We won a game we shouldn't have
We lost a game we shouldn't have
We got three points. If both games play out as they should have, we get two points.
Scoring two goals with a goalie pulled happens how frequently?
Scoring two in the back half of the 3rd happens how frequently?
Idk the stats on either, but I do know that one of things happens a lot more frequently than the other.
I get what you're saying, you win some games maybe you shouldn't, and you lose some you shouldn't, in the end, it balances out.
However the issue isn't that we gave up late goals vs scoring late goals, it's how those goals happened in that context. Making unforced errors because you're thinking offense in a tie game in the first period is very different then making unforced errors because you're thinking offence while leading by two with 10 mins to go, players need to be aware of the game situation and manage the puck with that context in mind. We didn't do that so we rightfully deserve criticism for losing a game that should have been 2pts. We turned pucks over when we should have been managing the puck better. You can guarantee DJ was telling them to manage well the puck and not give up turnovers for odd man rushes on the bench as we closed it out. I'm sure he wasn't happy with how we gave up two points. Tkachuck didn't seem happy about it. Pretty sure the team as a whole thinks that was a game they let slip away because they didn't manage the puck well enough.
it seems some want to praise us when we come up clutch and score late goals to tie things up, but don't think it's fair to criticize when we make unforced errors that cost us points.
personally, I see the Chicago game as fair game for criticism. We blew it. On the flip side, I'm happy with how we kept fighting against Boston despite losing and coming away with zero points. Mistakes were made on some of the goals against, but the context was different and you can't expect a perfect 60 mins. What you should expect is players to make smart decisions with the puck late in games where you have the lead, we didn't do that in Chicago so we deserve every bit of criticism we get.
Edit: it's a forest vs tree situation, the forest is lush and green, overall in good health, but if that one tree is diseased, you cut it down to make sure it doesn't spread.
