Hurricanes finally choose their starting goaltender just minutes prior to Game 1 puck drop

We’re just moments away from puck drop at TD Garden in Boston for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes and Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour appears to have thrown a curve ball at the Bruins.

Leading his team out onto the ice and taking the bulk of his team’s warmup was goaltender Petr Mrazek. Why is this important? Because USUALLY the goaltender who does these things is the designated starter. So, it appears that the previously injured Mrazek will indeed make his return tonight with Curtis McElhinney backing him up on the bench.

Check it out:

As the @NHLCanes take the ice Petr Mrazek will be your starting goaltender. Mrazek will play his first game since leaving Game 2 in the 2nd round with a lower body injury #TakeWarning @Sports_Night pic.twitter.com/K1jdi9M3PZ
— Mike Toper (@MikeToper1) May 9, 2019

Mrazek has been out of the lineup since Game 2 of the Hurricanes’ second round series against the New York Islanders, but McElhinney was an absolute ROCK in Mrazek’s place. Regardless, Mrazek was absolutely ON FIRE when he went down with injury and there’s an age old adage of never losing your roster spot to injury, so… Mrazek it is.

Additionally, injured forward Micheal Ferland will make his return, as well.

Micheal Ferland is officially listed as in for the #hurricanes after missing eight games to an upper-body injury. Patrick Brown comes out. Petr Mrazek starts in net.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 9, 2019