Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II

According to NHL Network’s Billy Jaffe, goaltender Ilya Samsonov will start Game 3 for the Washington Capitals against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Wednesday night (6:30 PM ET, NBCSN nationally, NBC Sports Washington locally).

Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette kept his lineup concealed at Wednesday’s morning skate heading into Game 3.

Hearing rumblings that Ilya Samsonov will be starting for Caps tonight. Last game for him was May 1. We’ll know for sure in a few mins when warmups happen here @tdgarden

— Billy Jaffe (@BJaffe) May 19, 2021

The 25-year-old has not played since May 1 and came off of the COVID-19 protocol list on Sunday. He has been skating since Saturday.

Craig Anderson (body maintenance) will not play tonight, per Capitals.

Lars Eller (lower-body) also will not play tonight. https://t.co/xHn3N30uoq

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) May 19, 2021

Samsonov, who went 13-4-1 with a .902 save percentage, a 2.69 goals-against average, and two shutouts during the regular season, has made just one career start against the Bruins during the regular season, a 28-save performance in a 4-2 loss to the Bruins at Capital One Arena on April 8.

This will mark Samsonov’s first career Stanley Cup Playoff start.

Goaltender Vitek Vanecek is day-to-day with a lower-body injury sustained in Game 1 and will be out for Game 3. Goaltender Craig Anderson made 44 saves in Game 2 for the Capitals.

Goaltender Pheonix Copley will serve as the Capitals’ backup goalie for the second straight game. Anderson will not suit up due to body maintenence.

Center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has not played since May 1 due to being on the COVID-19 protocol list, will play but center Lars Eller, who suffered a lower-body injury in Game 2, will not.

By Harrison Brown