Martin St. Louis, head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, is set to make pivotal lineup decisions after winger Patrik Laine missed the morning skate prior to Game 3 against the Washington Capitals. Laine, who has struggled with a scoring drought, particularly after being benched in the third period of Game 2, is crucial to the Canadiens' playoff hopes. His absence raises questions about the team’s offensive strategies as they trail 2-0 in the series.

Laine, Montreal's highest-paid player, has not scored in seven games, raising concerns over his impact this postseason. If he is unable to play, forwards Oliver Kapanen and Michael Pezzetta may step in. Meanwhile, the Capitals could welcome back Aliaksei Protas, who adds significant depth and scoring potential after missing previous games due to injury. The stakes are high for both teams as they navigate crucial playoff adjustments.