Hurricanes' Mrazek leaves Game 2 with injury
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek was forced to leave Game 2 during the second period and was replaced in goal by Curtis McElhinney.
Mrazek appeared to tweak something while making a save in the middle frame and won't be able to return to the contest due to a lower-body injury, the team announced.
Since Carolina is only traveling with two goalies in the playoffs, the team had an emergency netminder on call.
Todd Scarola will serve as the @NHLCanes backup goaltender for the remainder of today’s game.
— Hurricanes PR (@CanesPR) April 28, 2019
Scarola played collegiately at Stony Brook University.
McElhinney stopped all 17 shots he faced in relief as the Hurricanes held on for a 2-1 victory Sunday.
Mrazek was a major contributor to Carolina's regular-season turnaround and has been arguably the club's most important player in the playoffs, posting a 5-3 record with a .914 save percentage and two shutouts entering Game 2.
McElhinney hadn't appeared in the playoffs before being thrust into action Sunday afternoon. The 35-year-old went 20-11-2 with a .912 save percentage in the regular season.