If Curtis McElhinney starts in goal for the Carolina Hurricanes against the New York Islanders in Game 3 of the second-round playoff series on Wednesday, he would make history. According to NHL.com, McElhinney would be the oldest goalie to make his first Stanley Cup playoff start. At 35 years, 343 days, the journeyman goaltender would be 37 days older than Les Binkley, who made his first postseason start for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Oakland Seals on April 8, 1970. McElhinney could replace regular starter Petr Mrazek, who is listed as day-to-day after sustaining a lower-body injury Sunday in the second period of Carolina's 2-1 win. McElhinney came on in relief and stopped all 17 shots he faced as the Hurricanes took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. An 11-year veteran who began his NHL career with the Calgary Flames in 2007-08, McElhinney played for four other NHL teams before joining the Hurricanes this season. He made relief appearances in the playoffs with the Flames in 2009 and the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. "I don't think at this point in my career anything surprises me," McElhinney said on NHL.com. "I've been through so much. I'm grateful for the opportunity I do have right now. It's one of those moments you check off your bucket list. Just one more challenge to look forward to." Claimed off waivers from the Maple Leafs on Oct. 2, two days before Carolina opened the 2018-19 season, McElhinney started 33 games during the regular season, the highest total of his career. He compiled a 20-11-2 record with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. Though Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said Mrazek might be ready for Game 4, he is prepared to rely on his backup. "It's just gas and go," McElhinney said. "I've been around long enough and I've been thrown into those situations before. The playoff atmosphere is a little bit different, but the game itself is the same. I've felt pretty good all year long." Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are hurting this postseason, but they also are winning. That is keeping their spirits high despite major roster fluctuation in the past couple of weeks. On Wednesday night, they will try to build on their 2-0 lead against the New York Islanders in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. In order to make up from absences from the roster, the Hurricanes have had some intangibles going their way. "The compete level and the resiliency of our group has been satisfying, but it has been that way all year," coach Rod Brind'Amour said. The latest setbacks on the injury front came with three players exiting Sunday's 2-1 win in Game 2 with various ailments. Goalie Petr Mrazek left with a lower-body injury, but by Monday his status was ruled day-to-day. It's not so good for defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who could have an extended absence, and forward Saku Maenalanen, who's out for at least the rest of the series, both with upper-body injuries. Carolina recalled 23-year-old goalie Alex Nedeljkovic from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. Jake Bean, a 20-year-old defenseman, was also summoned from the Checkers. The Hurricanes have won three straight games, all away from home, in the past week. The stretch began last Wednesday with a Game 7 win in Washington. "You can say we got lucky here and there," Brind'Amour said. "But we got unlucky on that first goal (in Game 2). We got unlucky with all the injuries happened. So it's kind of going both ways. Depends on what side of the fence you're on." Islanders coach Barry Trotz said their objective this week is to put wins together, one at a time. "You can't win two unless you focus on the first, so we'll focus on the first and go from there," he said. The Hurricanes have already knocked off the defending champion Capitals. Now they're trying to topple the team coached by last year's title-winning coach. Trotz has directed teams out of playoff deficits in the past and he has tried to instill confidence in the Islanders. "We've had lots of chances," Trotz said. "It hasn't been a series where they've outchanced us, outplayed us. I think we've played a good portion of carrying the play, if you will, in good portions of the first two games." Yet New York has questions regarding player availability as well. Forward Cal Clutterbuck exited Game 2 with an injury. The good thing for the Islanders is that they've won consecutive road games this postseason, doing so in a first-round sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins. But this time it's more desperate, being in a two-game hole. "We've just got to respond," Trotz said. "It was no different than the first series. You've just got to respond." Mrazek had been the only goalie used by Carolina until he departed in the second period Sunday. The Hurricanes turned to backup Curtis McElhinney, who stopped all 17 shots he faced. "He doesn't need a lot of work to be sharp," Brind'Amour said. "That's kind of been his role all his career. That's a pro. That's what we've got with him." If McElhinney does start, he would make history, according to NHL.com. McElhinney would be the oldest goalie to make his first Stanley Cup playoff start. At 35 years, 343 days, the journeyman goaltender would be 37 days older than Les Binkley, who made his first postseason start for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Oakland Seals on April 8, 1970. — Reuters
