It looked shaky, but the Ottawa Senators will have Mark Stone in the lineup against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2 tonight.
The Senators were concerned that a micro-fracture injury suffered from P.K. Subban’s infamous slash might have sidelined him for the entire series, but he instead will gut it out. The potential Calder candidate didn’t look great in warm-ups, as multiple reporters observed, including ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun:
Mark Stone wiggling his right hand after every shot he takes in warm-up. Maybe just trying to get used to whatever he has on it...
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 17, 2015
As others have pointed out, both Stone and Pacioretty are in. Gutsy try here by Stone, who clearly in warm-up wasn't right
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 17, 2015
Stone isn’t the only possibly banged-up sniper in this one, as Max Pacioretty is making his 2015 postseason debut for the Habs tonight.
If either player can contribute anywhere near their normal level, it could very well be a difference-maker in this series or at least in Game 2. Then again, there’s also the threat of re-injury, particularly in a series that’s already very testy:
Stone went from "very questionable for the series" to playing in Game 2. Still very questionable how well he will play.
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) April 17, 2015
It’s remarkable how far Stone has come for Ottawa, isn’t it?
6 months ago Mark Stone was a healthy scratch. Now we're analyzing his body language in warm-up.
— Bonk's Mullet (@BonksMullet) April 17, 2015