Sandin has been out since April 7th due to an upper-body injury but is close to returning and was a game-time decision for Game 3 on Friday vs. New York. The 24-year-old will make a welcome return if and when he is able to suit up after he posted career highs in points (23), games played (68) and SOG (79) while averaging 21:07 TOI per game.
Jensen has yet to appear in either of Washington's opening playoff losses but was a game-time decision for Game 3 on Friday, suggesting he could be nearing a return to the lineup.
With Washington down 2-0 they will turn back to Charlie Lindgren on Friday for Game 3 at home. The 30-year-old has allowed four goals in each of the Capitals' losses to start the playoffs and will look to build off his .864 SV%. He'll attempt to slow down the New York Rangers on Friday, who finished the regular season with the leagues best record and were seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.39).
New York will return to Igor Shesterkin for Game 3 on Friday in Washington after he led them to a 2-0 series lead with a 22 save (.880 SV%) win last game. The 28-year-old Vezina Trophy winner has been incredibly solid to open the playoffs, with his 2-0-0 record, .913 SV%, and 2.00 GAA. He will head to Washington on Friday in an attempt to take a stranglehold on the series.
New York is expected to return to Igor Shesterkin for Game 3 on Friday in Washington after he led them to a 2-0 series lead with a 22 save (.880 SV%) win last game. The 28-year-old Vezina Trophy winner has been incredibly solid to open the playoffs, with his 2-0-0 record, .913 SV%, and 2.00 GAA. He will head to Washington on Friday in an attempt to take a stranglehold on the series.
With both Mason Marchment and Radek Faksa day-to-day, Mavrik Bourque has been recalled and will be used for Game 3 on Saturday if need be. The 22-year-old centre is coming off a sensational season with Texas (AHL) where he had 26 goals, 77 points and 32 PIMs in 71 games played.
With Carolina in need of playoff reinforcements and Springfield (AHL) willing to send Ryan Suzuki back, the 22-year-old forward has been recalled to the Hurricanes. Suzuki is Carolina's 2019 1st round pick (28th overall) and had 14 goals and 30 points in 51 games with Springfield this season.
Hague missed Game 2 due to a lower-body injury and will remain out on Saturday as Vegas hosts Dallas for Game 3. The 25-year-old has missed a total of eight regular season games in the last two season and had two goals, 12 points, 43 PIMs and 105 SOG in 73 games this year.
Georgiev bounced back nicely an ugly seven-goal performance in the series opener by stopping 28 of 30 shots against (.933 SV%) for a Game 2 victory over Winnipeg. Georgiev led the NHL in wins (38) for a second straight season despite having a very mediocre 3.02 GAA and . 897 SV%. He will look to take a series lead Friday as Colorado hosts Winnipeg, who despite leading the NHL in goals against per game (2.41) have given up 11 in the first two games.
Despite allowing four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%), Talbot evened out the series with a victory over Edmonton in overtime of Game 2. The Kings' will go back to the 36-year-old veteran netminder despite his struggles after he posted a solid 27-20-6 record, 2.50 GAA, and .913 SV% during the regular season. He'll look to take the series lead as Los Angeles hosts Edmonton for Game 3 on Friday, who were fourth on the NHL in goals per game (3.56) during the regular season.
Lyubushkin was away from the Maple Leafs on Friday due to the birth of his child but is expected to be ready to play on Saturday for Game 4 vs. Boston. The 30-year-old shutdown defenseman has played well since being acquired at the trade deadline and has one assist, one SOG, two PIMs, and a +2 plus/minus in the first three games of the playoffs.
Stanley will be the odd man out as Nate Schmidt returns to the Jets lineup on Friday for Game 3 in Colorado. The 25-year-old only appeared in 11 regular season games but had played in each of Winnipeg's opening playoff games, failing to pick up any points while averaging just 10:12 TOI.
Schmidt has yet to appear in the playoffs for Winnipeg but will replace Logan Stanley on Winnipeg's third defensive pair on Friday for Game 3 in Colorado. The 32-year-old had two goals, 14 points, 75 SOG, 16 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus in 63 games played during the regular season.
The Jets are unsurprisingly expected to turn back to Hellebuyck for Game 3 on Friday in Colorado after he allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%) in a loss last game. The 30-year-old American netminder is a lock for this season's Vezina Trophy after he posted a 37-19-4 record, 2.39 GAA and .921 SV% during the regular season. He will try to slow down the Colorado Avalanche in Colorado for Game 3, who led the NHL in goals per game (3.68) during the regular season.
Girard was originally a full participant in the morning skate on Friday but left early as the team finished out their practice and is considered a game-time decision for Game 3 vs. Winnipeg. The 25-year-old has been out since April 13th due to a concussion but is on the cusp of returning. If he is unable to go, Caleb Jones will continue to lock down Colorado's third defensive pairing role.
Nashville will expectedly turn back to Saros for Game 3 on Friday at home after he impressed in Game 2 by stopping 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%) in a road victory to even the series. The 29-year-old had yet another strong regular season this year with his 35-24-5 record, 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. He will look to take a series lead on Friday as Nashville hosts Vancouver, who will look to get back to their scoring ways after finishing the regular season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.4).
