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ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Latest on the Stanley Cup Final (all times local):
3:55 p.m.
St. Louis Blues players say there's a buzz in the city for the first Stanley Cup Final game here in 49 years. That view does not extend to Boston Bruins agitator extraordinaire Brad Marchand.
"Every arena has roughly the same amount of people in it, so regardless of where you are in the NHL in the playoffs, you expect it to be loud," Marchand said after practice Friday. "I expect the same tomorrow, but not overly concerned about the fans. More concerned about the game."
Marchand is the Bruins' leading scorer in the playoffs and sealed their Game 1 victory with an empty-net goal. His antics in these playoffs include intentionally stepping on and breaking the stick of Columbus winger Cam Atkinson, and conducting a Canadian television interview with one- and two-word answers minutes after winning that series.
He and linemates Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have no even-strength points so far in the series, but Marchand's in fine form off the ice. Asked before Game 1 to describe his style for Blues fans who haven't seen him much up close, Marchand quipped, "I don't really care what St. Louis fans think of me, so not even going to get into that."
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3:10 p.m.
Patrice Bergeron once played a Stanley Cup Final game with broken ribs and a punctured lung. So it's no surprise that he'll be in the Boston Bruins' lineup for Game 3 on Saturday night.
Coach Bruce Cassidy said Bergeron is in against the St. Louis Blues after not practicing Friday afternoon. Karson Kuhlman took Bergeron's spot in line rushes and David Backes filled his spot on the top power-play unit.
John Moore in practice took the spot of injured defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who is in concussion protocol and didn't travel to St. Louis. Cassidy said Moore would probably take Grzelcyk's place because they're both left-handed shooters.
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2:15 p.m.
Two-time All-Star winger Vladimir Tarasenko is expected to play for the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final after missing practice Friday.
Coach Craig Berube confirmed Tarasenko will play Saturday night against the Boston Bruins in the first home Cup Final game in St. Louis since 1970. Tarasenko missed a big chunk of the second period of Game 2 on Wednesday, which Berube said was an equipment issue not an injury.
The Blues will be without suspended forward Oskar Sundqvist and most likely defenseman Vince Dunn, who has missed four games after taking a puck to the face. Zach Sanford is the most likely option to replace Sundqvist, though Berube said Robert Thomas — who missed Game 3 with a nagging injury — is a possibility to play.
John Moore is expected to fill in for injured Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who is in the concussion protocol and didn't travel with the team.
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Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
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