NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 21, 2026
Date: April 20, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Final update: All projected lineups for today have been added.
Matchup: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Pittsburgh Penguins – Projected lineup
Forwards
Egor Chinakhov – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Tommy Novak – Rickard Rakell – Evgeni Malkin
Elmer Soderblom – Ben Kindel – Anthony Mantha
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon – Erik Karlsson
Samuel Girard – Kris Letang
Ryan Shea – Connor Clifton
Goalies
Stuart Skinner
Arturs Silovs
Scratched: Justin Brazeau, Ilya Solovyov, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Jack St. Ivany
Injured: Filip Hallander (blood clot)
IHM Lineup Note:
Pittsburgh enters Game 2 with its veteran core intact, and that gives the Penguins a very different pressure profile than the temporary rest-heavy versions seen late in the regular season. Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, Letang, Rakell, and Rust still give this group enough experience and offensive intelligence to push back hard after dropping Game 1.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Pittsburgh can apply heavier and smarter pressure through its veteran top six, especially off Crosby and Malkin support routes.
Transition Signal: Karlsson and Letang remain the primary breakout accelerators from the back end.
Blue Line Signal: The Penguins still have puck-moving quality, though they must avoid getting stretched by Philadelphia’s rush speed.
Goalie Stability Signal: Skinner gives Pittsburgh a workable foundation, but he must be cleaner on rebound control in a playoff environment.
X-Factor Signal: The Penguins need their stars to dictate the middle of the ice and avoid letting Philadelphia turn the game into a pace-and-chaos contest.
Philadelphia Flyers – Projected lineup
Forwards
Tyson Foerster – Trevor Zegras – Owen Tippett
Travis Konecny – Christian Dvorak – Porter Martone
Denver Barkey – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov
Luke Glendening – Sean Couturier – Garnet Hathaway
Defense
Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York – Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler – Emil Andrae
Goalies
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson
Scratched: Garrett Wilson, Alex Bump, Noah Juulsen, Carl Grundstrom, Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek
Injured: Rodrigo Abols (lower body), Nikita Grebenkin (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia already took the series lead and now enters Game 2 with clear tactical momentum. The Flyers combine speed, work rate, and line pressure well, and if Tippett and Andrae are healthy enough to go, this remains a lineup capable of stretching Pittsburgh’s defensive reads with pace and direct attacks.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Philadelphia can force rushed exits through active winger pressure and quick reload habits.
Transition Signal: Zegras, Tippett, Konecny, and Michkov give the Flyers multiple speed-trigger options.
Blue Line Signal: Sanheim and York remain the key stabilizers when the game turns more open.
Goalie Stability Signal: The crease is solid enough, though not a dominant series edge on paper.
X-Factor Signal: The Flyers want this game played with tempo and emotional edge, not slow half-ice control.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Flyers slight edge
Defensive Stability: Penguins slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Pittsburgh projects to push for a more deliberate, veteran-controlled response at home, while Philadelphia’s best path remains speed, pressure, and forcing the Penguins into reactive hockey.
Matchup: Carolina Hurricanes vs Ottawa Senators
Faceoff: 01:30 CET
Carolina 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 – Eric Robinson
Defense
Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin
Goalies
Frederik Andersen
Brandon Bussi
Scratched: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nicolas Deslauriers, Mike Reilly, Pyotr Kochetkov
Injured: None
IHM Lineup Note:
Carolina enters Game 2 with the exact same lineup that won Game 1, and that is a strong signal in itself. This group has elite forecheck structure, speed across multiple lines, and one of the most reliable puck-pressure systems in the bracket.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Carolina’s layered pressure remains one of the hardest playoff structures to break cleanly.
Transition Signal: Aho, Jarvis, Hall, Ehlers, and Stankoven give the Hurricanes both speed and support timing.
Blue Line Signal: Slavin anchors the defensive reads, while Gostisbehere and Nikishin keep the attack flowing from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Andersen remains a calm, playoff-capable backbone in front of a strong system.
X-Factor Signal: Carolina wants repeat offensive-zone time and quick recovery touches rather than a trade-chance game.
Ottawa Senators – Projected lineup
Forwards
Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux
Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridley Greig
Nick Cousins – Shane Pinto – Mike Amadio
Warren Foegele – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund
Defense
Jake Sanderson – Nikolas Matinpalo
Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence
Dennis Gilbert – Lassi Thomson
Goalies
Linus Ullmark
James Reimer
Scratched: Kurtis MacDermid, Stephen Halliday, Hayden Hodgson, Cameron Crotty, Graeme Clarke, Arthur Kaliyev, Xavier Bourgeault, Oscar Pettersson, Tyler Boucher, Carter Yakemchuk
Injured: Artem Zub (undisclosed), Tyler Kleven (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Ottawa still has enough top-six skill and emotion to make this series dangerous, but the health question around Zub matters against Carolina’s wave-based puck pressure. Ullmark gives the Senators a chance to resist long stretches of territorial control, but the skaters must clean up exits and slot coverage.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Ottawa can bring pushback through Tkachuk, Cozens, and Giroux, but must stay connected behind the first wave.
Transition Signal: Stutzle remains the main engine for carrying play out of pressure and into attack.
Blue Line Signal: Zub’s availability is highly important because Carolina will test Ottawa’s depth pairs repeatedly.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ullmark is Ottawa’s biggest stabilizer and series-level equalizer.
X-Factor Signal: The Senators need a more direct, emotional, and heavy game than Game 1 to disrupt Carolina’s flow.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Hurricanes edge
Transition Edge: Hurricanes slight edge
Defensive Stability: Hurricanes edge
Goaltending Edge: Senators slight edge
Game Control Projection: Carolina projects to own more of the structured possession and forecheck battle again, while Ottawa needs Ullmark plus better defensive support to flip the rhythm of the series.
Matchup: Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild
Faceoff: 03:30 CET
Dallas Stars – Projected lineup
Forwards
Justin Hryckowian – Wyatt Johnston – Mikko Rantanen
Jason Robertson – Matt Duchene – Mavrik Bourque
Sam Steel – Arttu Hyry – Jamie Benn
Oskar Back – Radek Faksa – Colin Blackwell
Defense
Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley – Nils Lundkvist
Lian Bichsel – Tyler Myers
Goalies
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith
Scratched: Michael Bunting, Kyle Capobianco, Adam Erne, Ilya Lyubushkin, Alexander Petrovic
Injured: Nathan Bastian (hand), Roope Hintz (lower body), Tyler Seguin (ACL)
IHM Lineup Note:
Dallas gets a major structural boost with Heiskanen back in the lineup, and that alone changes the texture of the series after the Game 1 blowout. The Stars still miss Hintz, but Heiskanen, Oettinger, Rantanen, Robertson, Duchene, and Johnston give them the tools to reset the matchup immediately.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Dallas can pressure more effectively when its back end exits cleanly and feeds second-wave support.
Transition Signal: Heiskanen dramatically improves puck transport and neutral-zone control.
Blue Line Signal: The Stars are far more stable and dangerous offensively with Heiskanen restoring top-pair command.
Goalie Stability Signal: Oettinger remains one of the most important series-shaping goalies in the West.
X-Factor Signal: Dallas needs a tighter first ten minutes and far better slot management than in Game 1.
Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup
Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
Vladimir Tarasenko – Danila Yurov – Yakov Trenin
Marcus Foligno – Michael McCarron – Nick Foligno
Defense
Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon
Jake Middleton – Zach Bogosian
Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson
Scratched: Bobby Brink, Robby Fabbri, Viking Gustafsson-Nyberg, Daemon Hunt, Matt Kiersted, Jeff Petry, Nico Sturm
Injuries: None
IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota comes into Game 2 after a dominant opener and has no reason to alter the formula. Kaprizov, Boldy, Eriksson Ek, Hughes, Faber, Brodin, and Spurgeon give the Wild elite balance between skill, structure, and puck-control confidence.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Minnesota can pressure with real purpose and still stay above the puck defensively.
Transition Signal: Kaprizov and Hughes are the most dangerous pace-changing pieces in the lineup.
Blue Line Signal: Minnesota’s defense remains one of the smartest and most mobile groups on the slate.
Goalie Stability Signal: Gustavsson gives the Wild a strong edge if he starts after the Game 1 win, though Wallstedt is also capable.
X-Factor Signal: Minnesota wants to keep Dallas chasing the game and stop the Stars from establishing clean controlled entries.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Wild slight edge
Defensive Stability: Wild slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Stars slight edge on pedigree, even on current form
Game Control Projection: Dallas should look much more composed with Heiskanen back, but Minnesota still projects to carry the sharper team structure and confidence edge after taking Game 1 convincingly.
Matchup: Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks
Faceoff: 04:00 CET
Edmonton Oilers – Projected lineup
Forwards
Matthew Savoie – Connor McDavid – Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin – Leon Draisaitl – Kasperi Kapanen
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jason Dickinson – Jack Roslovic
Colton Dach – Adam Henrique – Trent Frederic
Defense
Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse – Connor Murphy
Jake Walman – Ty Emberson
Goalies
Connor Ingram
Tristan Jarry
Scratched: Curtis Lazar, Calvin Pickard, Josh Samanski, Spencer Stastney
Injured: Mattias Janmark (shoulder), Max Jones (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
If Draisaitl is available, Edmonton’s Game 1 ceiling rises immediately. McDavid, Hyman, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Bouchard, and Ekholm give the Oilers the most explosive offensive core in this matchup, and Dickinson’s return also helps rebalance the middle six.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Edmonton can pressure more effectively when its stars force defenders into rushed retrieval decisions.
Transition Signal: McDavid remains the most dangerous open-ice player on the slate, and Draisaitl’s status changes the entire matchup math.
Blue Line Signal: Ekholm and Bouchard provide the key two-way platform for pushing the game forward.
Goalie Stability Signal: The crease remains usable, though not the main projected advantage in the series opener.
X-Factor Signal: Edmonton needs to turn its top-end skill into actual slot pressure and avoid playing a loose, rushed defensive game.
Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup
Forwards
Chris Kreider – Leo Carlsson – Troy Terry
Alex Killorn – Mikael Granlund – Beckett Sennecke
Mason McTavish – Ryan Poehling – Cutter Gauthier
Jeffrey Viel – Tim Washe – Ian Moore
Defense
Jackson LaCombe – Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov – John Carlson
Tyson Hinds – Radko Gudas
Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso
Scratched: Drew Helleson, Frank Vatrano, Olen Zellweger
Injured: Jansen Harkins (hand surgery), Ross Johnston (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim is not entering this series as a passive underdog. Carlsson, Terry, McTavish, Gauthier, Granlund, Carlson, Trouba, and Dostal give the Ducks enough structure and veteran support to make Game 1 uncomfortable if Edmonton does not manage the puck cleanly.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim can bring enough pressure to expose Oilers turnovers if the game gets careless.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry are the main clean-entry creators, while Gauthier adds shot threat off motion.
Blue Line Signal: Carlson and Mintyukov improve Anaheim’s ability to sustain offense from the points.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal is a legitimate playoff spoiler if he sees the puck cleanly and manages rebounds.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim wants a composed road opener where Edmonton’s stars are forced to work through layers instead of playing free.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Oilers edge
Transition Edge: Oilers clear edge if Draisaitl plays, slight edge if not
Defensive Stability: Ducks slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection: Edmonton projects to own the higher ceiling through star power, but Anaheim has enough structure and crease stability to make this dangerous if the Oilers do not manage the pace and puck cleanly in Game 1.
Q&A: Projected Lineups and Starting Goalies
What are NHL projected lineups?
Projected lineups are expected forward lines, defense pairs, and goalies based on team reports, skates, and coaching decisions before official warmup confirmation.
How accurate are projected lineups?
They are usually close to final, but late scratches, maintenance calls, and playoff adjustments can still change the setup.
Why do playoff lineups matter more than regular-season lineups?
Because playoff hockey is more matchup-driven, more physical, and more sensitive to goalie quality, center depth, and top-four defense structure.
Why are starting goalies so important in Game 2 or Game 1 situations?
They can shape series momentum, protect mistakes under pressure, and influence how aggressively a team can attack.
What does a healthy scratch mean in the playoffs?
It means a player is available but left out for tactical, matchup, or performance reasons.
Why do coaches keep the same lineup after a win?
Because continuity, chemistry, and successful matchups often matter more than experimenting during a playoff series.
What should readers focus on first in a projected lineup?
Center depth, top-four defense quality, starting goalie strength, and whether the lineup supports the team’s normal playoff identity.
How important are injuries in a playoff series?
Very important, because one missing top center, defenseman, or scorer can change the entire tactical balance of a matchup.
Can line combinations reveal playoff strategy?
Yes. They often show whether a coach wants more speed, more forecheck, tighter defense, or more matchup control.
Why does IHM add tactical notes to projected lineups?
Because names alone do not explain how a lineup may function under playoff pace, pressure, and matchup conditions.
When are final playoff lineups usually confirmed?
Most often during warmups or shortly before puck drop.
What should readers watch for after publication?
Late goalie confirmations, true game-time decisions, and final lineup tweaks that can shift the tactical balance.