Drive to the Net: How Harkins' turnaround invigorated the fourth line

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Jansen Harkins wasn't great in his start to this NHL season.

Harkins, claimed by the Penguins off waivers from the Jets toward the end of training camp, earned a roster spot after a brief audition in the tail end of the preseason. But after four lackluster games where he wasn't much of a factor on either side of the puck, he was put back on waivers and sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after he cleared.

After over a month of riding the bus in the AHL, injuries created another opportunity for Harkins at the NHL level, and he was recalled Nov. 25. Since then, he's looked like a different player. He's making a positive impact on both sides of the puck and has earned a regular role in the Penguins' bottom six. 

That re-assignment to the AHL was a big factor in Harkins' turnaround, but not in the way one might think. It wasn't so much a matter of benefiting from the big minutes that came with playing first-line center at that level. It was a wakeup call.

"Just kind of hearing hard truths sometimes, that's something," Harkins told me. "Disappointment sometimes brings out the best in you, right? I think at least a little bit of motivation, if anything. I don't think it's ever really a setback. You just try to learn from it and get a little bit better and take something. I think I've been doing a good job with that."

The message Harkins got from the coaching staff and management when he first got sent down was pretty straightforward -- they wanted to see him be more consistent, and better use his speed and physicality. He's certainly been doing that, among other things:

• Harkins' rate of hits of 10.28 per 60 minutes of five-on-five ice time is the second-best on the team, narrowly beaten out by only Noel Acciari's 10.6/60 minutes. Taking into account all situations, Harkins' 10.13 hits/60 minutes leads the entire team.

• Harkins' rate of 1.25 penalties drawn per 60 minute at five-on-five is tied with Sidney Crosby for the second-most on the team behind Evgeni Malkin's 1.66/60 minutes. With the obviously higher-end skilled players like Crosby and Malkin, they typically draw more penalties because opponents try to push boundaries to contain them. With a bottom-six player like Harkins, that becomes more of a skill and concerted effort, and he's grown at it.

• Harkins' rate of 2.49 shots blocked per 60 minutes at five-on-five is the fourth-best rate among forwards on the team, trailing Acciari (5.3/60 minutes), Valtteri Puustinen (4.56/60 minutes) and Rickard Rakell (2.56/60 minutes).

• Harkins' top speed of 22.36 miles per hour is in the 67th percentile for NHL forwards, and his 50 bursts between 20-22 miles per hour in the 70th percentile. The latter is a little more impressive, given that between playing only 24 games and averaging 8.30 minutes a night, he's had fewer opportunities than most forwards to hit those burst, but has still managed to hit that 20-22 mile per hour mark more often than 70% of the league.

"I think I just try to use my speed," Harkins said of his play as of late. "That's the first thing, I use my speed and get on the forecheck and just make the right play at the right time. I think that's a skill as much as anything else. I think decision-making is so important, especially at this level. So that's what I've been focusing on, is playing fast and making the right play at the right time."

Acciari said that the biggest thing Harkins brings is "speed and energy."

"He flies around out there," Acciari told me. "He's good with the puck, he can handle it well. He works hard, which is great."

Harkins as of late has settled into a fourth-line left-wing role, centered by Acciari and playing opposite Jeff Carter. Acciari and Carter have spent much of the season together, often with Matt Nieto before Nieto's injury on Nov. 30. When you break down the results of Acciari and Carter with Harkins vs. without him, the contrast is stark. They've been much better with Harkins on both sides of the puck:

• Acciari and Carter have played 60:52 with Harkins at five-on-five and 131:30 without him at five-on-five.

• With Harkins, Acciari and Carter on the ice at five-on-five the Penguins average 64.07 shot attempts for per 60 minutes. Without Harkins as part of that group, they record 48.82 per 60 minutes.

• With Harkins, Acciari and Carter, the Penguins average 58.16 shot attempts against per 60 minutes. Without Harkins, they average 67.98 against per 60 minutes.

• Those results on both sides of the puck work out to be the Penguins controlling 52.42% of the shot attempts taken with Harkins on the fourth line, and only 41.80% without him.

• The contrast is even more stark when you look at actual shots on goal. With Harkins, Acciari and Carter, the Penguins average 36.47 shots on goal per 60 minutes. Without Harkins on that line, the Penguins average 20.08 shots on goal per 60 minutes.

• With Harkins, Acciari and Carter the Penguins average 21.69 shots on goal against per 60 minutes. Without Harkins there, they were averaging 33.31 against per 60 minutes.

• That works out to be the Penguins controlling 62.71% of the shots on goal with Harkins on that line, but only 37.61% without him.

• The line's increased success with Harkins is the case when you look at high-danger attempts, too. With Harkins, Acciari and Carter the Penguins average 15.77 high-danger attempts for per 60 minutes. Without Harkins, that average was only 9.13 per 60 minutes.

• The same goes for preventing the high-danger attempts against. With Harkins, Acciari and Carter the Penguins average 8.87 high-danger attempts per 60 minutes. Without Harkins, that average was 11.41.

• That means the Penguins control 64% of high-danger attempts with Harkins on that line, but only 44.44% of high-danger attempts without him.

• The result of all of this is a better goal share with Harkins, though it wasn't terrible before. The Harkins-Acciari-Carter line has controlled 66.67% of all goals scored in either direction with them on the ice. Without Harkins, that figure was lower but still good at 60%.

• The better results aren't a matter of any changes in deployment, either. When Acciari and Carter were together without Harkins, they saw 17.65% of their shifts start in the offensive zone. With Harkins on that line they've actually seen fewer shifts come in the offensive zone, all the way down to only 12.82%. They've been given tougher deployments but are getting better results.

Harkins said that he thinks his line brings a "consistent game," and that they complement each other well and are building chemistry as the games go on.

"I feel like I know exactly where they're going to be," Harkins said of Acciari and Carter. "I think they're very reliable. I mean, Carts is always making really good, smart high-skilled plays. He's really good in tight. Cookie (Acciari) is always in the right spot, especially in the D zone. It really shows, I think, when we can kind of cut down our D zone time and play in the O zone. I think that's what we bring to the team, and some momentum and energy and stuff like that. So I think it goes a long way."

The fourth line is improved, there's no doubt. But is it as easy as saying Harkins has sparked that line? 

I asked Acciari that.

"Yeah," he replied. "I think he's been playing really well, and I think it's showing. He works really hard on and off the ice and he's getting rewarded now, which is great to see. He's helping out the line, which has been awesome for our line and for the team. We've been chipping in like the other night from (Erik Karlsson), but it starts with a good shot from him."

Acciari's referring to this game-winning goal Monday night in the 4-1 win in Philadelphia: