Canadiens F Laine out for must-win Game 5, Dobes starts again
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The Montreal Canadiens will not have forward Patrik Laine in their lineup once again for Game 5 against the Washington Capitals, head coach Martin St. Louis told reporters on Wednesday.
Laine played in the first two games of the series, where he registered an assists and a minus-2 rating in 23:24 of ice time.
Goaltender Sam Montembeault did not make the trip to Washington as he continues to deal with injury, leaving Jakub Dobeš to make a second straight start. Dobes turned aside seven of the eight shots he faced in relief in Game 3 and allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Game 4 loss.
Defenceman Alexandre Carrier will be a game-time decision for Montreal. Carrier has a goal and an assist in four games in the series, and has averaged just over 20 minutes of ice time per game.
Head coach Martin St. Louis said "a couple" players are game-time decisions, but did not want to reveal who else.
The Canadiens said Tuesday that Carrier was day-to-day after being hit by Capitals forward Tom Wilson in Game 4 on Sunday and exiting the game.
Mike Matheson said he's prepared to play whether or not his defence partner enters the lineup.
"It's been a few years here where we've changed things and played with different players, if he's out, it won't change my preparation," he said. "But he's obviously an important player for us, so we hope he'll play."
Carrier being out would likely mean increased minutes for Matheson, Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle.
Forwards Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson, and defenceman David Savard did not skate Tuesday for "maintenance."
Meanwhile, Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas is also a game-time decision. The six-foot-six, 247-pound forward had 30 goals and 36 assists in 76 games this season, but hasn't played since April 4 with a foot injury.
The Canadiens trail the Capitals 3-1 in the first-round, best-of-seven series.
Montreal rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, the last time the Canadiens reached the post-season.
Six players on the current Canadiens roster played in that series, including captain Nick Suzuki.
"Stay relaxed, be excited. It's not over until it's over," he said. "We're a hungry team. We want to come out and show that we can win this game and go back home."