Defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin is away from the team due to the fact that he and his wife welcomed a child recently. It is likely that he will be ready for Saturday, provided he is scheduled to be in the lineup on Saturday. Auston Matthews, who is believed to have played through some sort of illness during game three, has taken the day as a maintenance day. Again, it is expected that he will be ready to go when the puck drops at 8pm tomorrow.
At this point in the season, it is not unusual for players to miss practice, either for personal or a maintenance day. Nobody should be worrying that the two of them were not present, especially Lyubushkin, who should be able to celebrate a joyous occasion in private.
