One game after getting their captain back from injury, the Boston Bruins could be getting another important centre back in the lineup.
Head coach Jim Montgomery said that David Krejci will take the warm-up and be a game-time decision for Game 6 Friday night in Florida against the Panthers.
Krejci was a late scratch from Game 3 and has not played in the series since. He had 16 goals and 56 points in 70 games this season, his first back in the NHL after playing at home in the Czech Republic.
In other Bruins news, Linus Ullmark and Charlie McAvoy missed the morning skate but both will play Friday.
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour declined to name a starting goaltender ahead of Friday's Game 6 against the New York Islanders.
Antti Raanta has started every game for the Hurricanes in the playoffs while Frederik Andersen recovered from an illness.
On Thursday, Brind'Amour said "there's a chance" that he could make a goalie change.
"I haven't played in the playoffs in a while, so of course, if called upon I would be excited to play," Andersen said Thursday. "But yeah, it's up to the coaching staff. I'm back right now. I'm just happy to be a part of the team and not sitting up top like last year as much. And yeah, I feel good to go."
Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar is eligible to return to the lineup Friday for a must-win Game 6 on the road against the Seattle Kraken.
Makar served a one-game suspension for a late hit on Kraken forward Jared McCann during Game 4 Monday.
The 24-year-old Makar finished third on the Avalanche in scoring during the regular season with 66 points in 60 games. He has three points (one goal and two assists) and is averaging 25:15 minutes of ice time during the first-round series against Seattle.
Fellow defenceman Josh Manson will be out of the lineup, head coach Jared Bednar told reporters. Manson, who missed the final 23 games of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, did not return for the third period of Game 5 Wednesday. He has zero points and is a minus-3 while averaging 11:47 minutes of ice time in the series.
The defending Stanley Cup champions are aiming to avoid elimination and force a decisive Game 7 at home.
Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski might make his return to the ice sooner than anticipated.
The 38-year-old, recovering from a concussion after a controversial hit from Minnesota Wild's Matt Dumba in Game 1, participated in the morning skate on Friday and is now listed as a game-time decision for Game 6.
"We'll see how he feels and we'll make some decisions going forward here," head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters.
The Stars lead the Wild in the Western Conference quarterfinals 3-2 and have the opportunity to book their ticket to Round 2 Friday in Minnesota.
Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol told reporters Friday that top forward Jared McCann didn't join the team for their morning skate ahead of Game 6 at home against the Colorado Avalanche.
McCann (undisclosed) was injured on a late hit from Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar during the first period of Game 4 Monday.
Makar is expected to return to the Avalanche lineup after receiving a one-game suspension, which he served during Game 5 Wednesday.
McCann led the Kraken with 40 goals and 70 points during the regular season and has one assist in the first-round series.
The Kraken are looking to win their first-ever Stanley Cup Playoffs series with a 3-2 lead on the defending champions.
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed to reporters that Erik Cernak will remain out of the lineup for their must-win Game 6 Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The defenceman exited Game 1 with an injury, one of three Lightning players to do so, after a hit from Maple Leafs' Michael Bunting.
Bunting received a five-minute major penalty and a three-game suspension for the hit.
