NHL Projected Lineups - Game Day March 14, 2026
Date: 13 March 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Update: Additional matchups will be added as projected lineups are updated throughout the day.
New York Islanders vs Los Angeles Kings
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Islanders - Projected lineup
Forwards
Emil Heineman - Bo Horvat - Calum Ritchie
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Schenn - Mathew Barzal
Anders Lee - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Simon Holmstrom
Max Shabanov - Casey Cizikas - Marc Gatcomb
Defense
Matthew Schaefer - Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech - Tony DeAngelo
Carson Soucy - Scott Mayfield
Goalies
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich
Scratched
Anthony Duclair
Kyle MacLean
Adam Boqvist
Injured
Kyle Palmieri (ACL)
Alexander Romanov (upper body)
Semyon Varlamov (knee)
IHM Lineup Note:
The Islanders rely heavily on Horvat’s two-way structure and Barzal’s puck transport to generate offense. With Sorokin starting the opener of a back-to-back, New York should emphasize controlled exits and disciplined defensive layers.
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
Scratched
Mathieu Joseph
Jacob Moverare
Injured
Joel Armia (back)
Andrei Kuzmenko (meniscus)
Kevin Fiala (fractured leg)
IHM Lineup Note:
Los Angeles brings veteran structure through Kopitar and Doughty, but injuries reduce their offensive depth. The Kings will likely prioritize defensive posture and opportunistic transition plays through Kempe and Panarin.
IHM Tactical Signals
Pace Signal
Islanders
Forecheck Signal
Islanders
Blue Line Signal
Kings have the most experienced defensive leadership through Doughty.
Goalie Stability Signal
Islanders
X-Factor Signal
If Panarin finds open transition space, Los Angeles can generate higher offensive quality than expected.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Islanders
Transition Edge
Kings
Defensive Stability
Islanders
Goaltending Edge
Islanders
Game Control Projection
New York should control more territorial pressure, while Los Angeles will search for counterattack opportunities.
St. Louis Blues vs Edmonton Oilers
Faceoff: 02:00 CET
Blues - Projected lineup
Forwards
Dylan Holloway - Robert Thomas - Jimmy Snuggerud
Jonathan Drouin - Pavel Buchnevich - Otto Stenberg
Jake Neighbours - Dalibor Dvorsky - Jordan Kyrou
Alexey Toropchenko - Jack Finley - Pius Suter
Defense
Philip Broberg - Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein - Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler - Tyler Tucker
Goalies
Joel Hofer
Jordan Binnington
Scratched
Nathan Walker
Jonatan Berggren
Oskar Sundqvist
Justin Holl
Matthew Kessel
Injured
None
IHM Lineup Note:
St. Louis enters with momentum after the Carolina win and should try to control pace through Thomas and Kyrou. Their defensive structure will be tested against Edmonton’s elite transition speed.
Oilers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Jack Roslovic
Matt Savoie - Jason Dickinson - Kasperi Kapanen
Adam Henrique - Josh Samanski - Trent Frederic
Defense
Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
Jake Walman - Connor Murphy
Darnell Nurse - Spencer Stastney
Goalies
Connor Ingram
Tristan Jarry
Scratched
None
Injured
Colton Dach (undisclosed)
Ty Emberson (undisclosed)
Mattias Janmark (shoulder)
Curtis Lazar (undisclosed)
IHM Lineup Note:
Edmonton’s identity remains driven by McDavid and Draisaitl creating pace through the neutral zone. If the Oilers win the speed battle early, they can quickly tilt territorial pressure.
IHM Tactical Signals
Pace Signal
Oilers
Forecheck Signal
Blues
Blue Line Signal
Oilers through Bouchard’s puck movement.
Goalie Stability Signal
Even
X-Factor Signal
Thomas versus McDavid matchup in transition will define the tempo.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Oilers
Transition Edge
Oilers
Defensive Stability
Blues
Goaltending Edge
Even
Game Control Projection
Edmonton should generate more rush opportunities, while St. Louis relies on structure and counter pressure.
Ottawa Senators vs Anaheim Ducks
Faceoff: 19:00 CET
Senators - Projected lineup
Forwards
Drake Batherson - Tim Stutzle - Claude Giroux
Brady Tkachuk - Dylan Cozens - Ridly Greig
Nick Cousins - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
Warren Foegele - Lars Eller - Fabian Zetterlund
Defense
Thomas Chabot - Artem Zub
Tyler Kleven - Jordan Spence
Dennis Gilbert - Nikolas Matinpalo
Goalies
James Reimer
Linus Ullmark
Scratched
Stephen Halliday
Kurtis MacDermid
Injured
Jake Sanderson (upper body)
Nick Jensen (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Ottawa’s top line drives most of the offensive creation through Stutzle’s speed and Giroux’s playmaking. Defensive stability will depend heavily on Chabot and Zub controlling puck retrievals.
Ducks - Projected lineup
Forwards
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Cutter Gauthier
Mikael Granlund - Mason McTavish - Beckett Sennecke
Alex Killorn - Ryan Poehling - Jeffrey Viel
Jansen Harkins - Tim Washe - Ian Moore
Defense
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Olen Zellweger - Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson
Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso
Scratched
Frank Vatrano
Ross Johnston
Injured
Troy Terry (upper body)
John Carlson (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim mixes youth and veteran physicality, which can make their game unpredictable. If Carlsson’s line generates clean zone entries, the Ducks can challenge Ottawa’s defensive gaps.
Q&A: Projected Lineups and Starting Goalies
Q1: What is a projected lineup?
A projected lineup is the best estimate of how teams will deploy their players based on morning skates, practices and coaching comments before puck drop.
Q2: Can projected lineups change?
Yes. Late scratches, illness, travel delays or coaching decisions can change the final lineup shortly before the game begins.
Q3: Why are starting goalies important?
Goaltending has the single largest impact on game outcomes because save percentage swings can dramatically influence scoring expectations.
Q4: Why do coaches adjust line combinations?
Line changes can be used to improve matchups, create chemistry between players or address injuries and fatigue.
Q5: What does the Match Pressure Index show?
The index summarizes the likely flow of the game by evaluating offense, transition, defensive structure and goaltending stability.