Backup goalie plays unlikely hero for unheralded ’Canes
BRAD PENNER/ USA TODAY SPORTS
Curtis McElhinney will go down in NHL history as the first goalie to play in his first three playoff games with three different teams.
But he’s undoubtedly more excited about joining the long list of unlikely heroes who helped their teams win a critical NHL game.
Stepping in for injured Petr Mrazek in the second period, the 35-year-old stopped all 17 shots he faced to give his Hurricanes a 2-1 win against the Islanders and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series. Mrazek was day-to-day at press time.
McElhinney has played 219 NHL games, mostly as a backup. But GM Don Waddell told USA TODAY McElhinney has played an important role in helping the ’Canes reach the playoffs. He was 20-11-2 in 33 regular-season games.
Said Brind’Amour, “There was no ‘oh no, we got to put that guy in.’ ”
The Hurricanes seem to be fueled by their adversity. Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk was also injured early in the game, leaving the team to play with five defensemen. Saku Maenalanen has a hand injury. Micheal Ferland, Andrei Svechnikov and Joran Martinook were already injured.
This is a team that has embraced an us-against-the-world mentality since famed “Hockey Night in Canada” broadcaster Don Cherry called them a “bunch of jerks” because they dared to offer a player-choreographed celebration for fans after home wins.
They embraced the nickname of a “Bunch of Jerks” as their own. It seemed to add another level of motivation for a team that is in the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Carolina was trailing 1-0 when McElhinney took over. But Warren Foegele and Nino Niederreiter scored 48 seconds apart at the start of the third period to give it the lead.
“We’re not going to put excuses on hitting posts and bars, but the reality is we were the better team. They just scored one more than us,” Islanders goalie Robin Lehner said.
The Hurricanes don’t seem to receive the credit they probably deserve.