While Cassidy is banking on Wagner's physicality being a factor, the winger will not play in his familiar fourth-line roll. Wagner will instead play alongside Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson on a line that is expected to bring a tad more offensively.
"No offense to Sean [Kuraly] or [Joakim Nordstrom] or [Noel Acciari], but probably a little more skill, a bit more line-rush than anything," Wagner said of what's different on the third line. "But both ways are effective. Sean's line had a great game in Game 7. Just excited for the opportunity with them."
Cassidy believes that as the series goes on and the teams get a better feel for each other his lineup will become more solidified, but for now he is leaving open the possibility that everyone on the roster could see playing time.
"We want to balance that physicality versus foot speed, and as the series goes on, we'll see who best fits," said Cassidy. "We have some guys we know we can move in and out of the lineup. Every forward played in the last series, and that could very well happen again."
Clifton, meanwhile, suited up for the first two games against Toronto before suffering an upper-body injury late in Game 2. The rookie blue liner did not play again in the series, but said the effects of the injury did not last more than a few days.
"I was skating I think two days after, so my legs feel good," said Clifton. "[I feel] much better. Ready to go tonight. Really exciting, watched a couple games - the past five - the guys got it done, so I'm excited to get back tonight. It sucks watching games. You want to help, obviously. Anxious to get back in."