take their foot off the pedal after finally getting the goal they need. They can't play a 60 minute game to save their lives. They don't like playing much neutral zone defense. And so on.
They. Scored. On. The. 5-on-3.
What is your argument here? They should have scored "quicker" and because they didn't they...what? I have no idea what you're actually trying to say.
To your other stuff, yeah it's fine to be upset and not acknowledge excuses. There is fairness in that because at the end of the day, a loss is a loss. But some of us who watch the game and want to discuss it more in-depth will understand that not all losses are equal just like not all wins are equal. Sometimes you REALLY lose or REALLY win and sometimes, the confluence of events throughout the game could have really made it go either and sometimes the win or loss isn't "fair".
Let me give you an example - yes, we lost this game but would suggest that this loss against Buffalo is equal to the loss against we recently had against Toronto? With the firm understanding and acknowledgment that, yes, both are losses and both look the same on the standings.
If think they are equal, fine. Then there's nothing else for you to discuss here and you may exit the thread. Others obviously don't believe that and wish to discuss various aspects of performance. Leave us be.
