Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek is out indefinitely after having surgery on his right thumb, general manager Don Waddell said Wednesday.
Mrazek is 2-1, with both wins coming via shutout, and he leads the NHL with a 0.99 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage this season.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour said it could be a “long-term kind of injury,” adding it was “a big blow, obviously.”
The 28-year-old Mrazek suffered the injury when he was bumped by teammate Max McCormick, knocking the net out of place, in the first period of a victory against the Dallas Stars on Jan. 30.
Mrazek’s absence means the Hurricanes will lean more on James Reimer, who entered the year as part of a tandem with Mrazek, and Alex Nedeljkovic.
Carolina plays the second half of a two-game set at Chicago on Thursday. The Hurricanes have won six of seven to start the season, including all four games since returning from a COVID-19 pause that led to the postponement of four games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.