The Hurricanes signed Eetu Luostarinen to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Luostarinen, 20, was a second-round pick (No.42 overall) in 2017 and recorded 15 goals and 21 assists (36 points) in 54 games with KalPa Kuopio of the Finnish Elite League this season. Luostarinen also appeared in four games for Finland at the IIHF World Championship, where he helped them win Gold.
The Hurricanes have signed Jesper Sellgren to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Sellgren, 20, was selected in the sixth-round (No.166 overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft and just wrapped up his first season in the Swedish Elite League, where he accumulated three goals and 12 assists (15 points) in 52 games with Lulea HF.
Martinook (lower-body) will be a game-time decision for Game 4.
Martinook continues to battle a lower-body injury and is a game-time decision for Game 4 after missing Game 3. "I hope so, but I'm not sure. We'll find out tonight,” Rod Brind’Amour told reporters about Martinook’s availability for Game 4.
Goalie Start
McElhinney will start Game 4 vs. the Bruins.
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.
Martinook (lower-body) is not on the ice for warmups; will not play in Game 3.
Martinook continues to battle a lingering lower-body issue and will not play in Game 3 vs. the Bruins. Saku Maenalanen will draw into the lineup to replace Martinook on the Hurricanes’ fourth line.
Goalie Start
McElhinney led the Hurricanes onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Mrazek is expected to start Game 2 in Boston.
Mrazek allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Hurricanes 5-2 loss to the Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite the loss, Mrazek looked no worse for wear after getting hurt in Game 2 vs. the Islanders. Mrazek has only lost back-to-back starts once since mid-December (Games 1 and 2 vs. Washington) so look for a bounce-back performance from the Hurricanes netminder in Game 2.
Ferland (upper-body) is expected to play in Game 1 vs. the Bruins.
Ferland has been sidelined by an upper-body injury since Game 3 of round one vs. the Capitals but is expected to play in Boston on Thursday. Ferland told reporters he is feeling fine physically after Monday’s practice and will likely be eased back into playoff action on the fourth line with Greg McKegg and Jordan Martinook.
Mrazek (lower-body) is expected to be available for Game 1 in Boston.
Mrazek was back on the ice on Monday and told reporters that he was feeling fine physically and could be the Game 1 starter in Boston. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour has yet to announce his starting goalie and we may have to wait until pre-game warmups to find out who it is.
van Riemsdyk underwent shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the playoffs.
van Riemsdyk suffered a shoulder injury in Game 2 vs. the Islanders and will miss the rest of the year after undergoing surgery. Haydn Fleury has replaced van Riemsdyk on the back-end and Jake Bean has been recalled as a reserve defenseman heading into the Eastern Conference Finals.
Goalie Start
McElhinney will start Game 4 vs. the Islanders.
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%).
Mrazek (lower-body) skated on Wednesday but won’t play in Game 3.
The Hurricanes got some good news on the injury front on Wednesday, as the Mrazek injury was not as bad as they had originally feared. Their No.1 netminder was able to take to the ice on Wednesday morning, which is a good sign for his potential availability for Game 4 on Friday.
Ferland (upper-body) will not play in Game 3 but could return for Game 4.
The Hurricanes could get Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Martinook back in Game 3 but they will have to wait at least one more game for Ferland. The 27-year-old has been out since Game 3 of the first round but was on the ice again on Wednesday and is targeting a Game 4 return. The Hurricanes have moved out to a 2-0 series lead and will be even more dangerous when all three forwards are healthy and back in the lineup.
Martinook (lower-body) will be a game-time decision for Game 3 vs. the Islanders.
Martinook has missed the first two games of the second round but it looks like he will draw back into the lineup for Game 3. Martinook has been in and out of the lineup all postseason as he battles a lower-body injury but he has tallied two assists and 10 shots in six games overall.
Svechnikov (concussion) will be a game-time decision for Game 3 vs. the Islanders.
Svechnikov has been sidelined by a concussion since being knocked out by Alex Ovechkin in Game 3 of the first round. Svechnikov has been cleared to play but a decision will be officially made after he gets through warmups. It looks like the rookie will be eased back into the lineup and start on the fourth line (with Greg McKegg and Patrick Brown) and second power-play unit. Svechnikov had two goals and one assist in just 34:46 TOI before getting hurt in the first round.
The Hurricanes recalled Alex Nedeljkovic from Charlotte (AHL).
With Petr Mrazek out, Nedeljkovic comes up to serve as Curtis McElhinney’s backup on Wednesday. Nedeljkovic was excellent this season, going 34-14-1 with a 2.26 GAA and .916 SV% in 51 AHL games and was 3-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .923 SV% in four AHL playoff games before being called-up. It remains to be seen how long he will remain with Carolina.
Source: Canes PR 04/30/19, 10:23 am EST
van Riemsdyk is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.
van Riemsdyk was hurt early in Game 2 and is out long-term with a shoulder issue. van Riemsdyk will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury but head coach Rod Brind’Amour doesn’t expect to see van Riemsdyk back anytime soon.
Maenalanen will have surgery on his hand and will miss 10-14 days.
Maenalanen suffered a hand injury in Game 2 and will undergo surgery, which will keep him sidelined for up to two weeks. Patrick Brown is expected to be a permanent replacement for Maenalanen while he is out. Maenalanen could be back in Round 3 if the Hurricanes are able to get by the Islanders.
Mrazek is day-to-day with a lower-body injury; doubtful for Game 3.
Mrazek was forced to leave Game 2 with a lower-body injury and is not expected to be available for Game 3 in Carolina. Mrazek has been excellent for the Hurricanes during their postseason run, so this could be a big loss, but Curtis McElhinney instilled some confidence during the regular season. Alex Nedeljkovic is expected to be recalled from Charlotte (AHL) and serve as the backup in Game 3. The Hurricanes are expected to give a more detailed timeline on Mrazek’s return in the coming days.
Martinook (lower-body) will be a game-time decision for Game 1.
Martinook played in Game 6 and 7 but is obviously still banged up and gutting it out, as he remains to be listed as a game-time decision for Game 1 against the Islanders.