GDT: We have a game in less than 3 hours

[Joe McGrath]

Faulk was great in the first period. But as the game went on, he tried to do too much and it caused him to make some really, REALLY poor decisions. Add to the fact that he was getting outmuscled along the boards for the entire 3rd period and it adds up to a negative game. But he did score the 3rd goal, which gave Canes fans free food from Moe's, a free BoBerry biscuit, and 50% off Papa John's, so there's that.

Also, I'm not surprised to see Ward getting blamed here, but I have to ask: Which goals would you reasonably expect him to stop? The first goal where Zetterberg was allowed to walk in front untouched? The 2 goals where Detroit had uncontested one-timers from the slot? Or the absolutely killer deflection for Detroit's 3rd?

Sometimes a goalie needs to make a save on a difficult shot, because this is like, the NHL. The loss isn't all his fault at all, but he didn't do enough to win.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Fact of the matter is we played great tonight.


It wasn't a perfect performance, but it was damn good. We score: 3 goals and gave up 19 shots. This one is all on Ward.

Again, which goals would you reasonably expect him to stop?

Sometimes a goalie needs to make a save on a difficult shot, because this is like, the NHL. The loss isn't all his fault at all, but he didn't do enough to win.

And he did, multiple times. IIRC, the 3rd period started with the Red Wings getting another uncontested one-timer from the slot when the score was 2-1. The Red Wings took advantage of their opportunities, while the Canes were content with throwing everything at net and hoping for the best. Not necessarily a bad plan, but then it leads to shot differentials like the one we saw tonight.

I understand that statwise, it's bad for Ward, but it's not like any of the goals were softies. This one is on the defense (or lack thereof) and the powerless powerplay. Seriously, the PP advantage was 5-0 at one point and I honestly couldn't remember two decent scoring chances the Canes had all game.

 

[nobuddy]

Again, which goals would you reasonably expect him to stop?



And he did, multiple times. IIRC, the 3rd period started with the Red Wings getting another uncontested one-timer from the slot when the score was 2-1.

I understand that statwise, it's bad for Ward, but it's not like any of the goals were softies. This one is on the defense (or lack thereof) and the powerless powerplay. Seriously, the PP advantage was 5-0 at one point and I honestly couldn't remember two decent scoring chances the Canes had all game.

All he had to do to stop Zetterberg was put his stick down OR kick his pad out. He did neither.

The fourth goal was a defensive breakdown, but it was an unscreened shot from 20 feet out. Make the ****ing save.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

goaltending was the difference tbh

 

[nobuddy]

goaltending was the difference tbh

I don't see how there's any conflicting conclusions out there that are worth taking seriously.

 

[Novacane]

Lol but like that's a perfectly acceptable conclusion after tonight.

Look what Columbus and Philly did tonight, pal.

Hahahaa. Keep telling yourself that, pal

I thought Jordan Staal was great at shutdown elite talent

 

[TheOllieC]

Justin Faulk is the only player on this hockey team that resembles anything close to a top-4 dman (Hanifin aside for now), so if he "tries to do too much", I don't think you can really chalk that up as a negative. It's not like there's anything/anyone to work with so he's gonna have to be the guy to take initiative to get anything done from the back end.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

All he had to do to stop Zetterberg was put his stick down OR kick his pad out. He did neither.

The fourth goal was a defensive breakdown, but it was an unscreened shot from 20 feet out. Make the ****ing save.

When Zetterberg walked out in the slot (after outmuscling J. Staal along the boards), Ward went full butterfly to cover as much of the net as he could given the time he had. It was the right move, but Zetterberg is...well, Zetterberg.

Since I was at the game and didn't get an explanation, did John/Tripp explain what the refs were looking at after the 4th goal? I honestly thought they were reviewing for goaltender interference at that point, since it looked like Ward was pushed fairly deep in the net.

But again, that could have simply been from my angle.

Justin Faulk is the only player on this hockey team that resembles anything close to a top-4 dman (Hanifin aside for now), so if he "tries to do too much", I don't think you can really chalk that up as a negative. It's not like there's anything/anyone to work with so he's gonna have to be the guy to take initiative to get anything done from the back end.

You can if "trying to do too much" winds up as a -3 on the night.

 

[nobuddy]

Hahahaa. Keep telling yourself that, pal

I thought Jordan Staal was great at shutdown elite talent

He is, one bad game doesn't change that.

And again, look at what Columbus and Philly did tonight. Then look at we did.

 

[Novacane]

He is, one bad game doesn't change that.

And again, look at what Columbus and Philly did tonight. Then look at we did.

We lost? And?

 

[TheOllieC]

You can if "trying to do too much" winds up as a -3 on the night.

Really?

stop trolling

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Looking at the highlights, it was Hainsey that decided to pass directly to Pukk for the 2nd goal.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

He is, one bad game doesn't change that.

And again, look at what Columbus and Philly did tonight. Then look at we did.

i agree with you, but in fairness to the other guy, you're saying that what jordan staal did for one game doesnt change something that some believe to be true, then immediately contending that one game from two other teams DOES change something that some believe to be true...

either one bad game changes some things, or it doesnt...

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Really?

stop trolling

Not trolling. I love Faulk and J.Staal, but they had really ****** nights tonight. Their combined derp-iness led to the first goal, and Faulk's inability to block a passing lane (seemingly more interested in ripping the helmet off of whoever was in front of the net), led to the 4th goal.

Like I said, Faulk looked great in the first period, but his game dropped off a cliff as the night went on.

 

[nobuddy]

i agree with you, but in fairness to the other guy, you're saying that what jordan staal did for one game doesnt change something that some believe to be true, then immediately contending that one game from two other teams DOES change something that some believe to be true...

either one bad game changes some things, or it doesnt...

One bad game out of the hundreds in Jordan Staal's career does not change his status as an elite shutdown center.

I predicted that Philadelphia and Columbus would be worse than the Canes. And while we may be 0-2, those two are 0-3-1 combined and only once came even remotely close to winning. Canes could be 2-0 with better luck.

The tiny sample is all we have with these teams, not with Jordan Staal as a whole player.

 

[Novacane]

To stop bashing the team for a second, I will say Hanifin has far exceeded my pretty high expectations. He makes a few mistakes, sure, but that play in the 3rd when he broke up the guy coming in on Ward was awesome. I definitely did not expect to see that from him in game 2. He's got great vision and it's a treat to see.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

To stop bashing the team for a second, I will say Hanifin has far exceeded my pretty high expectations. He makes a few mistakes, sure, but that play in the 3rd when he broke up the guy coming in on Ward was awesome. I definitely did not expect to see that from him in game 2. He's got great vision and it's a treat to see.

he made a move at the offensive blueline late in the game that was pretty sweet too...

he might be our second best defenseman.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

One bad game out of the hundreds in Jordan Staal's career does not change his status as an elite shutdown center.

I predicted that Philadelphia and Columbus would be worse than the Canes. And while we may be 0-2, those two are 0-3-1 combined and only once came even remotely close to winning. Canes could be 2-0 with better luck.

The tiny sample is all we have with these teams, not with Jordan Staal as a whole player.

congratulations on your prediction coming true

 

[Blueline Bomber]

To stop bashing the team for a second, I will say Hanifin has far exceeded my pretty high expectations. He makes a few mistakes, sure, but that play in the 3rd when he broke up the guy coming in on Ward was awesome. I definitely did not expect to see that from him in game 2. He's got great vision and it's a treat to see.

I loved his read for the 1st goal. Puck coming out of the zone, many of our defensemen would have simply let it come out and corral it there. He gloves it and fires it towards the net to earn his first point.

 

[Novacane]

Canes could be 2-0 with better luck.

Didn't we say that all offseason? It's time we stop needing luck and start actually executing on the ice.

I loved his read for the 1st goal. Puck coming out of the zone, many of our defensemen would have simply let it come out and corral it there. He gloves it and fires it towards the net to earn his first point.

Yeah, that too. That was great to see. Not at all timid to make a play.

 

[Ole Gil]

It's a bummer when it looks like things are going to be exactly what you thought they'd be.

Jordan got beat out of the corner by one of the best in the league. Cam gave up 4 but on 4 legit goals.

However, my nomination for Scapegoat is Ronald Reginald Hainsey the Fourth.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

did anyone mention how much better the in arena experience was this year? as in it wasn't actively embarrassing to be there in person

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

did anyone mention how much better the in arena experience was this year? as in it wasn't actively embarrassing to be there in person

yes i did mention that it was fantastic...

the new guy is a lot better than ron the ref, canesvision is a lot better than canesvision used to be, the bagpipe thing was awesome, michelle mcmahon is way better than chantel mccabe, and the thing where the players had to guess which player the kid drew a picture of was the best thing ever

 

[Blueline Bomber]

The bagpipe thing confused me. What do bagpipes have to do with introducing the team?

 

[dogbazinho]

Every team has a player or two that has a **** night. We just dont have the depth or talent to absorb it. Gonna be a long season again im afraid.