3 Keys: Capitals at Bruins, Game 3 of first round

No. 2 Capitals at No. 3 Bruins
6:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, NESN, NBCSWA
Best-of-7 series tied, 1-1

The Boston Bruins will look to carry their momentum into Game 3 of the Stanley Cup First Round against the Washington Capitals at TD Garden on Wednesday.
The Bruins tied the best-of-7 series with a 4-3 win in overtime in Game 2 on Monday.
"It's one game," forward Charlie Coyle said. "It's about putting that behind you and going into tonight and doing the same thing. Striving for more."
Goalie Ilya Samsonov, recently removed from COVID-19 protocol, is starting for the Capitals, and will be backed up by Pheonix Copley. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who also was removed from protocol, will play. Center Lars Eller is out with a lower-body injury.
Teams that win Game 3 after a best-of-7 series is tied 1-1 are 223-107 (67.6 percent), including 3-1 in the first round last season.
Here are 3 keys for Game 3:

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1. Center depth

Kuznetsov has not played since May 1 after being placed in protocol. Eller was injured during the second period of Game 2 on Monday.
"We've got some decisions to make, lineup decisions that we'll work through here," coach Laviolette said.
Forward T.J. Oshie, who can play center, did not skate Wednesday but is in the lineup.
"I think that's something we've been facing all year," Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom said. "Guys have been in and out, but I think we're a deep group here. I feel like we've bonded well, all of us, like the taxi squad as well. They're ready to jump in or out of the lineup. That's just part of the playoffs."

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2. Marchand staying focused

Brad Marchand led the Bruins with 69 points (29 goals, 40 assists) in 53 regular-season games. He had one shot on goal in Game 1 but had five shots on goal and scored the game-winner 39 seconds into overtime in Game 2.
However, he also took two penalties.
"I've got a lot of faith and trust and loyalty to Brad," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said after Game 2. "There's way, way more good than bad and I think he wanted to drag us into the fight."

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3. Testing goalie

The Bruins want to continue to get to the net, something they were able to do in Game 2, which led to goals by Jake DeBrusk and Taylor Hall.
"Getting to the net [in Game 2] I thought was excellent," Cassidy said. "Generated a bunch more than the night before in terms of second chances around the net. … So I thought we did a good job with that."

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- T.J. Oshie
Anthony Mantha -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Tom Wilson
Conor Sheary -- Michael Raffl -- Daniel Carr
Carl Hagelin -- Nic Dowd -- Garnet Hathaway
Dmitry Orlov -- John Carlson
Brenden Dillon -- Justin Schultz
Nick Jensen -- Zdeno Chara
Ilya Samsonov
Pheonix Copley
Scratched:Daniel Sprong, Philippe Maillet, Garrett Pilon, Martin Fehervary, Trevor van Riemsdyk,
Injured:Vitek Vanecek (lower body), Craig Anderson (body maintenance)

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall -- David Krejci -- Craig Smith
Nick Ritchie -- Charlie Coyle -- Jake DeBrusk
Sean Kuraly -- Curtis Lazar -- Chris Wagner
Matt Grzelcyk -- Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly -- Brandon Carlo
Connor Clifton -- Kevan Miller
Tuukka Rask
Jeremy Swayman
Scratched:Anton Blidh, Trent Frederic, Karson Kuhlman, Greg McKegg, Oskar Steen, Jack Studnicka, Urho Vaakanainen, Jack Ahcan, Steven Kampfer, Jarred Tinordi, Callum Booth, Jaroslav Halak, Dan Vladar
Injured: Ondrej Kase (upper body), Jakub Zboril (upper body), Jeremy Lauzon (upper body)

Status report

Miller did not skate (maintenance) but is expected to play.