Tampa Bay had a lot to be happy about after its 6-2 victory over Montreal in Game 2 on Sunday, but the one blemish was the loss of forward Cedric Paquette. He sustained an undisclosed injury during that contest and couldn’t participate in Game 3 as a result.
Promising rookie Jonathan Drouin was inserted into the lineup as a result, but was held to just 9:54 minutes of playing time and was on the ice for Montreal’s lone goal in the Lightning’s 2-1 victory.
Paquette is ready to return for Game 4 tonight, but rather than push Drouin out again, veteran Brenden Morrow will sit instead. Drouin will play on the fourth line with Brian Boyle and fellow rookie Vladislav Namestnikov. Meanwhile, Paquette is projected to skate alongside Valtteri Filppula and J.T. Brown.
In nine playoff contests, Paquette has scored a goal and averaged 13:08 minutes of ice time.
#TBLightning pregame lines #MTLvsTBL: Paquette-Filppula-Brown Palat-Johnson-Kucherov Killorn-Stamkos-Callahan Drouin-Boyle-Namestnikov
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 7, 2015
#TBLightning pregame D-pairings #MTLvsTBL: Hedman-Stralman Garrison-Coburn Carle-Sustr
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 7, 2015