Vladimir Tarasenko, the St. Louis Blues' leading goal scorer in the regular season, will play in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night despite not practicing on Friday, Blues interim head coach Craig Berube told reporters. Berube said Tarasenko, a two-time NHL All-Star, will be in the lineup in St. Louis in what marks the franchise's first home game in the Cup Final in 49 years. The 27-year-old, who led the Blues with 33 goals this season, missed part of the second period in the team's overtime win in Game 2 at Boston. Berube told media members that an equipment issue was the cause of Tarasenko's missed shifts in the victory that evened the best-of-seven series tied at one game each. Tarasenko finished second on the Blues with 68 total points this season and ranks second on the club with 10 goals during this postseason run, which ranks third among all players in these playoffs. The seven-year veteran right winger has netted 30 or more goals in each of the last five seasons. Additionally, St. Louis Blues defenseman Vince Dunn could be back on the ice Saturday night for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. "There's a chance," Berube said of Dunn. "We'll see how he does [on Friday]." Dunn has been sidelined since the first period of Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. He was struck in the mouth on a shot by San Jose's Brenden Dillon. The 22-year-old Dunn has played in 16 postseason games this season and has seven points (two goals, five assists). St. Louis also will be playing without forward Oskar Sundqvist, who was suspended for the game by the NHL Department of Player Safety for boarding Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk in Game 2. — Reuters
