News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

BOSTON — Michael Leighton hadn't been in a game since before Christmas. When he was called on Saturday, the Canes goalie must have felt like he was entering a fire zone with the Boston Bruins in high gear and shooting away.

Boston's Mark Stuart had just fired a tough-angle shot past Cam Ward. The Bruins led 3-0 just 3:27 into the second period and the crowd of 17,565 at the TD Banknorth Garden was screaming for more when Canes coach Paul Maurice decided to pull Ward and bring in Leighton.

"That's part of being a backup goalie — always being ready," Leighton said. "Practice hard, and if you get put in, step in and do it."

Leighton's last time in net was at Minnesota on Dec. 23, in a 3-2 loss to the Wild. He then took a seat as Ward started the next eight games, and some around the team wondered when Maurice might next slot Leighton for a start.

Turns out, he was needed Saturday. Coming after Stuart's goal, he was a little rusty, giving up a goal to Michael Ryder at 7:20 of the second to make it 4-0 — Ryder cooly flipping in a backhand.

"It's difficult not to play in three or four weeks but that's the nature of the game and that's what happens," Leighton said. "I let in a soft goal, the first one there, then a second one."

Ryder scored again at 16:05 of the second to complete the Boston scoring. Defensemen Aaron Ward and Zdeno Chara both had shots find metal during the game, so it could have been worse.

"They're a good team," said Leighton, who had 18 saves. "They've shown all year why they're one of the better teams in the league. They play good defense, they have good goal-scorers and they have toughness. And (goalie Tim) Thomas played well again."

Justin Williams, who scored Carolina's only goal in the dismal 5-1 loss, said the Canes played too soft. Maurice said the said, saying the Canes "played small."

"We're just too easy to play against. We were way too easy," Williams said. "They did exactly what they wanted with us. They pushed us off pucks in the offensive zone and they battled and got their sticks on pucks in our defensive zone.

"They got off to an early lead and rolled from there."