Cardiac Cane
Fansided

Carolina Hurricanes: 10 thoughts after first quarter of the season

By Andrew Miller

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 24: Derek Ryan #7 and Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate Ryan's goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL game on November 24, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 24: Derek Ryan #7 and Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate Ryan's goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL game on November 24, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
BUFFALO, NY – NOVEMBER 18: Scott Darling #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes tends goal against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on November 18, 2017 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – NOVEMBER 18: Scott Darling #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes tends goal against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on November 18, 2017 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

9. Scott Darling is having a hard time settling into the starting role

Acquiring Scott Darling was a big move from general manager Ron Francis over the off-season. Yet, Darling’s start to his time in Raleigh was very inconsistent, to say the least. He currently owns a .900 save percentage and gave up six in his last start.

Darling gave up one of the worst goals in recent memory in that loss where he gave up six to the Rangers. On what was supposed to be a dump in from Mika Zibanejad, the puck fluttered by Darling’s glove into the net.

A few other struggles that Darling is having includes closing the five hole and controlling rebounds. You cannot blame the entirety of the loss to the Rangers on Darling, or even the 6-4 loss to the Islanders last week. But, he needs to play better.

For Darling to secure the starting job, he’ll have to start proving himself on a nightly basis and not be so streaky. He’s starting to look like Eddie Lack did during his time with the Canes and that’s not what he was brought in for.

Home/Analysis