Just watching the Carolina game on PVR now: By "rough" you mean Darling was beaten by a deflection on a PP in which he had no chance and was beaten by 2 clear cut breakaways. Canes supposed great defensemen need to tighten up. Wild have had 4 breakaways and the second period isn't over yet. TT looks pretty good.
The PP goal wasn't on him.
Stewart's goal was not a goal that should have been allowed, and Darling did himself no favors with the attempt a bad poke check, but it also demonstrated what has always been the biggest problem with Darling, you get him moving side-to-side, you create biiiiig holes to shoot through. Big enough even for Chris ****ing Stewart to backhand through. I suspect that will be a bigger and bigger theme through the season as more teams start looking at tape of him playing more games, he'll have to adapt in kind and tighten that up.
Staal's goal just went right through him. Darling was in position, Staal didn't deke him, he didn't pick a corner, Darling's reaction was delayed and he shot the puck straight through him. Darling knew he should have had it too, his reaction immediately after demonstrated as much.
The CAR defense had allowed all of 14 shots by that point and were controlling the game. Not to devolve into cliche, but 'they could have used a big save'.
He settled in and the team battled back. They got the 2points. I have little doubt Darling will turn out at least a league average performance this season, which is really all CAR needs.