Game 4 Projected Lineup: Avalanche vs. Predators

There was hope that defenseman Samuel Girard would return to the Colorado Avalanche lineup for Game 4 of the first round series against the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that won't be the case.
Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed following the Avs' morning skate today that the rookie blueliner will miss his third straight contest with an upper-body injury. Girard took part in Tuesday's optional practice and today's pregame skate in a red, non-contact jersey, but he is still day-to-day.

Colorado won't make any changes to its lineup from the one it iced for Games 2 and 3 of the best-of-seven series with Nashville.
Goaltender Jonathan Bernier will make his fourth straight playoff start of the year and eighth overall. He made a playoff career high 29 saves in the Avs' 5-2 victory in Game 3 on Monday, earning his first postseason win as a starter.
Below is the Avalanche's projected lineup for Game 4. All forward combinations and defensive pairings 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

Goaltenders

45 Jonathan Bernier (Starter)
35 Andrew Hammond (Backup)
Healthy Scratches: Mark Alt, Vladislav Kamenev, Anton Lindholm, Spencer Martin, Dominic Toninato, Nail Yakupov
Injury Report: Samuel Girard (upper body), Erik Johnson (fractured patella), Semyon Varlamov (knee)
The Predators had an optional morning skate at Pepsi Center after holding a full team practice on Tuesday.
Nashville has utilized the same lineup for each of the first three games of the series and could do the same this evening.
The only change would be the addition of forward Calle Jarnkrok and defensemen Yannick Weber, who both took part in Tuesday's practice after being day-to-day with upper-body injuries. Neither player has played in the series.
Goaltender Pekka Rinne is expected to once again get the start. On Tuesday, he was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender during the regular season.
Below is the Predators' 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
20 Miikka Salomaki - 12 Mike Fisher - 38 Ryan Hartman

Defensemen

59 Roman Josi - 4 Ryan Ellis
14 Mattias Ekholm - 76 P.K. Subban
52 Matt Irwin - 7 Yannick Weber

Goaltenders

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