Bruce Boudreau isn't sweating his goalie situation.

John Gibson allowed three goals on 33 shots in a Game 1 loss to the Nashville Predators, and the head coach is expecting a strong follow-up performance to help his team tie the series.

"John knows I have faith in him," Boudreau said Sunday. "If he has a sub-par game, the next game is usually very good."

Recent history would suggest this is indeed the case.

To wit, Gibson's worst performance of the season came in his hometown of Pittsburgh, where he allowed six goals on 31 shots to the Penguins. In his next appearance, he came in relief of Frederik Andersen and allowed only one goal on 17 shots to preserve a win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

More recently, Gibson followed up a loss to lowly Vancouver by giving up a single goal in a win over Dallas.

Boudreau, then, is counting on more of the same. If Gibson should falter, however, the coach probably won't be slow to give him the hook in favor of Andersen.

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The Philadelphia Flyers would love to line up Alex Ovechkin with a big hit. Brayden Schenn, especially.

The Washington Capitals superstar rocked Schenn into the Flyers' bench Saturday night, and Schenn hasn't forgotten - nor will he.

"He took a run at me," Schenn said, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "He's always looking for that big hit and we have to try and lay a licking on him."

While Ovechkin only has one goal in the series, which Washington leads 2-0, he's made his impact, alright. Ovechkin was credited with four hits in Game 1, one of them knocking Sean Couturier - the man who was supposed to shut the Russian down - out for the series with what's thought to be a shoulder injury. Ovechkin had seven hits in Game 2.

"Sometimes you just have to play physical," Ovechkin said, according to The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan. "If you don't have an opportunity ot do something else, you play physical. You play simple and the other guys are going to follow you."

With Ovechkin leading the way, the Capitals are already halfway to the second round. And about that licking, the Flyers are running out of time.

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Blame Steve Mason all you want. The Philadelphia Flyers are standing by their embattled goalie.

Mason allowed a brutal goal Saturday night in Game 2 against the Washington Capitals, a 100-footer by Jason Chimera that may come to define the series. The Flyers are down 2-0 heading home, but all indications are that Mason will be in the crease Monday night.

The goal, if you missed it:

"That's not something we've talked about," head coach Dave Hakstol said Sunday when asked if Michal Neuvirth may get the Game 3 nod, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale.

Mason was a beast down the stretch for the Flyers, ensuring postseason hockey would be played in Philadelphia. But he may be fatigued, as evidenced by his .889 save percentage and 3.10 goals-against average through two playoff games.

Problem is, Mason doesn't have much room for error, not against the Capitals, who have Braden Holtby in their crease. Holtby's stopped 60 of 61 shots through two games. He lives for this time of year.

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The Anaheim Ducks will have help on the blue line for Sunday's Game 2 against the Nashville Predators.

Defenseman Kevin Bieksa, who hasn't played since March 24 as a result of an upper-body injury, will be back in the lineup, head coach Bruce Boudreau confirmed.

The 34-year-old averaged 21 minutes a night in 71 appearances for the Ducks during the regular season, contributing four goals and 11 assists.

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For Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, it has to be tempting.

As his club's first-round series against the Rangers shifts to New York, Sullivan was asked about potentially playing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin - who returned to the lineup for the first time since March 11 on Saturday - on the same line. He didn't rule it out, but he didn't commit to the idea, either.

"There's no reason why two players that are as good as they are cannot work together," Sullivan said Sunday, according to the Penguins' website.

Here's more from Sullivan's media availability on the topic, as transcribed by the Penguins' website:

I'm not sure that they haven't worked together in the past. I know that they've played together at times in the past and at times they've been apart. We should have the ability to do both, play them together at times and play them apart at times. They seem to work extremely well on the power play together. When Geno was in the lineup prior to getting hurt our power play was, for probably a five- or six-week span, was at 30-percent plus. I'm not one of those guys that throws an opinion around just because they've been used at times together in the past and certain people think it will work or it won't work. I believe that two very good players have the ability to play with anybody and adapt their game accordingly because of their talent. Having said that, I'm not convinced that I'll use them together moving forward. That's something that is an option for us. If we do choose to go that route, there's no reason why two players that are as good as they are cannot work together. They're two elite players that think the game on a high level, and they have the ability to play a down low game and a fast, speed game off of the rush. That’s really the way I look at it. I know there's been different schools of thought, theories in the past of how these guys have been used. Another comment that I would have is that I think both of these guys are in a different place than they were in the previous years. They're a little bit older. They have more experience under their belt. They probably have the benefit of a little bit more perspective because they've gone through different experiences. We all learn from our experiences. For me, that's how you gain wisdom. I think these guys from a mindset standpoint are in a very different place than they have been in the past.

Malkin was used on the wing in Game 2, which the Penguins lost. Asked whether he agreed with the move, Malkin admitted it had been difficult.

"I think no because it's a little bit tough," said Malkin - a natural center, and one of the best - told reporters, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Seth Rorabaugh. "I like to play my position the whole game. I think it's just one game because we have five centers and it's a little bit tough for coach. I think next game, I will play center."

We'll find out Tuesday.

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Take heart, Steve Mason, for you are not alone.

The Philadelphia Flyers goalie allowed an embarrassing and perhaps series-defining goal off Jason Chimera's stick from 100 feet away, one that ended up being the Game 2 winner for the Washington Capitals.

Related: Mason takes responsibility for gaffe: 'I messed up'

Mason isn't the first to make such a mistake, and hopefully, for entertainment purposes, won't be the last.

Owen Nolan on Roman Turek

In Game 7 of an opening-round series back in 2000, Owen Nolan beat Roman Turek with a late first-period slap shot from center ice that gave the San Jose Sharks a 2-0 lead over the St. Louis Blues.

It proved to be the game-winning goal, sending San Jose to the conference semifinals.

Sandis Ozolinsh on Martin Brodeur

This one came from a bit closer in, but was scored in the 2003 Stanley Cup Final and on a mistake made by arguably the greatest goaltender of all time.

While Sandis Ozolinsh managed to make Martin Brodeur look foolish, the New Jersey Devils got the last laugh by raising the Cup.

Derek Morris on Jonathan Quick

The (then Phoenix) Coyotes made a surprise appearance in the Western Conference Final in 2012, where Derek Morris rifled a slap shot that eluded Jonathan Quick, who's generally considered one of the best playoff performers over the past several seasons.

Nicklas Lidstrom on Dan Cloutier

Vancouver built up a 2-0 series lead as the eighth seed facing off against the Presidents' Trophy winners from Detroit in 2002. With the score tied late in the second period of Game 3, Nicklas Lidstrom beat Dan Cloutier from center ice.

Detroit went on to win that contest and the next three to take the series, making this goal the definition of a turning point.

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If it was up to Dan Girardi, he'd be playing.

That was the latest from New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault, who said his defenseman has been "unfairly criticized," according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen, even though Girardi's been nothing but a team-first character throughout his time in Manhattan.

Vigneault added he doesn't expect Girardi or Ryan McDonagh to practice Monday, and both remain day to day.

Girardi's an easy target for Rangers' fans, thanks in part to his bloated contract. He's making $5.5 million against the salary cap and though he'll turn 32 at the end of the month, he's signed through 2019-20.

A Ranger his entire career, Girardi had two goals and 15 assists this season, posting a ghastly 41.7 percent Corsi For rating, according to War On Ice, easily the worst of his career. The Rangers aren't a strong possession team to begin with, and Girardi's an anchor.

McDonagh's yet to suit up in the playoffs, while Girardi missed Game 2, which the Rangers won. The series with the Pittsburgh Penguins is tied up at one as it shifts to Madison Square Garden. New York's now got home-ice advantage.

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Injured Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman is with his teammates in Detroit and took part in an off-ice workout Sunday - but don't get too excited.

The defender, out with a fractured leg, won't play in the first-round series against the Red Wings, head coach Jon Cooper confirmed, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.

Up 2-0 in the series, Cooper said "there's a chance" Stralman returns should the Lightning move on, reports the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith.

Stralman was working out with what might have been a brace on his leg, but it was not a cast, Custance added. What we know is the defender is making progress, but there remains no definitive timeline for his return.

Here's what ice time on the blue line looks for Tampa Bay through two playoff games:

Matt Carle was a healthy scratch numerous times throughout the season, but he's been asked to step up in Stralman's absence, and has done so admirably.

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