Canadiens without Laine, Montembeault for Game 5, Carrier a game-time decision

Alexandre Carrier will be a game-time decision with the Montreal Canadiens facing elimination in Game 5 against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

Head coach Martin St. Louis said “a couple” players are game-time decisions, but did not want to reveal who else.

The Canadiens said Tuesday that Carrier was day-to-day after being hit by Capitals forward Tom Wilson in Game 4 on Sunday and exiting the game.

Mike Matheson said he’s prepared to play whether or not his defence partner enters the lineup.

“It’s been a few years here where we’ve changed things and played with different players, if he’s out, it won’t change my preparation,” he said. “But he’s obviously an important player for us, so we hope he’ll play.”

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if (!oddsData) { container.innerHTML = `

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Carrier being out would likely mean increased minutes for Matheson, Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle.

Carrier joined a growing list of injured Canadiens with goaltender Sam Montembeault and winger Patrik Laine also out day-to-day.

St. Louis said Laine was not an option to enter the lineup in Game 5, while Montembeault did not travel with the team to Washington. Forwards Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson, and defenceman David Savard did not skate Tuesday for “maintenance.”

Rookie netminder Jakub Dobes will start for a second consecutive game.

Meanwhile, Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas is also a game-time decision. The six-foot-six, 247-pound forward had 30 goals and 36 assists in 76 games this season, but hasn’t played since April 4 with a foot injury.

The Canadiens trail the Capitals 3-1 in the first-round, best-of-seven series.

Montreal rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, the last time the Canadiens reached the post-season.

Six players on the current Canadiens roster played in that series, including captain Nick Suzuki.

“Stay relaxed, be excited. It’s not over until it’s over,” he said. “We’re a hungry team. We want to come out and show that we can win this game and go back home.”

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