Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek isn't expected to return from his lower-body injury for Game 4 against the New York Islanders on Friday night.
"When he's 100 percent we will get him back in there," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said Thursday, according to NHL.com's Kurt Dusterberg. "But until then, you can't. There's no point."
The Hurricanes hold a 3-0 series lead over the Isles, and veteran backup Curtis McElhinney owns a .957 save percentage since relieving an injured Mrazek in Game 2, providing little incentive to rush the starter back between the pipes.
"We can't rush a goalie back," Brind'Amour said. "He can't play with an injury. There's a difference with a goalie, I think. (Skaters) can kind of baby it a little, hide it. A goalie can't. He has to be 100 percent in order to feel good about making his moves and exploding."
Mrazek and McEhlinney formed an admirable platoon during the regular season, but both netminders have elevated their play in the postseason.
McElhinney, 35, became the oldest goalie to make his first playoff start in Game 3 and now has a chance to punch Carolina's ticket to the conference finals Friday.
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