Bruce Boudreau’s mum about job questions, Mike Green’s status or starting goalie

It’s natural to face some questions when you’re a top seed down 3-0. Those questions are probably that much more vexing when you’ve been forced to answer similar ones in the past. In other words, the Washington Capitals are probably in a collectively sour mood this afternoon.

One can only imagine Bruce Boudreau’s expressive face getting redder and redder as the assembled media asks him the questions he must know they’ll ask. It’s tough not to laugh at the thought, really, unless you are a Capitals fan.

Either way, Boudreau still had to at least address those questions following the team’s morning skate. There are functional questions beyond the typical tripe about “heart” and “choking.”

Let’s look at how he approached the three most pertinent questions.

1. Is he worried about his job security?

“Listen you guys have been asking me that all year,” Boudreau said. Is your job on the line? Well then, I don’t wanna answer that.”

He then muttered under his breath, “Stupid question, stupid.”

Well, OK then.

2. Will Mike Green play after sporting a noticeable limp after Game 3?

Here’s an update on Green from Katie Carrera of the Washington Post, since Boudreau wasn’t particularly forthcoming on that issue.

Based on how limited his movement was, it doesn’t appear likely that the two-time Norris Trophy finalist will be in the lineup as Washington faces elimination.

Coach Bruce Boudreau wouldn’t discuss Green’s status. “I’m not going to talk too much about injuries today,” he said. “We’ll see who’s out there tonight.”

If Green is unable to go, Sean Collins make make his Stanley Cup playoff debut tonight against the Lightning.

3. Will Michal Neuvirth start or will the team turn to Semyon Varlamov instead?

Carrera reports that Neuvirth didn’t skate today. Boudreau seemed fairly non-committal on the issue, though.

Michal Neuvirth didn’t skate this morning but when Boudreau was asked if he was contemplating a goaltending change, the coach replied “No.” In a follow up question asking if Neuvirth would start, though, Boudreau said “Maybe.”

It’s unfair to place all the blame on Neuvirth, but perhaps the team will respond to a change in net either way. Varlamov was a part of the Capitals’ last two playoff runs, so he certainly wouldn’t feel out of place.

Green status and the team’s starting goalie might not be clarified until the warmups - if not the beginning of the game itself - but if more information surfaces, we’ll keep you informed.