After the Hurricanes stuck with goalie Petr Mrazek for the duration in Game 2, the team isn't guaranteeing he will start again for Game 3.
The Hurricanes have already lost twice to the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Final, with Mrazek allowing 10 goals on 52 shots.
In the 6-2 loss Sunday, he surrendered six goals on 25 shots.
"We've still got to let this one digest a little bit and then move forward," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said Sunday, via NHL.com.
Mrazek was in the starter's customary home net during Monday's practice in Raleigh, North Carolina, ahead of Game 3, according to NHL.com, but Brind'Amour wasn't tipping his hand on whether he would go with Mrazek or Curtis McElhinney for Tuesday's Game 3.
Rod Brind’Amour acknowledged there could be a change in Carolina’s net for Game 3 but said nothing has been finalized between Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney. He didn’t give a hint one way or the other.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 13, 2019
"I can't be that guy that does that, right?" Brind'Amour told reporters Tuesday morning, via NHL.com. "I know who we're starting, but I guess you'll have to wait and see. Sorry."
Mrazek's status in the conference finals was in question leading up to the series. He had been dealing with a lower-body injury after leaving Game 2 of the second-round series against the Islanders on April 28.
He was eventually cleared to play and returned in goal Thursday for Game 1 against the Bruins. Mrazek had an .852 save percentage in the 5-2 loss to open the series.
Again on Sunday, he played the full three periods despite allowing four goals on 21 shots in the first 40 minutes.
“I’m feeling good, no issue with that,” Mrazek said, via the News & Observer. “I don’t think it was that long a break, maybe nine or 10 days. I was feeling pretty good. I’m not going to look past, just look forward to the next one.”
Mrazek, 27, has a 2.73 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage through 11 games in the playoffs.