The Canes dropped another disappointing game last night. They lost 4-2 to the Coyotes in a game that probably should have fallen into the win column. Many of the issues the Canes have faced this year reared their ugly head again tonight—an inability to finish goals, turnovers and difficulties in transition.
Let’s start with what I felt was the biggest impact on the game overall. The Canes came out flying and had two chances in the first eight minutes on empty nets. One rang off of Domingue’s blocker post and another Lindholm simply missed the net. Coach Peters talked about the inability to score early as one of the key influences on the pace for the next 50 minutes.
Lindholm misses the wide open net pic.twitter.com/AmAiCLgO1r
— Matthew Barlowe (@matt_barlowe) March 4, 2017
The Canes really had Domingue uncomfortable early and he was fighting the puck too. Even if the Canes only scored on one of those opportunities, it wouldn’t have allowed him to settle in as easily. The Coyotes struck first on a transition play three minutes after Lindholm missed the net. Shortly after, they found the net for a second goal on another blown transition play. Being up 2-0, as opposed to down 2-0 early was a big reason that Domingue was able to get his rhythm for the entire game.
This whole play tho 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KhkysDicum
— #Yotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 4, 2017
Two goals in two games for @gollygoose33! pic.twitter.com/DezdbacaNP
— #Yotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 4, 2017
It also didn’t help that the Canes continued to struggle with creating traffic in front of the net. Jordan Staal referenced the need to find “greasy goals.… The Canes out-shot the Coyotes 34-22, however, many in the final 50 minutes were low-percentage shots or ones with little traffic. Coach Peters noted, “We weren’t at the net tonight at all, we weren’t hard enough for sure—weren’t hard enough on the body consistently through the line-up……
One player that Coach Peters was exceptionally pleased with was Di Giuseppe. When discussing how many in the line-up struggled to play the body consistently, he praised his six hits. He also noted that he had three shots and an assist. He then went on to say that he was pleased with the Di Giuseppe-Staal-Tervainen line and said they put in good work.
Coack Peters was asked about the turnovers and the third goal and noted, “You turn pucks over in tough spots and bad things happen.… The Canes have seen countless tied or one-goal games in the third get blown over a defensive zone turnover or blown assignment. The Canes had a D zone turnover and Martinhook made the Canes pay almost half-way into the third for the GWG.
Coach Peters also referenced that the Canes turned the puck over in the offensive and defensive zone too many times and that it compounded the coverage issues on the first two goals. Turnovers in the offensive zone and blown assignments on transitional plays have been an issue in the Canes recent skid. While they do a strong job most of the game, teams continuously make them pay on break-downs.
Towards the end of Coach Peters’ post-game interview, he was asked if he regretted his comments regarding back-up goaltender Eddie Lack. Coach Peters had been under fire for much of the day because of his harsh comments, or as Coach Peters said, “honest… comments.
Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters doesn't seem too happy with the play of goaltender Eddie Lack pic.twitter.com/z1kuIGS0Vv
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 3, 2017
He went on to discuss that he felt the media and others have wanted there to be a “goalie competition… on starts. He continued to illustrate that for there to even be a competition, Lack must then compete. If you were wondering who will start most of the final 21 games, I would imagine Ward is penciled in for more than Lack based on his comments.
While Ward certainly has had his struggles in the crease, especially since January—I still believe he gives the Canes a better chance to win more consistently than Lack. According to Hockey Reference, Ward has 26 “quality starts… and nine “really bad starts.… In his 50 games started, he has a QS% of .520.
Looking at Lack, in his eight starts, he has two “quality starts… and three “really bad starts.… His QS% is .250 and almost half of his starts are sub .850 SV%. Furthermore, only two of his starts are above a .875 SV%.
I can’t disagree with Coach Peters sentiment that there isn’t much of a battle. Ward has almost a 20% chance for a “really bad start,… while Lack holds almost a 50% chance. Lack only has two performances above the NHL league SV % average of .913, while Ward has 26. Coach Peters job is to put forth a winning team, not the most popular team.
I also don’t disagree with the sentiment that Ward is not a reliable starter, especially for an entire season—he needs to be in a lesser role. I do hope that the Canes make a strong move this summer and move either Lack or Ward. However, for the remainder of the current season, if the question is, “who gives the Canes the best chance to win?… the answer is Ward over Lack. It might not be by a significantly large proportion, but he does give the Canes a better chance.
Finally, I do want to say that everyone is rooting for Lack to do better—him and Ward performing better are obviously better for the organization. I do feel Lack’s season stats are misrepresenting his current capabilities—he had a slow start to the season, however, he had a strong relief effort against the Maple Leafs and two strong starts against the Flames and Senators recently. I would like to see him get more playing time, but I still think Ward is the “starter.…
The Canes don't have to wait long to the chance to redeem their loss, as the two see each other on Sunday again. Overall, I think many felt that if the Canes found the net on one of those two early chances, then the outcome could’ve gone different. Puck drop will be at 8:30 and on FSCR—Go Canes!