Date: 05 February
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Update: Additional matchups will be added as projected lineups are updated throughout the day.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Ottawa Senators
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Flyers - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Nikita Grebenkin - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny
- Denver Barkey - Trevor Zegras - Owen Tippett
- Matvei Michkov - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink
- Carl Grundstrom - Sean Couturier - Garnet Hathaway
Defense
- Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
- Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
- Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen
Goalies
- Dan Vladar
- Aleksei Kolosov
Scratched
- Emil Andrae
- Nicolas Deslauriers
Injured
- Tyson Foerster (arm)
- Rodrigo Abols (lower body)
- Samuel Ersson (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia blends Zegras-led skill play with Couturier’s matchup responsibilities. The Flyers’ best path is quick support on zone exits and east-west puck movement in the offensive zone to open shooting lanes before Ottawa’s layers set.
Senators - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Drake Batherson - Tim Stutzle - Claude Giroux
- Brady Tkachuk - Dylan Cozens - Ridly Greig
- Nick Cousins - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
- Stephen Halliday - Lars Eller - Fabian Zetterlund
Defense
- Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
- Thomas Chabot - Nick Jensen
- Tyler Kleven - Jordan Spence
Goalies
- Linus Ullmark
- James Reimer
Scratched
- Kurtis MacDermid
- Nikolas Matinpalo
Injured
- David Perron (sports hernia)
IHM Lineup Note:
With Ullmark starting, Ottawa can play a more assertive pressure game. The Senators’ top-six is built for pace and net-front chaos, but clean puck management through the neutral zone is essential to avoid getting trapped in extended defensive-zone shifts.
New Jersey Devils vs New York Islanders
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Devils - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Timo Meier - Cody Glass - Connor Brown
- Arseny Gritsyuk - Nico Hischier - Lenni Hameenaho
- Jesper Bratt - Paul Cotter - Dawson Mercer
- Evgenii Dadonov - Nick Bjugstad - Maxim Tsyplakov
Defense
- Jonas Siegenthaler - Johnathan Kovacevic
- Brett Pesce - Dougie Hamilton
- Brenden Dillon - Simon Nemec
Goalies
- Jake Allen
- Jacob Markstrom
Scratched
- Colton White
- Marc McLaughlin
- Luke Glendening
Injured
- Luke Hughes (shoulder)
- Zack MacEwen (ACL)
- Stefan Noesen (knee)
- Jack Hughes (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Without Jack Hughes, New Jersey is more likely to lean into structured, cycle-based offense instead of pure rush hockey. Hamilton’s activation can drive entries and shot volume, but defensive gap control on turnovers remains the key risk point.
Islanders - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Ondrej Palat - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
- Emil Heineman - Calum Ritchie - Jonathan Drouin
- Anders Lee - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Simon Holmstrom
- Kyle MacLean - Casey Cizikas - Marc Gatcomb
Defense
- Matthew Schaefer - Ryan Pulock
- Adam Pelech - Tony DeAngelo
- Carson Soucy - Scott Mayfield
Goalies
- Ilya Sorokin
- David Rittich
Scratched
- Maxim Shabanov
- Anthony Duclair
- Adam Boqvist
Injured
- Kyle Palmieri (ACL)
- Alexander Romanov (upper body)
- Semyon Varlamov (knee)
IHM Lineup Note:
The Islanders can drive possession through the middle lane and sustain cycle pressure. DeAngelo adds puck-moving upside, but coverage discipline and neutral-zone layers must be tight to avoid feeding New Jersey’s transition game.
Washington Capitals vs Nashville Predators
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Capitals - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Alex Ovechkin - Dylan Strome - Anthony Beauvillier
- Aliaksei Protas - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Tom Wilson
- Ryan Leonard - Justin Sourdif - Ethen Frank
- Brandon Duhaime - Nic Dowd - Hendrix Lapierre
Defense
- Martin Fehervary - John Carlson
- Jakob Chychrun - Matt Roy
- Rasmus Sandin - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Goalies
- Logan Thompson
- Clay Stevenson
Scratched
- Declan Chisholm
- Dylan McIlrath
- Sonny Milano
- Garin Bjorklund
Injured
- Charlie Lindgren (lower body)
- Connor McMichael (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Dubois’ return adds size and puck protection down the middle, while Carlson remains the primary distributor for controlled exits and offensive setups. If Thompson starts, Washington can manage risk more confidently and support a more aggressive forecheck.
Predators - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Steven Stamkos - Ryan O’Reilly - Luke Evangelista
- Filip Forsberg - Erik Haula - Jonathan Marchessault
- Cole Smith - Michael McCarron - Michael Bunting
- Reid Schaefer - Tyson Jost - Matthew Wood
Defense
- Brady Skjei - Roman Josi
- Adam Wilsby - Nick Perbix
- Nick Blankenburg - Nicolas Hague
Goalies
- Justus Annunen
- Juuse Saros
Scratched
- Ozzy Wiesblatt
- Justin Barron
Injured
- None
IHM Lineup Note:
Nashville relies on Josi to control tempo from the back end, with Forsberg and Stamkos as primary shooting threats. The Predators need sustained O-zone time via forecheck pressure and net-front layers to avoid trading rush chances.
New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Rangers - Projected lineup
Forwards
- J.T. Miller - Mika Zibanejad - Gabe Perreault
- Will Cuylle - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
- Jonny Brodzinski - Noah Laba - Taylor Raddysh
- Anton Blidh - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
Defense
- Vladislav Gavrikov - Braden Schneider
- Matthew Robertson - Will Borgen
- Urho Vaakanainen - Vincent Iorio
Goalies
- Jonathan Quick
- Spencer Martin
Scratched
- Scott Morrow
- Brennan Othmann
Injured
- Igor Shesterkin (lower body)
- Adam Fox (lower body)
- Adam Edstrom (lower body)
- Conor Sheary (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
With key injuries on the blue line, New York will likely simplify exits and protect the middle of the ice. The Rangers must avoid getting pinned by Carolina’s forecheck cycles and manage neutral-zone gaps to limit clean entries against.
Hurricanes - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
- Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake
- Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook
- William Carrier - Mark Jankowski - Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Defense
- Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield
- K’Andre Miller - Sean Walker
- Shayne Gostisbehere - Alexander Nikishin
Goalies
- Brandon Bussi
- Frederik Andersen
Scratched
- Mike Reilly
Injured
- Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body)
- Eric Robinson (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Carolina’s identity stays intact: heavy forecheck pressure and constant retrieval work that turns into layered O-zone attacks. Slavin stabilizes the back end, allowing controlled activation without opening major rush lanes.
Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Sabres - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Peyton Krebs - Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch
- Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn
- Josh Doan - Noah Ostlund - Konsta Helenius
- Isak Rosen - Tyson Kozak - Beck Malenstyn
Defense
- Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin
- Bowen Byram - Owen Power
- Jacob Bryson - Michael Kesselring
Goalies
- Alex Lyon
- Colten Ellis
Scratched
- Zach Metsa
Injured
- Zach Benson (upper body)
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body)
- Jordan Greenway (middle body)
- Josh Norris (upper body)
- Josh Dunne (middle body)
- Conor Timmins (broken leg)
- Jiri Kulich (blood clot)
- Justin Danforth (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Buffalo leans into shot-volume hockey with Dahlin and Power driving play from the back end. Injuries reduce depth, so puck management and avoiding extended D-zone shifts will decide whether they can keep pace and protect the slot.
Penguins - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Rutger McGroarty - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
- Egor Chinakhov - Tommy Novak - Evgeni Malkin
- Anthony Mantha - Ben Kindel - Justin Brazeau
- Connor Dewar - Kevin Hayes - Noel Acciari
Defense
- Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
- Brett Kulak - Ryan Shea
- Ilya Solovyov - Connor Clifton
Goalies
- Arturs Silovs
- Stuart Skinner
Scratched
- Blake Lizotte
Injured
- Rickard Rakell (lower body)
- Kris Letang (foot fracture)
- Jack St. Ivany (hand surgery)
- Filip Hallander (blood clot)
- Ryan Graves (lower body)
- Caleb Jones (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Karlsson remains the transition engine, but without Letang the Penguins lose defensive gap control and clean retrieval efficiency. Expect Pittsburgh to simplify exits, protect the middle, and lean on Crosby’s line to manage possession tilt.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers
Faceoff: 01:30 CET
Lightning - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Brandon Hagel - Jake Guentzel - Nikita Kucherov
- Oliver Bjorkstrand - Dominic James - Gage Goncalves
- Zemgus Girgensons - Yanni Gourde - Pontus Holmberg
- Curtis Douglas - Jack Finley - Scott Sabourin
Defense
- J.J. Moser - Darren Raddysh
- Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
- Victor Hedman - Declan Carlile
Goalies
- Andrei Vasilevskiy
- Jonas Johansson
Scratched
- Max Crozier
Injured
- Brayden Point (lower body)
- Emil Lilleberg (undisclosed)
- Charle-Edouard D’Astous (undisclosed)
- Anthony Cirelli (upper body)
- Nick Paul (undisclosed)
IHM Lineup Note:
Tampa continues to run offense through Kucherov’s distribution and quick slot attacks. The Lightning must keep their reloads tight against Florida’s forecheck and protect the middle to avoid extended defensive-zone cycles.
Panthers - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Sam Reinhart
- Carter Verhaeghe - Sam Bennett - Matthew Tkachuk
- A.J. Greer - Evan Rodrigues - Brad Marchand
- Sandis Vilmanis - Cole Schwindt - Mackie Samoskevich
Defense
- Gustav Forsling - Aaron Ekblad
- Niko Mikkola - Uvis Balinskis
- Donovan Sebrango - Jeff Petry
Goalies
- Daniil Tarasov
- Sergei Bobrovsky
Scratched
- Luke Kunin
- Jesper Boqvist
Injured
- Tobias Bjornfot (undisclosed)
- Brad Marchand (lower body)
- Seth Jones (upper body)
- Aleksander Barkov (knee)
- Tomas Nosek (knee)
- Jonah Gadjovich (upper body)
- Dmitry Kulikov (shoulder)
IHM Lineup Note:
Florida’s game is built on forecheck intensity and net-front pressure. The key is winning puck retrievals and sustaining O-zone time, while staying disciplined in transition defense so Tampa cannot strike off quick counterattacks.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Los Angeles Kings
Faceoff: 04:00 CET
Golden Knights - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Mark Stone
- Reilly Smith - Mitch Marner - Pavel Dorofeyev
- Alexander Holtz - Tomas Hertl - Keegan Kolesar
- Cole Reinhardt - Kai Uchacz - Branden Bowman
Defense
- Jeremy Lauzon - Shea Theodore
- Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson
- Ben Hutton - Kaedan Korczak
Goalies
- Adin Hill
- Akira Schmid
Scratched
- None
Injured
- Carter Hart (lower body)
- Brett Howden (lower body)
- William Karlsson (lower body)
- Brayden McNabb (upper body)
- Jonas Rondbjerg (lower body)
- Brandon Saad (undisclosed)
- Colton Sissons (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
With Stone back on the top line, Vegas improves puck protection and slot creation. Theodore’s activation can tilt shot volume, and the Knights’ neutral-zone pressure is built to force rushed exits and immediate re-entries.
Kings - Projected lineup
Forwards
- Trevor Moore - Anze Kopitar - Joel Armia
- Corey Perry - Alex Laferriere - Adrian Kempe
- Kevin Fiala - Quinton Byfield - Andrei Kuzmenko
- Jeff Malott - Samuel Helenius - Taylor Ward
Defense
- Brian Dumoulin - Drew Doughty
- Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
- Jacob Moverare - Cody Ceci
Goalies
- Anton Forsberg
- Darcy Kuemper
Scratched
- Warren Foegele
- Joe Hicketts
- Artemi Panarin
Injured
- Mikey Anderson (upper body)
- Alex Turcotte (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Los Angeles plays a structured, layered game built on defensive spacing and controlled puck support. With Anderson out, the Kings may simplify breakout routes and rely more on Doughty to manage exits and dictate tempo.
Q&A: Projected Lineups and Starting Goalies
Q1: What are projected lineups?
Projected lineups are the expected forward lines and defense pairs based on the latest practice information, morning skate reports, and beat-writer updates. They can change closer to puck drop.
Q2: When are starting goalies confirmed?
Starters are most often confirmed after morning skate or during pregame media availability. Final confirmation can also come 30 to 90 minutes before faceoff.
Q3: Why do line combinations change on game day?
Coaches adjust lines for matchups, injury status, travel fatigue, and special teams roles. Late scratches can force quick reshuffles and role changes.
Q4: What is the difference between scratched and injured?
A scratched player is healthy but not in the lineup. Injured players are unavailable due to a reported injury or medical status designation.
Q5: How should I read forward lines and defense pairs?
Lines reflect expected even-strength usage, while defense pairs indicate matchup structure and puck-moving roles. Special teams usage can differ from the listed units.
Q6: What do the IHM lineup notes focus on?
The notes focus on forecheck structure, neutral-zone approach, transition quality, and how personnel changes affect matchups, tempo, and scoring chance quality.
Q7: Can projected lineups change after this post is published?
Yes. Treat projected lineups as the latest snapshot. Always re-check starters and late lineup updates closer to puck drop.