For perhaps the first time in these playoffs, Rod Brind'Amour is worried. Not about being behind 2-0 to the Boston Bruins; the Carolina Hurricanes coach is merely unhappy about that.
But Sunday's 6-2 loss at Boston was so out of character, such a departure from the hockey his team has played throughout the playoffs, that Brind'Amour on Monday openly wondered if the Hurricanes are out of gas, mentally speaking, heading into Game 3 at home Tuesday.
"The whole thing was not what I've seen all year out of our group," Brind'Amour said. "Why that would happen, I don't have the answer to that. It looked like we were really tired. We've only played two games in 10 days, but I think the mental fatigue got to us. It's been a real strong push from our guys for about four months, and it felt like we didn't have the extra gear you need this time of year."
The Hurricanes have been pressing since January, when they were on what is essentially must-win alert since then just to get into the playoffs, let alone advance through two rounds.
Brind'Amour wouldn't say Monday whether Petr Mrazek or Curtis McElhinney would start in goal in Game 3, although he hinted a decision already had been made. McElhinney won three games in relief of the injured Mrazek in the sweep of the Islanders, but the team went back to Mrazek in Games 1 and 2.
Etc.
• Veteran Anaheim center Ryan Kesler is expected to miss the 2019-20 season after undergoing right hip resurfacing surgery last week. The procedure is less invasive than a full hip replacement and does allow for the possibility for the 34-year-old, a veteran of 1,001 regular-season games, to resume his career following a lengthy recovery.
• Buffalo defenseman Lawrence Pilut will miss the start of next season after having surgery to address a shoulder injury, with the Sabres announcing a recovery timetable of five to six months.
• New Jersey signed forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Mikhail Maltsev to three-year, entry-level contracts. Both have been playing professionally in Europe.
