NHL Projected Lineups - Game Day March 9, 2026
Date: 09 March
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Update: Additional lineup adjustments may occur closer to puck drop due to late scratches, maintenance decisions or travel updates.
Detroit Red Wings vs New Jersey Devils
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Red Wings - Projected lineup
Forwards
Alex DeBrincat - Andrew Copp - Patrick Kane
Emmitt Finnie - Marco Kasper - Lucas Raymond
Mason Appleton - J.T. Compher - Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
James van Riemsdyk - Michael Rasmussen - Dominik Shine
Defense
Simon Edvinsson - Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot - Justin Faulk
Albert Johansson - Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Goalies
John Gibson
Cam Talbot
Scratched
Travis Hamonic
Elmer Soderblom
John Leonard
Injured
David Perron (lower body)
Dylan Larkin (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note: Detroit loses a major transition driver without Larkin, meaning puck transport responsibility shifts heavily toward Raymond and Kane. The Red Wings will rely on controlled zone entries rather than pure rush speed, while Faulk’s debut could stabilize puck movement from the second pair.
Devils - Projected lineup
Forwards
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Dawson Mercer
Arseny Gritsyuk - Jack Hughes - Connor Brown
Jesper Bratt - Cody Glass - Lenni Hameenaho
Paul Cotter - Nick Bjugstad - Maxim Tsyplakov
Defense
Jonas Siegenthaler - Dougie Hamilton
Luke Hughes - Johnathan Kovacevic
Brenden Dillon - Simon Nemec
Goalies
Jake Allen
Jacob Markstrom
Scratched
Colton White
Dennis Cholowski
Evgenii Dadonov
Injured
Stefan Noesen (knee)
Zack MacEwen (ACL)
Brett Pesce (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note: New Jersey’s attack revolves around speed through the middle lanes with Hughes orchestrating tempo. The Devils will try to exploit Detroit’s slower defensive recoveries by forcing quick transition plays and activating Hamilton aggressively in the offensive zone.
St. Louis Blues vs Anaheim Ducks
Faceoff: 03:00 CET
Blues - Projected lineup
Forwards
Dylan Holloway - Robert Thomas - Jimmy Snuggerud
Jake Neighbours - Pavel Buchnevich - Jordan Kyrou
Jonatan Berggren - Dalibor Dvorsky - Pius Suter
Alexey Toropchenko - Jack Finley - Oskar Sundqvist
Defense
Philip Broberg - Cam Fowler
Tyler Tucker - Matthew Kessel
Colton Parayko - Logan Mailloux
Goalies
Joel Hofer
Jordan Binnington
Scratched
Justin Holl
Jonathan Drouin
Nathan Walker
IHM Lineup Note: St. Louis continues leaning on Thomas as the offensive engine, especially in controlled entries and high-slot distribution. If Parayko is fully available, the Blues gain a major defensive stabilizer capable of slowing Anaheim’s rush speed.
Ducks - Projected lineup
Forwards
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Cutter Gauthier
Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke
Mason McTavish - Ryan Poehling - Frank Vatrano
Ross Johnston - Tim Washe - Jeffrey Viel
Defense
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Olen Zellweger - Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov - Ian Moore
Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso
Scratched
Jansen Harkins
Drew Helleson
Injured
Troy Terry (upper body)
John Carlson (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note: Anaheim’s top line blends size and finishing ability. Carlsson’s playmaking vision paired with Gauthier’s release creates strong scoring potential, but the Ducks must avoid extended defensive-zone sequences against the Blues’ heavier forecheck.
Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights
Faceoff: 03:30 CET
Oilers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Jack Roslovic
Matt Savoie - Jason Dickinson - Kasperi Kapanen
Colton Dach - Adam Henrique - Trent Frederic
Defense
Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
Jake Walman - Connor Murphy
Darnell Nurse - Ty Emberson
Goalies
Connor Ingram
Tristan Jarry
Scratched
Josh Samanski
Spencer Stastney
Injured
Mattias Janmark (shoulder)
Curtis Lazar (undisclosed)
IHM Lineup Note: Edmonton’s offense still flows through the McDavid-Draisaitl dual-center dynamic. When both lines generate speed through the neutral zone, the Oilers become extremely difficult to contain due to layered rush attacks and trailing defense activation.
Golden Knights - Projected lineup
Forwards
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Braeden Bowman
Brett Howden - Mitch Marner - Pavel Dorofeyev
Brandon Saad - Tomas Hertl - Keegan Kolesar
Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Colton Sissons
Defense
Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin - Kaedan Korczak
Rasmus Andersson - Jeremy Lauzon
Goalies
Adin Hill
Akira Schmid
Scratched
Ben Hutton
Reilly Smith
Injured
Carter Hart (lower body)
William Karlsson (lower body)
Jonas Rondbjerg (lower body)
Mark Stone (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note: Vegas relies on structural discipline and balanced depth scoring. Eichel’s line drives puck possession, while Theodore’s mobility from the blue line allows the Knights to sustain pressure and control offensive-zone cycles.
Los Angeles Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Faceoff: 22:00 CET (Monday)
Kings - Projected lineup
Forwards
Artemi Panarin - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere
Alex Turcotte - Scott Laughton - Jared Wright
Jeff Malott - Samuel Helenius - Taylor Ward
Defense
Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci
Goalies
Darcy Kuemper
Anton Forsberg
IHM Lineup Note: LA’s defensive stability improves significantly with Doughty controlling breakouts. The Kings aim to slow the pace and force Columbus into structured half-ice hockey where Kopitar’s line can dominate possession.
Blue Jackets - Projected lineup
Forwards
Mason Marchment - Adam Fantilli - Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson - Sean Monahan - Conor Garland
Cole Sillinger - Charlie Coyle - Mathieu Olivier
Isac Lundestrom - Boone Jenner - Miles Wood
Defense
Zach Werenski - Damon Severson
Ivan Provorov - Denton Mateychuk
Dante Fabbro - Erik Gudbranson
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins
Jet Greaves
IHM Lineup Note: Columbus combines speed and physical pressure across the lineup. Fantilli’s development as a top-line center adds another transition weapon, especially when paired with Marchenko’s shooting ability on the rush.
Q&A: Lineups, Tactical Matchups and Coaching Decisions
Why do coaches change line combinations even after wins?
Because line chemistry evolves during the season. Coaches constantly search for better puck-retrieval balance, defensive reliability and scoring efficiency.
How important are defensive pairings compared with forward lines?
Defense pairs often influence puck possession more than forwards because they control breakouts and zone entries.
What is the biggest indicator of a team’s tactical identity?
Deployment patterns: how coaches distribute ice time between top-six forwards and shutdown lines.
Why are scratches important in lineup reports?
Scratches often signal tactical adjustments, injury management or upcoming roster moves.
What should analysts watch during the first five minutes?
Neutral-zone structure and forecheck patterns. Those early shifts reveal the strategic game plan.
How do injuries affect tactical systems?
Losing a top defenseman or center can completely change puck-movement structure and matchups.
Why do coaches value versatile players?
Players who can move between lines or positions give teams flexibility during in-game adjustments.
What does a “maintenance day” usually indicate?
It means the player is healthy but managing fatigue during the schedule.
Why do some teams play stronger at home?
Home teams control line matchups and last change, which allows better tactical deployment.
What is the most underrated lineup factor?
Depth lines. Strong third and fourth lines often determine puck possession over a full game.