Mrazek stopped 24 of 26 shots in the Hurricanes 3-2 win over the Rangers in Game 1. In typical Hurricanes fashion, Henrik Lundqvist was a lot busier in the first game of the series but Mrazek stood tall when he was called upon. Mrazek is now 6-5-0 with an .896 SV% in 12 career playoff games with the Hurricanes.
In his second season with the Hurricanes, Mrazek went 21-16-2 with a 2.69 GAA and .905 SV% in 38 starts. Despite the Hurricanes dominating the puck against the Rangers, Mrazek was 0-3 with a 3.44 GAA and .872 SV% in three starts vs. New York. During the 2019 postseason, Mrazek went 5-5 with a 2.73 GAA and .894 SV%.
Mrazek has missed the last six games with a concussion that he suffered in Toronto during the "Zamboni Driver Game." Prior to getting hurt, Mrazek was 2-3-0 with a 3.16 GAA and .904 SV% in the month of February. Tonight he returns to face his former team, who are on a two-game winning streak but are still 4-8-1 while scoring just 1.69 goals per game in their last 13 home games.
Mrazek has missed the last six games with a concussion that he suffered in Toronto during the "Zamboni Driver Game." Prior to getting hurt, Mrazek was 2-3-0 with a 3.16 GAA and .904 SV% in the month of February. Tonight he returns to face his former team, who are on a two-game winning streak but are still 4-8-1 while scoring just 1.69 goals per game in their last 13 home games.
Gudas was a healthy scratch in Minnesota on Sunday but will replace Michal Kempny in the lineup on Wednesday. Gudas will be paired with Jonas Siegenthaler and comes in with just one assist in his last 18 games.
Hurricanes GM Don Waddell addressed the media on Tuesday and said Mrazek is at least one more week with a concussion. The Hurricanes have gone 0-2-1 while giving up 11 goals (3.67 GA/gm) since Mrazek and James Reimer got hurt.
Kreider suffered a fractured foot in Philadelphia on Friday and will come out of the lineup for at least Sunday’s game. Head coach David Quinn did not have a timetable on Kreider’s absence prior to Sunday’s game but you have to anticipate they will be without him for at least a couple of weeks. Phil Di Giuseppe will move up to the top line to start Sunday’s game.
Kreider was listed as a game-time decision but head coach David Quinn told reporters that the recently signed winger will play vs. the Islanders. Kreider comes in with 14 points (8G / 6A) in his last 13 games.
The day after getting a seven-year contract extension, Kreider is questionable to play vs. the Islanders due to an illness. Head coach David Quinn is expected to speak around 5:30 PM ET and should update Kreider's status at that time.
Head coach Rod Brind'Amour met with the media on Monday and told reporters that none of their new injuries are "short term" and Mrazek is dealing with a concussion. With both Mrazek and James Reimer hurt, Alex Nedeljkovic and Anton Forsberg were recalled from Charlotte (AHL).
Kreider was set to become a UFA on July 1, and was long expected to be traded ahead of today's deadline. The seven-year deal will pay Kreider through his age-36 season. Kreider has 24 goals and 21 assists in 60 games this season after posting a career-high 52 points a year ago.
Gudas was a healthy scratch during Saturday's game in New Jersey but will replace Jonas Siegenthaler in the lineup on Sunday afternoon. Gudas has picked up just one assist in his last 15 games.
Mrazek replaced James Reimer, who was hurt early in the first period and then he was hurt in a collision with Maple Leafs' forward Kyle Clifford while attempting to play the puck way outside of his crease on Saturday night and did not return. So the Hurricanes were forced to turn to 42-year-old Zamboni driver David Ayres for the final 28:41 of Saturday's 6-3 win.
Friday could be the first time Mrazek makes back-to-back starts since playing either side of the All-Star break. He played well in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Stars, stopping 33 of the 36 shots he faced. Mrazek has just two wins in his last nine games after starting the season 16-8-2. He'll hope to get back in the win column tonight against a lowly Devils team.
