Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Marchand questionable for Bruins in Game 6

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Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand practiced Thursday and is questionable for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Florida Panthers on Friday (7 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC).

The Bruins captain exited before the third period of Game 3 on May 10 with an upper-body injury following a hit by Panthers center Sam Bennett. He missed Game 4 on Sunday, a 3-2 loss, and a 2-1 win in Game 5 at Florida on Tuesday that extended Boston’s season.

Marchand, who is day to day, participated in the morning skate Tuesday but remained unavailable. He skated on a line with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic at practice Thursday.

The Bruins trail 3-2 in the best-of-7 series.

“I will say he looked good, but he’s got boxes to check,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Thursday. “Day to day. We have the extra day, which is beneficial for all of our players with bumps and bruises that they have. We’ll know more tomorrow.” 

Marchand has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 10 games this postseason, sharing the team lead with forward Jake DeBrusk (five goals, five assists in 12 games).

“Having him around is awesome in any capacity,” Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said after the win Tuesday. “His presence for us means a lot.” -- Joe Pohoryles

New York Rangers

Chris Kreider said he will play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SNO, SNE, SN360, TVAS, CBC).

The Rangers lead the best-of-7 series 3-2.

"Yep," Kreider said when asked if he will play, "unless they tell me otherwise."

The forward was on the ice for an optional morning skate Thursday after not practicing Wednesday for what the Rangers labeled “maintenance.” Kreider would not elaborate further on why he missed practice, instead reiterating it was "maintenance."

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Wednesday he was "hoping this is just normal playoff maintenance." On Thursday, before Kreider spoke to the media, Laviolette said he wouldn't talk about the lineup, "but he's out on the ice, and that's a real positive."

Kreider played 26 shifts totaling 18:51 of ice time, including nine shifts for 7:21 of ice time in the third period of Game 5 on Monday, a 4-1 loss. He has seven points (four goals, three assists) in nine games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Blake Wheeler took Kreider's spot on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Jack Roslovic in practice Wednesday. He was also in his spot in front of the net on the first power-play unit.

Wheeler, who also skated Thursday, is not expected to be available for Game 6.

He is working his way back from a lower-body injury that he sustained Feb. 15. Wednesday was his second time on the ice in a full team setting since he was medically cleared for contact, with the first coming in the morning skate Monday.

"Blake Wheeler has just returned into a jersey and we are working to get him up to speed and that's where he's at right now," Laviolette said Tuesday. "He's full-go at practice but he's just recently gotten to this point, so we want to make sure he's in a position for success."

Filip Chytil was also on the ice Thursday after skating in the full team practice Wednesday, but he was skating with the scratches both times, an indication that he will not play. Chytil was not made available to the media Wednesday or Thursday.

Chytil played in Game 3, his first game since Nov. 2, when he sustained an upper-body injury. He was unavailable for Game 4 because of an illness. Chytil was on the ice for the morning skate Monday but did not play in Game 5. -- Dan Rosen

Vancouver Canucks

Thatcher Demko is progressing in his recovery from an undisclosed injury, according to coach Rick Tocchet, but there is still no timeline for the Canucks’ No. 1 goalie to return.

Demko hasn’t played since sustaining the injury late in the opener of a six-game series victory against the Nashville Predators in the Western Conference First Round on April 21. He resumed skating two weeks ago and has been on the ice this week working on crease movements with goaltending coach Ian Clark.

“All I know is he's improved immensely the last 72 hours,” Tocchet said Wednesday. “I can give you that. I'm not going to give you a percentage, but it's better than 10 percent (improvement). He's really, the last 2-3 days, made some strides. Big strides.”

Tocchet was asked about the possibility of playing Game 6 at the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, or a potential Game 7 back in Vancouver on Tuesday. The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2.

“I don't know if I want to go that far,” Tocchet said.

Arturs Silovs is 4-3 with a 2.71 GAA and .907 save percentage in seven postseason starts.

Demko is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top goalie, after going 35-14-2 with a 2.45 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and five shutouts despite missing five weeks late in the season with a left knee injury.

He played the final two games of the regular season before getting injured in the playoff opener against Nashville, but Tocchet said at the time it was not related to the previous knee injury. -- Kevin Woodley

Carolina Hurricanes

Brett Pesce participated in practice Wednesday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury April 22.

The Hurricanes defenseman skated on the fourth pair with rookie Dylan Coghlan but won't play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference against the Rangers at PNC Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SNO, SNE, SN360, TVAS, CBC).

Carolina trails 3-2 in the best-of-7 series.

“Yeah, it was good to see him out there for the first time,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I don’t think his status has changed.”

The 29-year-old hadn’t skated with the team since his injury, sustained in Game 2 of the first round against the New York Islanders.

Pesce had 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 70 regular-season games and one assist in two playoff games. Tony DeAngelo has played in his place for the past eight games. -- Shawn P. Roarke