UPDATE: Charlie McAvoy arrived in Raleigh shortly before 5 p.m. and is now expected to play in Game 5. Read more about that surprising turn of events here. Below is our original story from earlier in the day going off Bruce Cassidy's comments.
The Bruins will be without their top two defensemen for a second straight game, as Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm both remain out for Tuesday night's Game 5 in Raleigh.
McAvoy was never expected to play after entering COVID-19 protocol shortly before Sunday's Game 4. Assuming he tested positive, he must isolate for five days from the onset of symptoms or test negative twice. The question now is whether he'll be able to clear protocol in time for Game 6 in Boston on Thursday.
The Bruins had been hopeful that Lindholm could return from the upper-body injury he suffered in Game 2, but he did not get the final clearance he needed from doctors.
Lindholm was around the team over the weekend and skated on both Sunday and Monday (Monday as part of an optional team practice). Cassidy said Monday that if Lindholm got cleared to play, he would be in.
Obviously, that didn't happen. Cassidy told reporters on Tuesday that Lindholm did not travel with the team. He said he is hopeful Lindholm will be able to return Thursday.
With McAvoy and Lindholm out again, the Bruins are expected to roll with the same lineup that stepped up to win Game 4 and tie the series. Needless to say, it will be a tough challenge to overcome those losses for a second straight game, and to now do it on the road.
Jeremy Swayman will get a third straight start in goal. Here is the Bruins' expected lineup for Game 5, based on morning skate:
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - Erik Haula - Craig Smith
Jake DeBrusk - Charlie Coyle - Tomas Nosek
Nick Foligno - Curtis Lazar - Chris Wagner
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Connor Clifton
Mike Reilly - Josh Brown
Jeremy Swayman
On the Carolina side, it looks like the Hurricanes will also be sticking with the same lineup despite two straight losses. That includes Antti Raanta getting another start in net.
Here is Carolina's expected lineup for Game 5:
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
Teuvo Teravainen - Vincent Trocheck - Martin Necas
Nino Niederreiter - Jordan Staal - Jesper Fast
Max Domi - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Derek Stepan
Jaccob Slavin - Tony DeAngelo
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Brendan Smith - Ian Cole
Antti Raanta
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