GDT: We have a game in less than 3 hours

[Carolinas Identity*]

/me looks at box score

/me "how the **** did a goalie who allowed three goals win the 1st star?"

/me "Oh, he stopped 47 shots."

/me ".....what? wait a minute.... how the **** did this team generate 50 shots?"

 

[gocanes88]

the new guy is a lot better than ron the ref

They have a new ref guy?

 

[Stickpucker]

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

We are coming out to whoop da ass of our oppressors!!

 

[Mijatovic]

I thought Hanifan looked like the bonafide best defender in the game for both teams. Just from a Wings fan.

 

[JClaus33]

The pregame video stuff was really awesome in terms of arena experience, definitely teared up a little bit when they were re-living the '06 run

 

[carolinacanuck]

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

ward stopped 2 of 5 shots in high percentage scoring areas and mrazek stopped 6 of 8.

but the canes were 1 for 6 on the PP with a brief 46 second 5 on 3.

an early PP goal or two would have been nice.

 

[FlyingSquirrels]

I thought Hanifan looked like the bonafide best defender in the game for both teams. Just from a Wings fan.

This was absolutely the case. How the dude slipped to #5 stills confounds me. Hanifin is gonna be a stud.

 

[FlyingSquirrels]

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.

Maybe, maybe not. If the effort of last night is there every night then we will be fine. The problem is the effort won't be there. EStaal only competes about 20 games a year. Last night was his first effort of the year, so he contractually only has 19 more efforts to give.

 

[Hulkacaniac]

Maybe, maybe not. If the effort of last night is there every night then we will be fine. The problem is the effort won't be there. EStaal only competes about 20 games a year. Last night was his first effort of the year, so he contractually only has 19 more efforts to give.

Nah we'll see more effort from EStaal. He is in a contract year after all

 

[HisIceness]

I'm glad to hear the In-game experience has improved but, it sounds like the music could use an overhaul. Ditch the Miley Cyrus/LMFAO/Lorde etc. ********.

Actually I think a drumline would be cool, the Dallas Mavericks (NBA) have one and they've been a hit w/ fans. Just a thought.

 

[Unsustainable]

PopEvil are hockey fans. So we could use their music.

 

[TheOllieC]

PopEvil are hockey fans. So we could use their music.

i feel like one of their songs would be perfect for new jersey

 

[Unsustainable]

Hanifin is awesome though

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

So without reading the topic, did anyone point out how poorly Faulk and J. Staal played? Just about every goal against was the direct result of one of those two (or both) ****ing up somehow.

I'm confused as I have a tough time blaming any of the goals on Faulk.

Goal 1: Faulk played it perfectly by keeping Larkin to the outside. J. Staal (mainly) and Hainsey were both beaten by Zetterburg and Ward played it poorly. To me, Ward looked surprised that Zetterburg, who is a good player that made a good play, came out of the corner so quickly.

Goal 2: Faulk again was in the right spot helping battle 2 guys behind the net. There were 2 problems after that. 1) Hainsey passed it in front and 2) McClement let himself get sucked down too low and didn't cover the guy in front or stop the puck from getting through.

Goal 3: Faulk wasn't even on the ice.

Goal 4: Faulk was battling a guy in the crease trying to tie him up/clear him out. Yeah, maybe if he was fresher one could argue he should have moved him out of the way more, but that's easier said than done. The real problem was no forward covered Abdelkader who was in a prime scoring spot. It was a total team defensive breakdown on that play.

I'm not saying Faulk played great and as a team, they had too many defensive breakdowns, but not seeing how you say the goals were a direct fault of him ****ing up as I don't see that for any of them.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

BBA, I disagree with his play on the first goal. He did keep Larkin on the outside, but then took it a step too far (I.E.: Attempted to do too much) by attempting to punish Larkin after the puck had already left. By the time Zetterberg came out to the front of the net, Faulk was up near the blue line. A bit out of position.

As far as the second goal goes, I made that statement when I thought Tatar had managed to (somehow) get the puck from both Hainsey and Faulk along the boards and passed it out to Pukk. After seeing the high,ughts and just seeing Hainsey ****ing up, yeah, can't blame Faulk.

The 3rd goal was J.Staal ****ing up, IIRC.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

BBA, I disagree with his play on the first goal. He did keep Larkin on the outside, but then took it a step too far (I.E.: Attempted to do too much) by attempting to punish Larkin after the puck had already left. By the time Zetterberg came out to the front of the net, Faulk was up near the blue line. A bit out of position.

As far as the second goal goes, I made that statement when I thought Tatar had managed to (somehow) get the puck from both Hainsey and Faulk along the boards and passed it out to Pukk. After seeing the high,ughts and just seeing Hainsey ****ing up, yeah, can't blame Faulk.

The 3rd goal was J.Staal ****ing up, IIRC.

I think in your zest to defend Ward, you see things you want to see instead of what they objectively are. When a player knows he has coverage back, he plays one way vs. when he doesn't. In this case Faulk had Hainsey and Jordan Staal and Versteeg all in a position to be back well before Faulk every could have. Even if Faulk hadn't tried to push Larkin after the pass, there was NO WAY was getting there before Zetterburg did, nor was he responsible for getting back with Staal, Hainsey and Versteeg all back. It was simply a very good play by Zetterburg and a poor play by Staal, Ward and to a lesser degree Hainsey.

Now, he did let Larkin get around him, so if Zetterburg had been held up and hit Larkin coming to the net, that would have been on Faulk, but that's not what happened.

If you want to argue that he shouldn't have tried to give the push on Larkin after the pass, then fine, but it had no bearing on this goal. None, and hardly qualifies as him "****ing up". His job in that spot was not to just leave Larkin and fade back to the front of the net when he had the coverage already there.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

I'm glad to hear the In-game experience has improved but, it sounds like the music could use an overhaul. Ditch the Miley Cyrus/LMFAO/Lorde etc. ********.

Actually I think a drumline would be cool, the Dallas Mavericks (NBA) have one and they've been a hit w/ fans. Just a thought.

the music experience is far better than it was. it is actually hype now and that is the kind of **** most people want to hear even if you dont. that is something that will sell tickets, especially to college kids and young families

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I think in your zest to defend Ward, you see things you want to see instead of what they objectively are. When a player knows he has coverage back, he plays one way vs. when he doesn't. In this case Faulk had Hainsey and Jordan Staal and Versteeg all in a position to be back well before Faulk every could have. Even if Faulk hadn't tried to push Larkin after the pass, there was NO WAY was getting there before Zetterburg did, nor was he responsible for getting back with Staal, Hainsey and Versteeg all back. It was simply a very good play by Zetterburg and a poor play by Staal, Ward and to a lesser degree Hainsey.

Now, he did let Larkin get around him, so if Zetterburg had been held up and hit Larkin coming to the net, that would have been on Faulk, but that's not what happened.

If you want to argue that he shouldn't have tried to give the push on Larkin after the pass, then fine, but it had no bearing on this goal. None, and hardly qualifies as him "****ing up". His job in that spot was not to just leave Larkin and fade back to the front of the net when he had the coverage already there.

To each their own then.

I think once Larkin was effectively out of the play, going back to defend the front of the net would have been the prudent move. Even if the puck had managed to find its way back to Larkin after that point, if Faulk was in front of the net, he would have been in fairly decent position. And obviously, if he was in front of the net, Zetterberg may not have had such an easy time scoring the goal.

I also think you give Faulk too much credit for knowing which players he had to cover him. At the time he committed to Larkin, only J.Staal was back. Hainsey and Versteeg had yet to enter the zone. In fact, Versteeg didn't enter the zone until AFTER Faulk was scrambling to get back into position.

[NHL]2015020023[/NHL]

But again, the original statement was blaming both J.Staal and Faulk for their poor play last night, and in that particular goal, J.Staal takes the brunt of the blame there.

 

[caniac315]

It's hockey season in Carolina again. Sigh.

 

[caniac315]

Why don't I have $500 of vcash like everyone else?

 

[The Stranger]

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?

No goalie in the league would've stopped the deflection goal (Pulkkinen's 2nd) or the last goal...the one wear Abdelkader hammered it from the slot off the goal post.

On the 2nd goal (Pulkkinen's 1st), I doubt any goalie would stop it...but maybe a taller goalie would've caught it with his shoulder...not sure...Pulkkinen didn't get good wood on it and it popped up perfectly for him right to the corner of the net.

So, probably the one you'd like to see Ward save is the first one...mano y mano with Zetterberg. I agree with someone who said he looked caught off guard. Even though J.Staal got smoked, he still pushed him far enough to the net to allow Ward to try and poke-check him. But at the same time, this is still a very high % shot...guessing Zetterberg scores 25-30% on this type off opportunity.

I don't blame the loss on Ward like some do here...I'd give him a B grade...he faced 16 shots he had a chance on and stopped 15...and the one he gave up wasn't soft...but at the same time, the team is 0-2 and Ward's SV% sucks...time to see what Lack can do...hope he plays well.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Oh, I don't mind starting Lack the next game either. I'm excited to see what he can do.

But I know there are going to be those that see Ward let in 4 goals on 19 shots and assume he sucked. But he didn't. The goals he gave up weren't bad goals. They were high quality chances that just happened to be converted on. I'm sure if you asked him, he'd tell you he could probably have played every goal differently to stop it from happening, but in terms of blaming anybody for that game, I'd say it starts with some egregious defensive breakdowns and follows with some really faulty powerplay chances.

 

[bleedgreen]

Ward played fine. The defensive zone was a mess all night. Their skill level dwarves ours. They played lazy and tired on their own end and were able to skill their way out at times. We threw a ton of rubber at the net but mrazek had to make very few good saves. We don't have the skill level to make the most of the chances we get, and our d is overmatched.

Ward's fault? Comical.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

Hanifin is awesome though

yeah i came to say the same thing

i saw the game last night and wow Hanifin is something special, he was so confident, didn't feel like his first NHL game

franchise D in the making, you guys are lucky to have him!

 

[TheOllieC]

yeah i came to say the same thing

i saw the game last night and wow Hanifin is something special, he was so confident, didn't feel like his first NHL game

franchise D in the making, you guys are lucky to have him!

that's because it was his second game

gritty veteran nhanifino