The Florida Panthers picked up a massive win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4. With this, the Panthers extended their series lead to 3-1 and now need only one more victory to advance to the second round.

The Panthers' win was undoubtedly well-earned, as the reigning Stanley Cup champions scored three unanswered goals late in the third to defeat the Lightning by a 4-2 final score. This included goals from Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones just 11 seconds apart with less than four minutes remaining in the contest.

The Panthers worked incredibly hard to pick up this impressive comeback win, and veteran forward Brad Marchand dove into why it was possible.

"Belief is a dangerous thing, and we had that," Marchand said. "You could feel it. I don't think that we're sitting there on the bench thinking we're going back to two-two. You know, we believe that we can make a play, and you know, you're one shot away at that time."

pic.twitter.com/LQzsvTVWyU

— x - Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 29, 2025

Marchand then added:

"It's a different ballgame if it's 5-1 with two minutes left, but one-goal game, crazy things happen, and we've all went been through it. You know, teams that have gone far and had success, you learn from these moments, and you learn in the regular season. You build the belief in your structure and what you have. Doesn't mean it's going to happen go our way, but it did tonight."

This is a great message from Marchand, and one that the Panthers should keep following as the post-season continues. Instead of losing hope when they were losing, the Panthers stayed positive and secured a major win in Game 4 because of it.

Machand had a solid performance for the Panthers in this matchup, too, as he recorded the primary assist on Anton Lundell's game-opening goal. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice also shouted out Marchand's positivity and leadership following the matchup, so No. 63's presence is undoubtedly being felt.

Recent Panthers News 

Comeback Cats strike Lightning, Panthers win Game 4 to take commanding series leadThe Comeback Cats made their first appearance of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night in Sunrise. Panthers' Nate Schmidt Ties NHL Record With Hot Playoff StartThe Florida Panthers have had a fantastic start to the 2025 NHL playoffs. After defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a 6-2 final score in Game 1, the Panthers followed that up with a hard-fought 2-0 win over the Bolts in Game 2. With this, they are now heading back home for Games 3 and 4 with a 2-0 series lead.

1. There are a lot of Nervous Nellies out there worried about mean, tough and nasty postseason hockey. I've got news for them; that's what playoff hockey is all about.

2. The hissing and moaning over what are and are not  "dirty hits" is as old as the NHL. Repeat: THIS IS WHAT PLAYOFF HOCKEY IS ALL ABOUT.

3. About the dumbest thing I've seen on the internet is some schlemeel writing that Canadian hockey announcers put more emotion into their broadcasts  than their American counterparts.

Playoff Notes For Rangers Fans And Others1. When it comes to a pair of teams being even in a series the Oilers-Kings battle sure fills the bill. Edmonton's late comeback and OT winner last night could be a major demoralizer for LA.

4. By The Maven's standards, the Capitals should get it over with tonight and simply crush the Canadiens. 

5. If the Caps fail today, I'll begin worrying about the Habs actually winning the series.

6. Anyone surprised at the Stars' success so far should check The Hockey News' Yearbook. Dallas is picked to win The Stanley Cup - ahem, by beating New Jersey.

7. The injury-wracked Devils will be fortunate to stay alive tonight in Raleigh. After all, the Canes are kings of home ice advantage. 

8. I'm rooting very-very-very hard for a Senators win over the Leafs tonight. For that to happen, Linus Ullmark must come up bigger in goal. Much bigger!

9. For my money, the most interesting series pits the upstart Blues against Chevy's Jets. You have to love Jim Montgomery's coaching except that The Maven is at a loss to define how JM makes it work.

10. That said, I have to root for Winnipeg. Hey, the Jets have never won Stanley!

The Utah Hockey Club has announced that they’ve signed goaltender Jaxson Stauber to a two-year, two-way extension. The deal comes with an AAV of $775,000 at the NHL level and $350,000 in the AHL.

Stauber took over as the backup when Connor Ingram stepped away from the team for personal reasons. In six NHL games, he went 2-1-1 with a .892 save percentage and a 3.26 goals-against average.

He also played in 21 games with the Tucson Roadrunners, Utah’s AHL affiliate, where he had a 12-7-2 record with a .897 save percentage and a 3.14 goals-against average. Unfortunately, Tucson was knocked out of the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs earlier this week.

Stauber also has a cool piece of trivia attached to him. On November 30, he recorded the first shutout in Utah franchise history, a 6-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

NHL Draft Lottery Set For May 5 — How High Can Utah Pick?The NHL has announced the date for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. It will take place on Monday, May 5th. With the Utah Hockey Club now in the bottom 11 teams, the question is: where exactly did they finish—and how high can they move up? Utah's AHL Affiliate Tucson Roadrunners Season Is OverUtah Hockey Club's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, has been eliminated from the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs. Karel Vejmelka Will Join Czechia At IIHF World Championships Utah Hockey Club's Karel Vejmelka will represent Czechia at the 2025 World Championships in May. He will be representing Czechia for the fourth straight year, which saw him win gold on home soil last year in Prague.

On Tuesday, the Reading Royals and the Philadelphia Flyers announced a multi-year affiliation agreement that will see Reading continue to serve as the ECHL affiliate of the Flyers.

The affiliation agreement runs through the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons with an option for a third season (2027-28).

This new agreement is an extension of the original affiliation agreement made in 2014, with four prior extensions made since then (2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022).

The Flyers, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) and Royals form the closest geographical chain of affiliates in professional hockey. Santander Arena is 39 miles southwest of Lehigh Valley's PPL Center and 67 miles northwest of Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. Meanwhile, the Phantoms play 70 miles north of Wells Fargo Center.

"We’re excited to continue our affiliation agreement with the Flyers and Phantoms for the foreseeable future,” Royals president David Farrar said in a statement. “Since the Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA) took over ownership of the Royals, we feel the relationship has been valuable to all parties involved. We’re all excited for the upcoming season and look forward to watching future Flyers take the ice at the Santander Arena.”

Royals head coach Jason Binkley added, "the affiliation relationship with the Flyers and Phantoms has been a great asset to our players and team. We look forward to developing more players with the Flyers while achieving the ultimate goal of bringing the Kelly Cup back to Reading.”

Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere is pleased with how the relationship between the Flyers and Royals has been over the years.

“We are very happy to extend this affiliation with Reading," Briere said. "The Royals are a first-class organization and I've seen how beneficial this relationship is to the development of players on both the Phantoms and the Flyers, especially this season with Jacob Gaucher making his NHL debut and playing a pivotal role in Lehigh Valley."

Gaucher, 24, became the 38th player in franchise history to reach the National Hockey League after playing for Reading when he debuted with the Flyers on Sunday, Feb. 2nd, 2025 against the Colorado Avalanche. Gaucher is one of five players to make their NHL debut with Philadelphia after playing in Reading in the affiliation's tenure (Tyrell Goulbourne, Hayden Hodgson, Felix Sandström, Max Willman).

The Royals have a proud history of affiliations with NHL franchises that has included stints with the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals.

The renewed agreement between the Flyers and Royals extends the longest tenure Reading has had as an NHL team’s affiliate at 12 years with the option for a 13th.

The Flyers were founded in 1967 and were one of the six expansion franchises introduced in addition to the Original Six in the NHL. They’ve won two Stanley Cup titles in 1974 and 1975 and 16 division titles. Comcast Spectacor Chairman and CEO Dan Hilferty leads the franchise while President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones and Briere direct its on-ice talent.

The Royals were purchased by the Berks County Convention Center Authority in 2019, paving the way for the Royals to bring competitive professional hockey to Berks County for years to come.

The 2025-26 season will be the Royals 24th season in Reading after the franchise was relocated from Columbus as the Columbus Chill ahead of the 2001-02 season. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013 and are five-time division champions.

As the Vegas Golden Knights prepare for a pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild, HC Bruce Cassidy and his players are emphasizing urgency. 

In Game 2, the Golden Knights were far too lackadaisical with the puck, coughing up turnovers in dangerous positions. They also weren't sharp enough in their coverage, something that affected them in Game 3. 

In Game 5, Cassidy won't let it happen again.

"You can have a game, like Game 2, where you didn’t manage the puck and took ourselves out of it. But those days need to be behind you."

Cassidy has thrown his lines in the blender, searching for offence and consistency on the defensive side of the puck. He may have found it in Game 4 and has decided to stick with the lines that have the hot hand.

The lines are headlined by a new trio of William Karlsson, Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev, a trio that had never played together but got positive results in 6:52 of ice time. 

The other three combos consist of Brandon Saad, Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone; Ivan Barbashev, Nicolas Roy and Reilly Smith; Tanner Pearson, Brett Howden and Keegan Kolesar. 

The Wild should feel confident heading into Game 5 despite the loss in Game 4. They seem to have solved Adin Hill at times. The 28-year-old has allowed three or more goals since Game 2, but showed signs that he was finding his game.

Each game has been won by the team that scores first, placing more pressure on starting the game with intensity and focus. 

Puck drop is set for 6:30 PM PST at T-Mobile Arena.

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Captain Mark Stone Epitomizes Leadership Role For Golden KnightsLAS VEGAS -- When the Golden Knights traded for Mark Stone in 2019, general manager Kelly McCrimmon knew the franchise landed much more than one of the most talented 200-foot forwards in the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have recalled 14 players from the Toronto Marlies following their AHL affiliate's first round playoff loss to the Cleveland Monsters. 

Forwards Alex Steeves, Jacob Quillan, Nicholas Abruzzese, Reese Johnson, Alex Nylander, and Roni Hirvonen were recalled.

Six defensemen including Matt Benning, Cade Webber, Topi Niemela, William Villeneuve, Mikko Kokkonen, and Marshall Rifai were recalled. 

Goaltenders Matt Murray and Dennis Hildeby will also join the Maple Leafs. Artur Akhtyamov has been serving as the team's third goaltender. 

The Maple Leafs have recalled the following players.

F Alex Steeves
F Jacob Quillan
F Nicholas Abruzzese
F Reese Johnson
F Alex Nylander
F Roni Hirvonen

D Matt Benning
D Cade Webber
D Topi Niemelä
D William Villeneuve
D Mikko Kokkonen
D Marshall Rifai

G Matt Murray
G Dennis…

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) April 29, 2025

All 14 players will join the Maple Leafs as 'Black Aces' that will allow them to practice with and be around the team during their playoff run. 

While none of these players are likely to see playoff action Steeves - who finished second in the AHL with 36 goals in 59 games - Quillan, Nylander, Hildeby, and Murray have all played NHL games this season. 

This is a common move for playoff teams as the NHL's roster limits and salary cap do not apply in the playoffs. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. 

After getting a bye for the first round of the AHL playoffs, the Laval Rocket will finally start its quest for the Calder Cup on Wednesday night. At the same time, the Montreal Canadiens will try to avoid elimination against the Washington Capitals in D.C., with Rocket’s number one goaltender, Cayden Primeau, acting as backup for the big club.

Canadiens: Not So Long Ago It Was 3-1…
Canadiens: After The Warnings, The Fines
Canadiens: About That Devastating Hit

Pascal Vincent’s men will take on the Cleveland Monsters in the best-of-five division semi-final. In four meetings during the regular season, the Rocket had a 2-0-2 record against the Ohio-based franchise. The Rocket was the regular-season champion, while the Monsters finished fifth in the North Division.

The Rocket elected to play the first two games away and the last three in Laval. With Primeau being with the Canadiens, newly signed goaltender Jacob Fowler will be tasked with manning Laval’s net, and he’ll be facing one of the hottest goaltenders down the stretch, Jet Greaves.

The 24-year-old netminder was a big reason the Columbus Blue Jackets almost qualified for the playoffs, winning seven of his last NHL games. In 11 games with the Jackets this season, he posted a 7-2-2 record with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

Meanwhile, the Rocket can rely on a fully healthy David Reinbacher. The right-shot defenseman had a tough year, sustaining a knee injury that cost him most of his season in a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The young defenseman didn’t lose his season, though. In an interview with RG.org, he explains that he became a student of the game, learning the team’s system and attending meetings usually reserved for players who are in the lineup.

Game one of the series between Laval and Cleveland is set for 7:00 PM on Wednesday night, game two on Friday at 7:00 PM, and game three on Sunday at 3:00 PM. You can catch all the action and a glimpse of the Canadiens’ future on RDS.

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. 

The NHL announced on Tuesday that the league’s Draft Lottery will be held next Monday, May 5th, to determine the order of selection for the NHL Draft in late June. The Buffalo Sabres have a 6.5% chance at winning the lottery, which will be held at the NHL Network’s studios in Secaucus, N.J, and will be broadcast on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.

The lottery only allows the top 11 seeds to be eligible to receive the first overall draft pick, and is held in two phases: the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick.

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?

Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The Athletic

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change

The San Jose Sharks, who won the Draft Lottery one year ago and selected Macklin Celebrini at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas last June, have the top odds (18,5%) of selecting first overall this year. The Chicago Blackhawks are second at 13.5%, the Nashville Predators third at 11.5%, the Philadelphia Flyers fourth at 9.5%, Boston fifth at 8.5%, Seattle sixth at 7.5%, and Buffalo seventh at 6.5%.

With only a longshot chance of making the postseason after the trade deadline, the primary focus of Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff and GM Kevyn Adams down the stretch was to establish a winning culture, but that came at the cost of finishing with a top-five draft pick this June. Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schafer is projected to be the top overall selection, with Saginaw’s Michael Misa, Mississauga’s Porter Martone, James Hagens of Boston College, and Swedish center Anton Frondell expected to go in the top five.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Since Mike Sullivan parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, rumors have linked him to the New York Rangers. 

With the Rangers looking for a new head coach after firing Peter Laviolette, Sullivan has jumped up as a top-tier candidate to get the job. 

Multiple NHL insiders are getting a sense that Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury is intrigued with the chance to bring Sullivan on board. 

Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

“In 2021, when Chris Drury was hired as GM, he didn't hire Gallant until he knew Sullivan was staying [in PIT]...Until someone beats the Rangers out for Sullivan's services, that's who I'm picking...He's their #1,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said.

While TSN’s Pierre Lebrun reported that five teams have already inquired about Sullivan, there’s no doubt that the Rangers remain the frontrunners to land the Stanley Cup-winning coach as of right now. 

He has direct ties with Drury from Boston College and USA Hockey. The Rangers’ past interest in Sullivan has also been very well documented. 

NHL general managers have reportedly been wondering if Sullivan could strike a deal with the Rangers over the next 48-72 hours. 

“I cannot imagine [the New York Rangers] allowing anyone to outdo themselves in the pursuit of Sullivan,” Friedman said.

Now, we just have to sit and wait to see how everything unfolds.

Wild head coach John Hynes confirmed this morning that forward Marcus Johansson will return to the lineup tonight. He did not play in Game 4 with a lower-body injury but will play tonight. 

Johansson, 34, has one assist in three playoff games so far. He had 11 goals and 34 points in 72 games during the regular season. 

In nine career playoff games for the Wild, Johansson has two goals and one assist. He is a minus-seven in those nine games as well. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

Wild Related News

Wild Expected To Make Some Changes For Game 5The Minnesota Wild practiced on Monday morning before playing Vegas for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. Based on Monday's practice, we could see a few changes for tonight's game against the Golden Knights.  Former Wild Goaltender Named Vezina Trophy FinalistThe NHL announced the three finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy today. The trophy is awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position. Cassidy Hoping Line Changes Spark Golden Knights In Time For Game 5LAS VEGAS -- As the second-seeded Golden Knights saw their opening round series with the Minnesota Wild slipping away, and on the brink of becoming out of hand, coach Bruce Cassidy did what he has done countless times: put his forward lines in a blender.

The NHL has announced that the NHL Draft Lottery will be on May 5th at the NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves in unfamiliar territory than they have been in the last few years. That unfamiliar territory would be that they can't win the NHL Draft Lottery. 

Per the NHL: "The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Participants are all teams that did not qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (or the teams that have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams)."

"The Lottery will be conducted in two phases, the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick. There is a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery can “move up” in the event it wins one of the Lottery Draws. Thus, only the top 11 seeds will be eligible to receive the first overall Draft pick."

So what does this mean for the Blue Jackets? The CBJ have a 2% chance of winning the first draw of the lottery, and a 0% chance of winning the second draw. 

Columbus can only move up as far as #3 in the draft. A far cry from the previous season's drafts, but that's because the Jackets defied all expectations and finished just two points shy of a playoff spot. 

The CBJ will have two first-round picks in this year's draft, and many people expect GM Don Waddell to trade one or both picks for roster help. 

What should Don Waddell do?

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

Cleveland Monsters Advance Set To Face Laval Rockets In Second RoundThe Columbus Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, have advanced to the second round of the AHL playoffs. Zach Werenski Nominated For Norris TrophyColumbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski has officially been named a finalist for the 2025 James Norris Memorial Trophy.

The NHL has announced the date for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. It will take place on Monday, May 5th, giving the San Jose Sharks a glimpse into what could be a franchise-altering moment.

As it stands, the Sharks hold the best odds of winning the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. After finishing the season with a 20-50-12 record, they have a 25.5% chance of securing the top selection.

NHL Draft Lottery:

1. San Jose Sharks: 18.5%
2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5%
3. Nashville Predators: 11.5%
4. Philadelphia Flyers: 9.5%
5. Boston Bruins: 8.5%
6. Seattle Kraken: 7.5%
7. Buffalo Sabres: 6.5%
8. Anaheim Ducks: 6.0%
9. Pittsburgh Penguins: 5.0%
10. New York Islanders: 3.5%
11. New York Rangers: 3.0%

San Jose Barracuda's Advance To Second Round Of AHL PlayoffsThe San Jose Sharks' AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, have made it to the second round of the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs.

This year’s draft will also mark a significant change, as it will be the first decentralized NHL Draft in history. It will be held June 27–28 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

The Sharks picked Macklin Celebrini first overall in 2024. This year, they may have a shot at drafting standout defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the Erie Otters of the OHL.

San Jose Barracuda's Andrew Poturalski Wins AHL MVPSan Jose Barracuda's Andrew Poturalski has won the 2024-25 AHL MVP award (Les Cunningham Award). Sharks' Sam Dickinson Wins OHL Defensemen Of The YearSan Jose Sharks' Sam Dickinson has won the OHL Defenseman of the Year award. 

Sharks hold best No. 1 pick odds in 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, scheduled for May 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

The Sharks will know their (2025 NHL Draft) fate next Monday.

The 2025 Draft Lottery will be held on May 5 from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, N.J. The broadcast time is still to be determined on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.

Because the Sharks had the NHL’s worst record, they will have the best odds to get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

Per the NHL press release: “The Lottery will be conducted in two phases, the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick. There is a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery can ‘move up’ in the event it wins one of the Lottery Draws. Thus, only the top 11 seeds will be eligible to receive the first overall Draft pick.”

The Sharks have a 25.5 percent chance of getting the No. 1 overall selection. They can pick no worse than No. 3 in the 2025 draft.

Read the full story on San Jose Hockey Now

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The good news regarding St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker is that his season is not done, according to coach Jim Montgomery.

Tucker, who departed Sunday’s 5-1 win in Game 4 against the Winnipeg Jets with a lower-body injury to his right leg when he awkwardly fell backwards and needed help off the ice favoring his right leg with 4:17 left in the third period, did not practice on Tuesday and has been ruled out for Game 5.

The best-of-7 Western Conference First Round series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 slated for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN, CBC, TVAS, SN, ESPN 101.1-FM).

"He’s day-to-day. He won’t be an option in Game 5," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said of Tucker, who scored the game-winning goal in Game 4.

St. Louis goal!

Scored by Tyler Tucker with 09:14 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Nick Leddy and Alexandre Texier.

St. Louis: 2
Winnipeg: 1#WPGvsSTL#stlblues#GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/YW85khNkaL

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 27, 2025

It means veteran Ryan Suter, who played all 82 regular-season games and Games 1 and 2 of the series before being a healthy scratch for Games 3 and 4, will return to the lineup and be paired with Nick Leddy.

"He is going back in. I’ve got to give him credit," Montgomery said of Suter. "I’ve got to say it was hard to do when you respect the player so much and what he’s done in the League for years and how much he’s helped us this year. You make a decision and you live with it. But that day I told him, that practice, he was unbelievable. He’s a pro, and I know he’s going to be good for us. It was just a gut feel, and putting him back in, we’re getting our No. 1 penalty-killing defenseman back in.”

The Blues went with Tucker starting in Game 2 when they implemented 11 forwards and seven defensemen before going back to the traditional 12 forwards and six defensemen and made Suter expendable as an extra at the time.

Tucker brought an element needed in a heavy, bruising series. And what does Suter specifically need to bring forward?

“Just to continue to win battles and move pucks north,” Montgomery said. “The strength of his game, which is his brains and his brawn.

“The poise and calmness when games get frantic, he’s an unbelievable voice back there."

* Forwards Brayden Schenn and Robert Thomas did not practice in what Montgomery called maintenance days. But each will play in Game 5.

At practice Tuesday, Nikita Alexandrov and Mathieu Joseph skated in their places.