Washington Capitals
Defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen are each expected to return when the Washington Capitals try to avoid elimination in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the New York Rangers at Capital One Arena on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; MAX, MNMT, truTV, MSGSN, TBS, MSG, SNP, SNO, SNE, SN360, TVAS).
"On track to play tonight, so we'll see how the rest of the day goes. Looking optimistic," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said after the morning skate. "It should help us a bunch. Two guys that have been in our lineup the majority of the year."
Sandin hasn't played since April 7, and Jensen not since April 13 because of upper-body injuries.
Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk is out for Game 4 with an upper-body injury sustained in a 3-1 home loss in Game 3 by a hit from Rangers forward Matt Rempe at 12:08 of the first period that resulted in an interference penalty. Defenseman Vincent Iorio (upper body) skated in a non-contact jersey on Sunday. He was injured by hit from forward Alexis Lafrenière in the second period of a 4-1 loss in New York in Game 1.
Washington trails the best-of-7 series 3-0.
"It's tough to watch when the guys you've battled with all year long are out there giving it their all and it's not going our way right now," Jensen said. "And you see guys are falling to injury. That is tough to watch when you're not out there with them, but hopefully it's something I can change tonight and be a difference-maker." -- Harvey Valentine
Los Angeles Kings
Goalie David Rittich will start for the Kings against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round on Sunday (10:30 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TBS, BSW, SN1, SN, TVAS).
The Oilers lead the best-of-7 series 2-1 after winning 6-1 in Game 3 on Friday.
Cam Talbot started the first three games of the series and has a 5.30 goals-against average and .861 save percentage.
"David's [going to] go," Kings coach Jim Hiller said following the morning skate Sunday. "We feel good about that. I thought Cam did a good job, that's not it. David's played really well for us, played well against Edmonton. We'll give him a go."
Rittich went 13-6-3 with a 2.16 GAA, .921 save percentage and three shutouts in 24 regular-season games (22 starts), taking over as the backup to Talbot after Pheonix Copley tore his ACL in practice Dec. 15. He made 26 saves in a 4-0 win against the Oilers on Feb. 10, Hiller's coaching debut with Los Angeles after Todd McLellan was fired Feb. 2. His last start was April 13, when made 28 saves in a 3-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks. -- Dan Greenspan
Winnipeg Jets
Brenden Dillon missed Winnipeg's 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round on Sunday with a hand injury.
The defenseman sustained the injury in a scrum following Colorado's 6-2 win Friday. The Avalanche have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.
"Fortunately, there is no damage at all but unfortunately, there are a lot of stitches holding it together, so our doctors are a little hesitant to put him back in this quickly," Jets coach Rick Bowness said. "If you asked him, he'd play. He'd just tape the whole hand up and play. He has that much desire."
Logan Stanley, a healthy scratch in Game 3, replaced Dillon. Forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, who the Jets recalled from Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Saturday, was in the lineup for David Gustafsson, a healthy scratch.
Bowness is hopeful Dillon can play Game 5 when the Jets will face elimination at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SNW, ALT, ESPN). -- Tracey Myers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Mikhail Sergachev returned for the Lightning and had two shots on goal, a hit and two blocked shots in 17:03 of ice time in a 6-3 win against the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the first round at Amalie Arena on Saturday.
The defenseman missed 34 games with a broken left leg.
"I felt great, the fans were very loud for me, and I appreciate that," Sergachev said. "I felt like a hockey player again. Honestly, I couldn't really sleep last night, it felt like my first NHL game again. And then you get that from the fans in the warmup, it made me very emotional. I'm just thankful to be here."
Sergachev broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg in a game against the New York Rangers on Feb 7. He had surgery the next day and got a metal rod placed in his leg. He returned to practice on April 8 wearing a red no-contact jersey.
Sergachev began practicing in a regular jersey and started taking line rushes and shifts on the penalty kill and in other situational play April 20. He missed the final 31 games of the regular season and first three games of the playoffs and started the Game 4 with Erik Cernak.
He had 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 34 games during the regular season.
"The body is an amazing thing because the body heals … it's that mental hurdle you have to get over," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "And at some point, he was going to have to play a game. You can tell when a player is ready and when a player is not ready. Yesterday, we knew he was ready."
The Lightning trail the best-of-7 series 3-1. Game 5 is at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, BSFL, ESPN, SN, TVAS). -- Corey Long
