Curtis McElhinney savoring every moment of Lightning playoff run
Curtis McElhinney #CurtisMcElhinney
EDMONTON — Curtis McElhinney knows his role as the Lightning’s backup goaltender, but in these playoffs, he may have to add another role as video coach “assistant” with the team.
When the Lightning came to Edmonton for the start of the Eastern Conference final, the team was rolling with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in games. Because of that lineup switch, there wasn’t enough room for him on the bench, so he chose to help out in other ways — and while he hasn’t had to stop a meaningful shot in a game, he’s now getting a totally different in-game experience helping out the video coaches.
“The defensive side of the bench was congested, so I decided to sit in the coach’s room watching for offsides,” laughed McElhinney. “I watch for every potential offside that I can, but I make sure to leave the final decision to our coaches — that’s their job, but I make sure I’m the first one to greet the guys in the hallway when they come back during intermission.”
The job of a backup goaltender isn’t always the most glamorous. You’re the one that has to stay late after practice and stop pucks for teammates that want to get extra work in.
Mentally, you have to prepare like you’re starting every night, but knowing in the back of your mind you’re not going to be the one that gets to start more often than not.
While many NHL teams are trending towards going with a tandem, instead of one clear-cut No.1 goaltender, McElhinney is used to this role. It’s one he’s thrived in, playing behind workhorse goaltenders like Miikka Kiprusoff, Sergei Bobrovsky and Frederik Andersen throughout his 12-year career.
While the Lightning have shifted around a number of defensemen and forwards in the playoffs, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has played every single second of playoff action. But McElhinney isn’t phased. He’s savoring every moment of this special playoff run for the Lightning — even as a backup.
“You get to this point in your career, you know you’re a backup,” admitted McElhinney. “You’re more of a cheerleader than anything. It’s not the most glorious thing, but it’s been special to see the development and growth of this team throughout this playoff run.”
He’s got to watch his teammates create some pretty special moments in this playoff run.
From watching Brayden Point score in the fifth overtime in the team’s playoff opener in Columbus, to seeing a young player like Anthony Cirelli step up and score the OT winning goal in the conference final, to Wednesday night, seeing captain Steven Stamkos make his return to the lineup and score a highlight-reel goal on just his second shift of the game.
“It’s been so fun to be a part of,” said McElhinney. “You watch the excitement of this group and you see them rally around a teammate (Stamkos), who’s been out for so long. You see everyone excited on the bench and in the room.”
While head coach Jon Cooper has given the full reins to Vasilevskiy in the playoffs, he knows that one of the big reasons why Vasilevskiy has been able to elevate his game to an even higher level in these playoffs is the work he’s done with McElhinney.
“Curtis is as valuable as anybody in our locker room. He’s become a really good partner to Vasy. He’s supportive and a veteran who’s seen everything. You need that support staff in the goaltending tandem,” said Cooper.
“I can’t say enough about what a character guy he is. He’s got a really good feel of when to talk to Vasy and when not to and he has a great feel of the room. Everybody has to be pulling in the same direction, and Curtis has most definitely done that and he’s been awesome to have in our room.”
McElhinney doesn’t have much playoff experience as a starter. He’s played in just seven playoff games, but he proved last year, if his name is called, he can be relied upon.
Last year, Petr Mrazek got injured during the Carolina Hurricanes’ run to the Eastern Conference final, and McElhinney stepped in.
He became the oldest goalie to make his first-career playoff start — at age 35.
McElhinney helped the Hurricanes clinch the second-round series against the Islanders, and he would make two more starts against the Boston Bruins in the conference final.
“That was an incredible experience,” said McElhinney. “It was everything I dreamed of, and I expected it to be from growing up and watching playoff hockey.”
His playoff experience last year with the Hurricanes was certainly special for McElhinney, but this playoff run ranks alongside it.
“This season … with the bubble, it’s a unique atmosphere that we likely won’t ever experience as players or as a team again,” said McElhinney, who has his parents in Edmonton to support him. “As a team, we’ve been trying to get over those big hurdles and you add in the fact that we’ve been together, in a hotel for two months … now we’re here in the Stanley Cup final — it’s special.”
For fans of the Lightning, McElhinney may be one of the forgotten members of this team when they look back upon this playoff run years from now.
But, whether it ends with a Stanley Cup, or not, all of McElhinney’s teammates know just how valuable his contributions have been to this team’s long playoff run.
“It shows who he is as a person. He’s obviously been in this league a long time, and what happened last year when he was asked to come into the playoffs for Carolina and how prepared he was,” said defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. “He keeps that mindset and uses that as a source of a good example for the other guys who are out of the lineup and waiting for their chance.”
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