'New' goalie Legace to start against Kings
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 | 11:38 AM ET
CBC Sports
Carolina coach Paul Maurice thinks Manny Legace will be motivated in his return to the NHL. (Gerry Broome/Associated Press)Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice has decided to give veteran Manny Legace the start in net as the team tries to end a monster losing streak on Wednesday night against the visiting Los Angeles Kings.
Legace, just signed as a free agent on Monday, will get the opportunity over incumbent Michael Leighton in the wake of the injury suffered on Saturday by No. 1 man and Team Canada aspirant Cam Ward.
Ward was cut by a skate in collision with Columbus forward Rick Nash and is expected to be out for a few weeks.
Maurice cited Legace's previous experience in the West as a factor in his decision as the Hurricanes try to end a 12-game losing streak.
"He knows that conference very well and he knows their shooters," Maurice told the team's website. "I guess they could know him [too], but this is the kind of opportunity he was waiting for, he was hoping for and he was looking for. I do think the table is set for him to come in and play his best."
Legace has played 337 NHL games with St. Louis, Detroit and Los Angeles. After the Blues dropped him last season, the 36-year-old couldn't crack Atlanta's lineup out of training camp.
The Toronto native has been playing in the American Hockey League since his last NHL regular season game on Feb. 4.
What Maurice didn't state was an obvious lack of faith in Leighton. The journeyman goalie allowed six goals in his only start this season, and three in four minutes in relief of Ward on Saturday against the Blue Jackets.
Erik Cole and Tim Gleason scored in the 3-2 loss, the second straight night Carolina scored first but couldn't hold a lead.
The Hurricanes are a long way from the NHL record for a losing streak — 17 games, held by Washington (1974-75) and San Jose (1992-93) — but those were teams in the early days of their existence, not one coming off an Eastern Conference final finish.
Carolina (2-11-3) will play its fourth game without offensive leader Eric Staal, who is out with an undisclosed injury.
Los Angeles (10-6-2) started the season strongly, but has been outscored 7-2 in losing their last two.
Anze Kopitar scored his 14th goal on Monday, the lone marksman in a 4-1 loss to Chicago. The Slovenian tied the injured Alexander Ovechkin for most goals in the NHL and also leads the league with 28 points.
Jon Quick finished with 25 saves. Quick has been one of the more unheralded goaltenders to start the season, but could be due for a rest after starting 17 games.
Coach Terry Murray has said that backup Erik Ersberg will play at some point as the team is in the midst of a five-game road trip.
