Matt Karash: Game #21: No rest for the weary as Canes fall to the Bruins

I think we are alright. 3 games in 4 nights against top performing teams with some of our top skill guys out...

We were out played most of the night and still only down 1 late in the game. We had our chances last night.

I agree with everything you said Matt , but do you really think any goalie had a chance on those goals ? I doubt it ....

It seems like every time Cam Ward comes back from an injury, the canes have to sacrifice a game or two (or more) for him to get back up to speed. In the past few years there really hasn't been a solid backup to rely on, but since Peters has been playing so well wouldn't it have made sense to start Ward off with the Checkers for a few games?

It seems like every time Cam Ward comes back from an injury, the canes have to sacrifice a game or two (or more) for him to get back up to speed. In the past few years there really hasn't been a solid backup to rely on, but since Peters has been playing so well wouldn't it have made sense to start Ward off with the Checkers for a few games?
- smakdown61

On the 1 hand, I think it could have made sense for Ward to do a rehab stint to get a few games. But my hunch (have not heard team say it) is that Peters needed a day off after playing 10 straight, and the team preferred a rusty Ward to a rusty Murphy (he has been healthy but has not played a real hockey game in forever either).

It will be interesting to see what Muller does next. Canes have another run of 3 games in 4 nights (Thu, Sat, Sun). If Ward has the starter controls back, likely would be to play Ward in 2 and Peters in 1 of the back-to-backs. But personally, I might be inclined to go right back to the hot hand in Peters on Thursday. Ward is ultimately the starter, but there is nothing wrong with riding Peters as long as he is hot and the team is winning in front of him.

I agree with everything you said Matt , but do you really think any goalie had a chance on those goals ? I doubt it ....
- Caniac-16

So first to be clear, you cannot hang Monday's loss on Ward. The Bruins were better and deserved to win whether it be 4-1, 2-1, 3-2 or whatever. And I also think Ward played decent.

To answer your question, Ward had no chance on the 1st goal. And it is not like you can completely fault the goalie on any deflection where the puck changes direction. But if you watch that 2nd goal again, look where Ward is. He uncharacteristically lost track of where the net was and had his left skate about even with the post which put 90% of his body defending the original shot outside the net. So when it deflected, more or less the entire net was open. Had he been on his spot, there is at least a decent chance that puck hits him instead of going into a mostly vacant net.

But again, I am not sure it matters to debate individual plays. The Bruins were better and likely going to win anyway. And after fighting the puck a bit in the 1st period, Ward got better as the game went on which is encouraging.

The rebound control (or lack of rebounds) and recovery after the initial shot displayed by Ward were such a huge difference from Peters.

Peters game has improved, but the margin of error for the defense on more routine scoring plays has gone up a lot, which is good, because the level of play over the 4-0-1 stretch was probably unsustainable.