With the Carolina Hurricanes trailing Boston 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals, first-year head coach Rod Brind’Amour has a difficult decision to make. Does he stick with struggling Petr Mrazek in goal, or switch to Curtis McElhinney in search of a spark?
Brind’Amour and the Carolina Hurricanes deftly managed their goalie situation throughout the regular season, rotating between Mrazek and McElhinney for most of the team’s brilliant run in January and February. Each stayed sharp with regular work, and neither wore down.
In the first two games against the Bruins, Mrazek has not looked like the same goalie who compiled a 23-14-3 record with a 2.