Carolina Hurricanes’ Top Goaltender Petr Mrazek Practicing, Hopes To Start Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals

By Jordan Long

The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Carolina hasn’t played since May 3^rd when they finished off a series sweep of the New York Islanders by the score of 5-3.   Carolina expects to have top goaltender Petr Mrazek back.

                Mrazek has been unbelievable in net for the Hurricanes in these playoffs.  He is 5-3 with a 2.22 goals against average and a save percentage of .913, stopping 210 of 230 shots.  Mrazek’s play in net helped the Hurricanes knock off the defending Stanley Cup Champions Washington Capitals in 7 games.

In the 2^nd-round, Mrazek started games 1 and 2 of the 2^nd-round against the Islanders.  He played 26 minutes in game 2 before leaving the ice with a lower body injury.  Carolina went with backup Curtis McElhinney.  McElhinney finished game 2 which was a[[ 2-1 Hurricanes win.  They leaned on him for games 3 and 4 and those were both victories. 

McElhinney was the reason Carolina was able to sweep New York.  He saw the puck well and was able to make the saves.  McElhinney gave up rebounds but the Hurricanes defense was there to clear the puck out of the defensive zone.  If not for McElhinney’s play in the net, Carolina may not have won the series.  He is 3-0 with a goals against average of 1.56 and a save percentage of .947 in the postseason.

Mrazek has been practicing with the team this week.  It is up in the air if he will start game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.  According to ESPN, Rod Brind’Amour said, “there were “no limitations” on his goalie and Mrazek said he felt “120 percent, to be honest.” 

The Hurricanes know Mrazek is the number 1 goaltender.  He is playing at an even higher level in these playoffs.  The injury to him was unfortunate but all signs point to him starting in game 1 against the Boston Bruins. If Mrazek can’t go in game 1, McElhinney will be in net.  Carolina is lucky to have two hot goaltenders in the playoffs.  It doesn’t matter which one is between the pipes because they will make the saves to end scoring opportunities.   This will boost Carolina’s chance of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the 1^st time since 2006.