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For the first time in probably three months, there are major questions about the defensive lineup for the Nashville Predators. With Ryan Ellis leaving Game 5 with an apparent injury and not returning, we still don’t quite know his status going into Game 6 tonight.
For the record, Ellis skated for about a half hour before the optional skate this morning. Watching him, it didn’t look he was 100%. He wasn’t taking slap shots and his speed was minimal. Looked like maybe he was just testing the waters to see what skating with full gear felt like.
Is that enough to say Ellis won’t play? No.
Is that enough to say he will play? No.
The speculation from around NHL media seems to suggest both possibilities are likely.
Ellis not taking part in the optional skate after skating on his own earlier.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) June 11, 2017
FWIW Bitetto and Hunt, the two extra Predators D, are still on the ice doing extra work.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) June 11, 2017
Getting the extra work is usually an indication you won’t be in the lineup. Then there’s this from Matt Irwin:
Matt Irwin: "We fully expect Ryan (Ellis) to play."
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) June 11, 2017
But also this from Roman Josi:
Roman Josi says the Predators are confident if Anthony Bitetto or Brad Hunt play tonight. Feels very much like no Ryan Ellis for Game 6.
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) June 11, 2017
And if Ellis can’t play?
If Ryan Ellis can't play tonight it'll likely be Anthony Bitetto replacing him. He has played in 14 career playoff games, none this year.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 11, 2017
There was also some speculation that Harry Z might not play, though that was less concrete. So, here’s my guess on what could possibly be the last Predators lineup for the 2016-17 season:
Forwards
Pontus Aberg — Colton Sissons— Filip Forsberg
Viktor Arvidsson — Mike Fisher — James Neal
Colin Wilson — Calle Jarnkrok — Craig Smith
Harry Zolnierczyk — Frederick Gaudreau — Austin Watson
Defense
Mattias Ekholm — P.K. Subban
Roman Josi — Matt Irwin
Anthony Bitetto — Yannick Weber
Goalie
Pekka Rinne
Having said all of that, they could always roll seven defensemen if Ellis does play. Replace Harry Z with Anthony Bitetto, play him for five minutes at the wing position (Victor Bartley did it) and if for whatever reason Ellis can’t continue then you roll the defensive pairs listed above.
As for the Penguins, I didn’t attend practice yesterday, so I will trust Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Here’s what we might see:
Forwards
Jake Guentzel — Sidney Crosby — Conor Sheary
Scott Wilson — Evgeni Malkin — Phil Kessel
Chris Kunitz — Matt Cullen — Bryan Rust
Carl Hagelin — Carter Rowney — Patric Hornqvist
Defense
Trevor Daley — Olli Maatta
Brian Dumoulin — Ron Hainsey
Ian Cole — Justin Schultz
Goalie
Matt Murray