GDT: Hurricanes @ Penguins 10/8/13 7:00PM

[Joe McGrath]

Ward didn't quit until after the 4th goal. He quit after he went into that beast mode sequence and the following face-off wound up with a guy by himself 3 feet out somehow.

It's so easy to blame the goalie. That's why we have Tarheels subjective +/- thread to show why it's not so easy. Are you going to do the PIM analysis this year to so I can throw Harrison under the bus some more?

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Ward didn't quit until after the 4th goal. He quit after he went into that beast mode sequence and the following face-off wound up with a guy by himself 3 feet out somehow.

Which happens far too often. Remember that Leafs game from last year (or was it the year before)?

Ward makes a ridiculous save, team stands around in awe of the save, Leafs continue to play and grab the rebound, Leafs score.

 

[NotOpie]

Teams win or lose as a team. That should go without saying. Players are simply expected to perform; that's what they're paid to do. Last night, Cam Ward did not live up to his $6 million. That's a simple fact as well. There are plenty of excuses that can be given, and yes, there were serious defensive lapses last night (cough, cough, Murphy...cough, cough, Hainsey....cough, cough, Harrison), but in the end Cam gave up what I thought were 3 goals he could have and should have stopped. That isn't saying that Khudobin is our new #1. It is simply stating that Cam needs to play a more consistent and solid game for us to contend.

Also, I don't get the "we lost to a better team" stuff. We don't have Crosby and Malkin, but we have several very good hockey players who proved last year that they have the talent to play with any team. We did get beat by a very good team. We looked a little out of sorts for the 1st period and a half, but we didn't look like we got out hustled or even out played. We fought back, had a number of good offensive sequences and then the wheels fell off. It happens. We need to learn from it and be better in the next game. Continued play will yield better results.

 

[Ole Gil]

Something that doesn't get talked about, is fatigue. There has to be a lot of energy exerted in a series of saves like Ward had before goal 4. Then to have a surprise grade a screw up by the D immediately after, it seems possible he was still catching his breath. It certainly seemed like a 'tired' mistake.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Which happens far too often. Remember that Leafs game from last year (or was it the year before)?

Ward makes a ridiculous save, team stands around in awe of the save, Leafs continue to play and grab the rebound, Leafs score.

Hell, remember the Detroit game less than a week ago? Ward makes an unreal lead-preserving kick save with under 30 seconds, Wings continue to pelt him with shots until one finally squeaks in.

 

[cptjeff]

Teams win or lose as a team. That should go without saying. Players are simply expected to perform; that's what they're paid to do. Last night, Cam Ward did not live up to his $6 million. That's a simple fact as well. There are plenty of excuses that can be given, and yes, there were serious defensive lapses last night (cough, cough, Murphy...cough, cough, Hainsey....cough, cough, Harrison), but in the end Cam gave up what I thought were 3 goals he could have and should have stopped. That isn't saying that Khudobin is our new #1. It is simply stating that Cam needs to play a more consistent and solid game for us to contend.

Also, I don't get the "we lost to a better team" stuff. We don't have Crosby and Malkin, but we have several very good hockey players who proved last year that they have the talent to play with any team. We did get beat by a very good team. We looked a little out of sorts for the 1st period and a half, but we didn't look like we got out hustled or even out played. We fought back, had a number of good offensive sequences and then the wheels fell off. It happens. We need to learn from it and be better in the next game. Continued play will yield better results.

It was a close game, then a tied game, and then we got stupid. Mentally, this team needs to learn how to stick with games. When they scored a quick goal to take the lead back, it rattled us. That can't happen. Cam was tired after the flurry and gave up a stupid goal on the next faceoff- that was completely on him. He got lazy, tried to lean over and cover the puck with his glove rather than putting himself in a position to move laterally. He failed, and it became an easy goal for the Pens. He was angry with himself, and that threw him off his game. That was the tipping point for him. He gave up one really bad goal, and it led to two more bad goals because his head wasn't in the right place.

A timeout somewhere in there to force guys to stop and calm down might have been helpful, but there was a TV timeout close, and Muller decided not to call it. Reasonable choice, but the drama of a timeout might have been helpful.

This team has the skill to compete with anyone in the league, and on any night. But it needs a shrink.

 

[cptjeff]

Something that doesn't get talked about, is fatigue. There has to be a lot of energy exerted in a series of saves like Ward had before goal 4. Then to have a surprise grade a screw up by the D immediately after, it seems possible he was still catching his breath. It certainly seemed like a 'tired' mistake.

I certainly think that's the case for Ward's major screwup on that goal. No other way to explain it. He tried to reach down and cover the puck from a standing position- that's just horrible form in any circumstance, but it would be easier to try when you're still gasping for breath.

Brind'Amour needs to teach this team not just how to win faceoffs more often, but all the little tricks of how to delay them when your team needs a breath of air. The whole, "wait, I think my stick might be broken" routine might very well have prevented that goal, and thus the spiral of frustration that led to the game getting out of control. Hell, that sequence might have turned the tide in our favor as an inspirational boost.

Games can turn on the little things, and when we don't have guys like Francis, Stillman, Whitney, Wesley, or Brind'Amour on the ice anymore, we seem to be missing that aspect. "Crafty veterans" are a useful influence on a game.

 

[Frank Booth239*]

Unbelievable people are throwing Cam under the bus over last night. He played, and usually plays, amazing while under the kind of ridiculous bombardment he is subjected to by the Penguins superior team.

If he played for a team that had even a little more mental tenacity and physical toughness, he'd be a Veinza candidate and the team would be a cup contender.

 

[bleedgreen]

The sweet save had me convinced he was gonna make it back to himself, I'm not giving up based on what happened after.

 

[LVwrangler]

I am as mad as everyone else about this game, but let me remind everyone this was a team that had only given up one goal. Granted its the only third game, but at least we can say we played a very hot goalie and put 2 on him. The old canes would have been another shutout. I see potential. I am hoping for a very good rebound game against Washington for the top line, and better positioning for our defense.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Unbelievable people are throwing Cam under the bus over last night. He played, and usually plays, amazing while under the kind of ridiculous bombardment he is subjected to by the Penguins superior team.

If he played for a team that had even a little more mental tenacity and physical toughness, he'd be a Veinza candidate and the team would be a cup contender.

You forget, this is the HFBoards Canes board. We could have a genetically engineered goalie with the DNA of Roy, Brodeur, Hextall, Hasek, Tretiak, Sawchuk, Plante, and Dryden and we'd still castigate him as a no-talent loser and call for his backup to replace him.

 

[Lazyking]

I just really hope Kirk shows confidence in Cam and plays him against the Caps. Cam and the whole team need to bounce back and putting Khudobin in this early in season would send the wrong message. As bad as some of the goals were, it was a team loss.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

If I had to guess:

Caps - Ward
LA - Ward
Phoenix - Anton
Chicago - Ward

And seriously, what the **** with our opening stretch of games. Why not just stack EVERY difficult team in Oct-Nov?

 

[Lazyking]

I don't know if I wanna start Cam on back to back days.

 

[Mr Whipple]

Couple of thoughts:

First, I think a lot of us prematurely jumped to the conclusion that Ward was back to 'normal'. He's shown signs of his old self, yes, but he's only played how many games between pre-season (should those even count?) and the regular season? After the time he's missed, it's amazing he's done as well as he has. Just look at how long it took him to get going last season. I sure wasn't expecting Ward to be as good as he's been so far.

Second, I think a lot of us are also forgetting how inconsistent Ward has been in the past. Both game to game and within each game. In a single game he'll make highlight save after highlight save, stopping shots he has no business to. Then he'll turn around and let in a save a midget goalie could make regularly.

Also, he'll play one game and look like a Vezina candidate, the next he'll play like an AHL goalie. The thing is, when he's 'on', after one of those horrible games he'll come back and play one of those great ones.

So I'm with Lazyking. Play him against the Caps. Give him a chance to prove himself and to work through things.

 

[What the Faulk]

Criticizing Cam is not the same as throwing him under the bus. He didn't play flawlessly last night, and there's no harm in pointing that out.

I'd go with BB's rotation, but if Cam gets burned against the Ovechkins, I'd start Khudobin against the Kings.

 

[rocky7]

the excuses are amazing. just wow. eh, to hell with it, nvm. I had a bit of a long rant going but we'll see. bring on Oates and the Capitals.

it just really p***** me off to watch a team that has plenty enough skill and talent be so humiliated when there are really no excuses to at least not be competitive.

the "shrink" is walking back and forth on the bench.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

the excuses are amazing. just wow. eh, to hell with it, nvm. I had a bit of a long rant going but we'll see. bring on Oates and the Capitals.

it just really p***** me off to watch a team that has plenty enough skill and talent be so humiliated when there are really no excuses to at least not be competitive.

the "shrink" is walking back and forth on the bench.

Everyone realizes the defense isn't where it needs to be, yet. Other than you, apparently.

I see your boy Semin has yet to register a goal. I suppose that's Muller's fault, as other coaches have "figured him out" and he has yet to "make adjustments."

By the way...1-1-1 against Detroit, Philly, and Pittsburgh on the road. I hope your long rant wasn't in reaction to this start.

 

[tomdundo]

Anybody have a guess as to the lineup tomorrow night? About to start making the GDT and would like to know who's playing...

 

[Zezima]

 

[tomdundo]

Well, I'm just assuming it's the same guys we've been dressing, or at least for the graphical parts. I'll post textual lines as they become available.



Warning: My GIMP skills are nonexistent. Prepare to bleed from your eyes.