Carolina Hurricanes: 5 Most Important Players of the Postseason Surge

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RALEIGH, NC – MAY 14: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Curtis McElhinney (35) skates around the net during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 14, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5) Curtis McElhinney

It is often viewed as one of the most difficult positions in sports. One would imagine that being an NHL goaltender would only get more difficult when your team makes it into the postseason, with the margin of error slim, and every game hinges on your ability to control the crease. Add to this the pressure of your team being games away from punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

What could possibly be more difficult than a goalie in that situation? A goalie being asked to step into that situation off the bench. Curtis McElhinney was a true revelation in his relief of Petr Mrazek. The veteran goaltender proved his worth in these playoffs and put on display the value of experience.

.@NHLCanes G Curtis McElhinney turns 36 next week — and he may start tonight. By now, few doubt him. “He’s still playing, still contributing. He’s playing in a conference final now. You couldn’t write a better story.”https://t.co/78k85tZmJv
— Scott Cruickshank (@ByCruickshank) May 14, 2019

Without McElhinney, this season may have been over in round two. He had every reason to fail, and every reason to blame the failure on bad luck, and an impossible situation. Even in the Boston series, it is difficult to make the case that Mac could have played any better, the team could always assuredly trust in his ability to hold down the net.

As one of the elder statesman of this team, the ability for McElhinney to stay poised and focused on every shift, every shot, was truly incredible to watch. The ability for this team to maintain their belief amidst uncertainty was what catapulted the second round sweep of the New York Islanders.

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