The Washington Capitals, champions of the Eastern Conference, will have their primary goaltender back as the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.
Logan Thompson is set to return from an upper-body injury and will be in net for Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.
Thompson had been out of action since April 2 due to the injury.
This season, the impressive goalie recorded 31 wins, 6 losses, and 6 overtime losses for the Capitals, maintaining a 2.49 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
Thompson, aged 28, previously played in the playoffs with the Vegas Golden Knights last season, playing four games with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
If Thompson couldn`t play, Charlie Lindgren was expected to start in his place. Lindgren, 31, was the Capitals` starting goalie in the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the team was swept by the New York Rangers in the first round.
Lindgren played in five of the Capitals` seven games during Thompson`s absence, with a 3.15 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage.
Tristan Blackwood