Carolina Hurricanes: Petr Mrazek’s Dominance at PNC Arena

Petr Mrazek has emerged as the undisputed starter for the Carolina Hurricanes, and his ability to perform at home is a big reason why.

There is no longer a doubt to if Petr Mrazek is the Carolina Hurricanes Starter. He has continued to deliver win after win at PNC Arena. Diving into the numbers and dissecting his outstanding performance at PNC Arena has yielded even more impressive results.

When the Carolina Hurricanes signed Petr Mrazek to a one year deal back in July of 2018, there were many skeptics. At the time, Mrazek was known to be highly inconsistent and his window of becoming a starter at the NHL level was closing. As time went on, that narrative would soon change. Mrazek has thrived in Carolina, backed by one of the best defensive cores in the NHL.

As of now, Mrazek is riding a 15 game home winning streak, and that’s impressive. To find his last loss at home, you’d have to go all the way back to February 3rd against the Calgary Flames. He’s played in many big games throughout this hot streak, none more memorable than the 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils, where Carolina clinched their first playoff berth since 2009.

This season, Mrazek has posted a 6-0 record at home with a 1.97 GAA and a .925 save percentage. He already has two shutouts under his belt as well. While Mrazek allows the occasional goal or two, his ability to come up with timely saves has proved how lethal he is when the game is on the line.

One thing that contributes to Mrazek’s success at home is the fans. Everyone knows how loud and electric PNC Arena is and he feeds off that energy. Whether it’s the flashy snare or the risky poke check, Mrazek loves to get the crowd roaring and it only fuels him even further. There’s a reason he gets the “PETR, PETR, PETR” chant every time he gets a big save or is one of the three stars of the night.

In Mrazek’s most recent start, Carolina defeated the Detroit Red Wings by the final score of 7-3. He stopped 29 of 32 shots and he was solid throughout, making several timely stops. One in particular was a fantastic pad save on Madison Bowey that led to a 2-on-1 the other way, which resulted in a goal by Warren Foegele (later taken away by a coaches challenge for offsides).

The Hurricanes are off to a great start to the season, posting a 9-3-1 record, and Mrazek deserves a lot of credit for that. He continues to shine at home and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. A goaltender who was once considered a bust has found a home in Raleigh, where he has become a bona fide starter

Question for CC Readers: How long do you believe Mrazek’s home winning streak will last?