Game 5 Projected Lineup: Avalanche at Predators

Defenseman Samuel Girard will be a game-time decision tonight for Game 5 of the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series against the Nashville Predators.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar made the announcement following the team's morning skate today at Bridgestone Arena. Girard participated in the pre-game skate wearing a normal practice jersey for the first time since getting hurt in Game 1.
"I know the suspense is killing everyone, but we won't know until game time," Bednar said of Girard's status to open his post-morning skate press conference.

Girard has missed the last three contests with an upper-body injury, the first time he's missed games since being acquired from Nashville in a three-team trade on Nov. 5.
Andrew Hammond will make his first postseason start in net with the Avs after coming in relief of goaltender Jonathan Bernier in the 3-2 loss in Game 4 on Wednesday. Hammond stopped all eight shots he faced after Bernier couldn't play in the third period due to a lower-body injury.
This will be Hammond's third career start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and first since April 17, 2015 while a member of the Ottawa Senators. He played in one game during the regular season for Colorado on March 28 versus the Philadelphia Flyers and stopped 31 shots in a 2-1 loss.
"He hasn't seen a lot of game action for us, but he's been working hard off the ice and working hard in practice with (goalie coach) Jussi (Parkkila) and honing his game," Bednar said. "He's ready, he feels prepared. He's a veteran guy that has been here before. I like his demeanor right now. Hopefully he can have a night for us."
Bednar said the only other changes to his lineup would be on defense if Girard plays. The 19-year-old rear guard was paired with Patrik Nemeth in Game 1 of the series, while Duncan Siemens was scratched.
Below is the Avalanche's lineup from Wednesday's Game 4, with the only edit to it being the goaltenders. Spencer Martin will be the backup.
All combinations are subject to change.

Forwards

92 Gabriel Landeskog - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
10 Sven Andrighetto - 17 Tyson Jost - 13 Alexander Kerfoot
83 Matt Nieto - 34 Carl Soderberg - 14 Blake Comeau
57 Gabriel Bourque - 37 J.T. Compher - 22 Colin Wilson

Defensemen

16 Nikita Zadorov - 4 Tyson Barrie
12 Patrik Nemeth - 44 Mark Barberio
15 Duncan Siemens - 5 David Warsofsky
49 Samuel Girard (game-time decision)

Goaltenders

35 Andrew Hammond (Starter)
30 Spencer Martin (Backup)
Healthy Scratches: Mark Alt, Vladislav Kamenev, Anton Lindholm, Dominic Toninato, Nail Yakupov
Injury Report: Jonathan Bernier (lower body), Samuel Girard (game-time decision, upper body), Erik Johnson (fractured patella), Semyon Varlamov (knee)
The only lineup change the Predators will make tonight is replacing suspended forward Ryan Hartman with veteran Scott Hartnell.
Hartman was suspended for one game by the league on Thursday for an illegal check to the head of the Avalanche's Carl Soderberg in Game 4. Hartnell will likely be on the fourth line with Mike Fisher and Calle Jarnkrok, who played in his first outing of the series on Wednesday.
Goaltender Pekka Rinne is once again expected to get the start for Nashville. The Vezina Trophy finalist has a 3.53 goals-against average and .886 save percentage this series.
Below is Nashville's projected lineup, according to NashvillePredators.com.

Forwards

9 Filip Forsberg - 92 Ryan Johansen - 33 Viktor Arvidsson
22 Kevin Fiala - 8 Kyle Turris - 15 Craig Smith
10 Colton Sissons - 13 Nick Bonino - 51 Austin Watson
17 Scott Hartnell - 12 Mike Fisher - 19 Calle Jarnkrok

Defensemen

59 Roman Josi - 4 Ryan Ellis
14 Mattias Ekholm - 76 P.K. Subban
25 Alexei Emelin - 52 Matt Irwin

Goaltenders

35 Pekka Rinne (Starter)
74 Juuse Saros (Backup)