from Luke DeCock of the News & Observer,

Eddie Lack was perfect in his preseason debut, playing two unblemished periods against the Washington Capitals on Monday. Cam Ward gave up six goals in a period and a half in his preseason debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, but it’s unfair to draw any conclusions from either start.

That first preseason appearance is always a freebie for a goalie, often playing behind a patchwork defense of veterans still shaking off the rust and kids who will get no closer to the NHL. You can look good, as Lack did, but you can’t really look bad. Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters certainly wasn’t making any conclusions of significance.

“We’ll leave that until closer to the end,” Peters said. “Too many Grade A chances in both games and a lot of breakdowns we’re not typically going to make. I thought Eddie was good in Washington, very athletic on the penalty kill. Wardo we just left hung out to dry, unfortunately.”...

Both goalies are in the final year of their contracts, and both can become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. That makes this season essentially a referendum on the position among Peters and the front office, although General Manager Ron Francis holds the deciding vote.

The Canes could, conceivably, keep both, especially if they’re in postseason contention, but it seems likely one goalie will claim the position and the other will bring a considerable ransom at the trade deadline from a goalie-deficient contender, presumably in the Western Conference if the Hurricanes are still in the playoff hunt.

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