Losing Petr Mrazek could bring quick end to Hurricanes’ playoff run

They managed without him for the rest of Game 2 against the Islanders, but if Petr Mrazek has to miss time the Carolina Hurricanes’ playoff run may end quickly.

The Carolina Hurricanes are in the playoffs for the first time since 2009, and despite multiple injuries they took down the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in seven games during the first round. In Sunday’s Game 2 against the New York Islanders defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk went out early, then goaltender Petr Mrazek went down in the second period with a lower body injury and did not return.

In his previous six games heading into Sunday, Mrazek went 5-1 with a .929 save percentage and two shutouts. That included a 31-save shutout of the Islanders in Game 1. Overall this postseason, going into Sunday Mrazek had a .914 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average in eight games.

Curtis McElhinney stepped in for Mrazek, and did not allow a goal while making 17 saves. During the regular season, McElhinney went 20-11-2 with a .912 save percentage and a 2.58 goals-against, but he had played just 81 minutes in the playoffs during his career before Sunday.

After Mrazek went out on Sunday, Carolina had to turn to someone named Todd Scarola as their backup goaltender for the rest of the game, as they traveled with only two goalies.

The Hurricanes rallied from a 1-0 deficit on Sunday, scoring two goals in quick succession to start the third period. They hung on from there as the Islanders attempted a comeback, but missed multiple good scoring opportunities over the course of the game.

Holding a 2-0 series lead as they head back home for Games 3 and 4 is a great position for the Hurricanes to be in, especially as they may get injured players back at some point in the future. But any real absence from Mrazek, who has been the type of surprisingly-hot goaltender that’s a frequent fixture in the NHL playoffs, stands to turn the momentum quickly toward the Islanders.