New York Islanders: Curtis McElhinney To Spell Injured Petr Mrazek

The Carolina Hurricanes have a 2-0 series lead but have to switch over to their backup goalie Curtis McElhinney. The New York Islanders should take advantage.

The New York Islanders had a tough time with Curtis McElhinney in Game 2 after he spelled the injured Petr Mrazek. McElhinney went on to stop 17 pucks to help the Hurricanes to a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead.

At 35 years old, he will be the oldest goalie to make his first playoffs start. For a majority of his career, he’s served as a backup goalie so it’s no surprise that he hasn’t started a game in the playoffs just yet.

McElhinney has bounced around, he’s played for seven different teams in the NHL but the Hurricanes have given him the best opportunity this season. His 33 games were the highest of his career.

In his 33 starts he was 20-11-2 with a .912 save percentage and a 2.58 goals against average. Those are okay numbers, and you’d absolutely take those from a backup. Not all teams can be blessed with the Islanders goalie situation.

In seven career starts against the New York Islanders, he’s 4-2-1 with a .907 save percentage and a 2.84 goals against average. Those numbers are rather pedestrian and the Isles have to make Carolina pay being down their starting goalie.

The Islanders have struggled taking advantage of opportunities in this series. Tonight, against a backup goalie, is 100 percent a must-win game. Especially if you want to keep this series alive.

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