As others have suggested, it wouldn't be surprising if Monahan is back in on Saturday. With 14 capable players, the coaches can implement a merit system where the two weakest performers are switched out after a loss (or noticeably bad play) to generate true competition for spots.
In 1989, Terry Crisp sat McDonald, Peplinski, and Tim Hunter during the playoffs despite them all being captains because they were outperformed by other guys on the roster. It's gotta be really tough on veteran players to experience, but also a sign of a strong team.
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