BOSTON (AP) The Latest on the Stanley Cup Final (all times local):
1:05 p.m.
Vince Dunn is making progress to return to the St. Louis Blues’ lineup after taking a puck to the face in Game 3 of the Western Conference final.
Dunn practiced Monday for the third consecutive day and shed the full face shield he skated with over the weekend in favor of a regular visor. Coach Craig Berube says Dunn won’t play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in Boston but is getting closer to being ready for game action.
The 22-year-old defenseman missed the last three games of the West final after taking a puck off his left cheek. Asked if Dunn was talking better, captain Alex Pietrangelo joked, ”Yeah, his teeth are coming in.”
Dunn has seven points in 16 playoff games.
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12:40 p.m.
Brad Marchand is expected to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final despite leaving the Boston Bruins’ morning skate early.
Coach Bruce Cassidy says Marchand is good to go for the series opener against the St. Louis Blues, and Boston’s leading scorer in the playoffs did not have anything visible on his left hand when speaking with reporters. Marchand jammed the hand during a scrimmage Thursday night and skipped practice Sunday for maintenance.
Cassidy expects to match up the first line of Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak against the Blues’ top trio of Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko. They’ve been on fire in the eight games since coach Craig Berube reunited them.
Berube said banged-up forward Robert Thomas is good to play Monday night. Vince Dunn will miss his fourth consecutive game with an upper-body injury, though Berube said the 22-year-old defensemen is getting closer to returning.
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