McElhinney will face his former team right out of the gate. The veteran netminder went 20-11-2 with a 2.58 GAA and .912 SV% in 33 appearances with the Carolina Hurricanes last year. He signed on with Tampa Bay this summer and that will make him an excellent spot-start option on many occasions this season, but this is a tough matchup for his first start of the season.
McElhinney stopped 29 of 31 shots in the Hurricanes 2-1 loss to the Bruins in Game 3. McElhinney has been great for Carolina during the postseason, stopping 100 of the 106 shots (.943 SV%) that he has faced in three and a half games. McElhinney will need to be as good as he was in Game 3 to give Carolina a chance to stay alive because TuukkaRask has been outstanding in the opposite crease.
McElhinney made his first career playoff start in Game 3 and stopped 28 of the 30 shots that the Islanders fired his way to secure a 5-2 win. With Petr Mrazek still out with a lower-body injury, McElhinney will be given the opportunity to complete the sweep on home-ice. In 93:33 of playing time, the 35-year-old netminder has allowed just two goals on 47 shots (.957 SV%).
McElhinney allowed four goals on 38 shots in the Hurricanes loss in Boston on Tuesday. The Hurricanes will break their goalie rotation as they will go back to McElhinney tonight vs. the Jets. The 35-year-old has gone 9-3-1 with a 2.01 GAA and .931 SV% on home-ice this season, but draws a fairly difficult assignment with the Jets in town—however, Winnipeg comes in without two of their top defensemen and as losers of nine of their last 14 (5-7-2).
McElhinney allowed two goals on 23 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Blues last Friday. The Hurricanes goalie rotation continues with McElhiney going tonight in Boston. McElhinney has won six of his last seven starts (6-1-0) while posting a 1.57 GAA, .946 SV% and two shutouts. Despite the sparkling recent play, the Bruins come in having won 10 of their last 11 and haven’t lost in regulation since January 19th—12-0-4 since then.
McElhinney allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Hurricanes win in Ottawa on Tuesday. Since returning from injury, McElhinney has won three in a row while allowing just six goals on 88 shots (.932 SV%). The 35-year-old netminder comes into Friday’s game vs. the Oilers at 7-2-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .927 SV% on home-ice this season.
McElhinney allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Hurricanes win in Ottawa on Tuesday. Since returning from injury, McElhinney has won three in a row while allowing just six goals on 88 shots (.932 SV%). The 35-year-old netminder comes into Friday’s game vs. the Oilers at 7-2-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .927 SV% on home-ice this season.
