Still, Gagne and Kubina are expected to miss today's Game 2. That would be a blow to a team that already must be physically and emotionally exhausted after a grueling seven-game series with the Penguins and, after a one-day break, a come-from-behind win over the Capitals.

It also means coach Guy Boucher has to make decisions.

He said he will stick with 11 forwards and seven defensemen instead of the normal 12 and six, a hedge against injuries on the blue line and, really, an acknowledgement of the team's lack of depth at forward.

He would replace Kubina, who has two goals and averages 15:17 of ice time, with Randy Jones, who has not played since March 7 because of a high ankle sprain.

As for replacing Gagne, whose seven points are fourth on the team, it seems a choice between Mattias Ritola, a puck possessor with a good shot, and Blair Jones, a north-south player who gets to the net. Both were up-and-down from AHL Norfolk during the regular season.