D'astous expected to play Game 6 at Centre Bell

Charle-Édouard D'Astous should be in the lineup Friday at the Centre Bell, a quick turn after the hit from Josh Anderson in the first game of the series left him injured. The Lightning defenseman said he was nervous but ready if asked to play, and the return would put him in just his second career playoff game.

D'Astous and Game 6

D'Astous said, "Je suis un peu nerveux, je suis humain après tout" before adding, "Si j’ai à jouer, j’ai super hâte et je suis prêt." That is the shape of his night now: available for a playoff game at Montreal, with his mother and brother set to come from Rimouski to watch.

Friday would also be his first playoff game at the Centre Bell. He was never drafted and reached the NHL at 28, which makes the timing of this return more than a routine lineup note for a player still carving out his place.

Lightning blue line

Jon Cooper said a Friday return for Victor Hedman was not in the plans, so Tampa Bay is still managing one of its top defense spots without him. Nick Paul, who was sick in the last game, should return to his position.

That leaves D'Astous as the key change on the blue line after the series-opening hit by Anderson. He also addressed the contact afterward, saying, "C’était un double contact" and "C’était dommage, ça fait partie du jeu."

Anderson and Sabourin

D'Astous also said, "Anderson frappe beaucoup, mais ce n’est jamais dans l’intention de blesser." He added that Tampa Bay should "garder la tête haute, et nos attaquants doivent le ralentir quand il arrive en échec-avant" when facing Anderson.

Scott Sabourin spent time after the next game inviting Anderson to fight, a reminder of how that hit kept hanging over the series. For Tampa Bay, the immediate issue is simpler: whether D'Astous can take the ice and give the club another option in a 6th game that now has his name attached to it.