UPDATED: 7:05 p.m. ET - Ryan Murray will not play in Game 4. Nick Schultz will replace him in the Blue Jackets’ lineup.
COLUMBUS -- Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray left Wednesday's morning skate early but he is expected to play in Wednesday's pivotal fourth game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"We're expecting Ryan to play tonight," head coach Todd Richards said.
Richards confirmed the team will ice the same lineup that fell 4-3 to the Penguins in Game 3 on Monday night. The Penguins lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals series 2-1.
Projected lineup, starting with the forward combos:
Boone Jenner-Ryan Johansen-Jack Skille
Matt Calvert-Brandon Dubinsky-Cam Atkinson
Nick Foligno-Artem Anisimov-R.J. Umberger
Blake Comeau-Derek MacKenzie-Mark Letestu
Defense pairings:
Ryan Murray-James Wisniewski
Sergei Bobrovsky will start in goal for the Blue Jackets, who are still looking for their first home playoff victory.
As for the Penguins, Brian Gibbons, who scored twice early in Game 2 before suffering an injury that kept him out of Game 2, skated Tuesday but did not take part in the morning skate on Wednesday and isn't expected to play.
Marcel Goc, who suffered an injury late in the regular season, took his first morning skate with the team since the playoffs began but did not participate in line rushes.
Head coach Dan Bylsma said Goc is progressing and that he’d like to see him play in the first round.
What the Penguins' line combinations should look like:
Chris Kunitz-Sidney Crosby-Lee Stempniak/Beau Bennett
Jussi Jokinen-Evgeni Malkin-James Neal
Tanner Glass-Brandon Sutter-Beau Bennett/Lee Stempniak
Jayson Megna-Joe Vitale-Craig Adams
Defense pairings:
And Marc-Andre Fleury will start in goal.