Alex Tuch could move up to be the center on the top line for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at Bell Centre.
The forward skated between Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty during the morning skate in place of Chandler Stephenson, who is day to day with an undisclosed injury.
Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said Tuch's inclusion on the line will be a game-time decision.
"He's similar to Stephenson," Vegas forward Reilly Smith said. "He's got a lot of speed. I think 'Patches' and 'Stoner' are used to playing with guys who come through the middle with a lot of speed."
Tuch, usually a wing, has scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games this season.
"He's kind of like that X-factor," Smith said. "You can slot him in any position, and he'll be productive."
The Canadiens will try for their ninth win in 10 games, but without coach Dominique Ducharme, who has tested positive for COVID-19. This will be the first time that a United States-based NHL team plays in Montreal in 15 months because of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I think our confidence has been high from the start," Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher said. "I don't think you can get to a place where you feel too comfortable, too confident and you get on the verge of being too cocky because this game will humble you real quick.
"We're a confident group but at the same time we understand the work that goes into that process."
Teams that take a 2-1 lead are 89-25 (.781) winning a best-of-7 NHL semifinal series.
Here are three keys to Game 3:
1. Canadiens without coach
Ducharme was not at the morning skate because of irregularities with his COVID-19 test results. The NHL said in a statement Ducharme is partially vaccinated with his second shot given June 9.
All tests administered to Canadiens players, other coaches and hockey staff Thursday and Friday returned uniformly negative results.
The key for the Canadiens will be to focus on the game at hand and not be distracted by the Ducharme situation, as difficult as that might be.
