NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 25, 2026
Date: April 24, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Final update: All projected lineups for today have been added.
Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Tampa Bay Lightning – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Brayden Point – Brandon Hagel – Jake Guentzel
Nikita Kucherov – Darren Raddysh
Power Play 2
Anthony Cirelli – Gage Goncalves – Nick Paul
J.J. Moser – Corey Perry
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Expected
Injured: Charle-Edouard D’Astous (OUT), Pontus Holmberg (OUT), Victor Hedman (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Tampa Bay still has elite playoff weapons through Point, Kucherov, Hagel and Guentzel, but the absence of Hedman remains the biggest structural issue. Without Hedman, the Lightning lose some of their normal blue-line calm, breakout precision and special-teams control. Vasilevskiy is expected, which keeps Tampa’s overall floor high.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Tampa should attack Montreal’s young defense with heavier early pressure and quick puck recovery.
Transition Signal: Point and Kucherov remain the most dangerous pace manipulators in this matchup.
Blue Line Signal: Raddysh and Moser must carry more offensive and breakout responsibility without Hedman.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vasilevskiy gives Tampa the clearest goaltending advantage on this matchup card.
X-Factor Signal: Tampa’s power play must become sharper because Montreal has already shown it can survive five-on-five pressure.
Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Nick Suzuki – Cole Caufield – Juraj Slafkovsky
Ivan Demidov – Lane Hutson
Power Play 2
Alex Newhook – Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach
Mike Matheson – Alexandre Texier
Goalies
Jakub Dobes – Expected
Injured: Noah Dobson (OUT), Patrik Laine (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal continues to lean on its young offensive core. Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov and Hutson give the Canadiens creativity, deception and speed, especially on the power play. The question remains defensive stability, particularly with Dobson unavailable and Tampa’s top players capable of punishing small mistakes quickly.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal should continue pressing Tampa’s depth defense and force rushed decisions below the goal line.
Transition Signal: Suzuki remains the central pace and decision hub for controlled entries.
Blue Line Signal: Hutson adds creativity, but the Canadiens must manage risk behind his offensive instincts.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dobes is expected and must handle pressure cleanly against Tampa’s elite finishing group.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal’s young skill must stay aggressive without giving Tampa easy counterattack chances.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Lightning edge
Transition Edge: Lightning slight edge
Defensive Stability: Even
Goaltending Edge: Lightning edge
Game Control Projection: Tampa projects to push with more urgency and special-teams pressure, but Montreal has enough speed and confidence to punish mistakes if the Lightning lose structure.
Matchup: Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights
Faceoff: 03:30 CET
Utah Mammoth – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Logan Cooley – Clayton Keller – Dylan Guenther
Mikhail Sergachev – Nick Schmaltz
Power Play 2
Alex Kerfoot – JJ Peterka – Michael Carcone
Lawson Crouse – MacKenzie Weegar
Goalies
Karel Vejmelka – Expected
Injured: Barrett Hayton (OUT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Utah has enough skill to make this game uncomfortable, especially through Cooley, Keller, Guenther, Sergachev and Weegar. The problem is consistency. Against Vegas, the Mammoth cannot rely only on flashes of transition. They need sustained pressure, cleaner exits and stronger defensive-zone discipline.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Utah must pressure Vegas earlier and prevent the Golden Knights from walking out cleanly.
Transition Signal: Cooley and Keller are the main pace creators and must attack before Vegas sets its layers.
Blue Line Signal: Sergachev and Weegar give Utah enough quality to move the puck under pressure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vejmelka is expected and will need to handle net-front traffic calmly.
X-Factor Signal: Utah needs a faster game script, because slow half-ice hockey favors Vegas.
Vegas Golden Knights – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Mitch Marner – Tomas Hertl – Pavel Dorofeyev
Jack Eichel – Mark Stone
Power Play 2
Brett Howden – Ivan Barbashev – Colton Sissons
Shea Theodore – Rasmus Andersson
Goalies
Carter Hart – Confirmed
Injured: William Karlsson (IR-LT), Alex Pietrangelo (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Vegas has Carter Hart confirmed and still looks like the more mature playoff team. Even without Karlsson and Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights have enough structure, size and puck control through Eichel, Marner, Stone, Hertl, Theodore and Andersson to dictate long stretches.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Vegas can pressure with weight and timing while staying above the puck defensively.
Transition Signal: Eichel and Marner provide elite controlled-entry quality and delay-game creativity.
Blue Line Signal: Losing Pietrangelo matters, but Theodore and Andersson still give Vegas strong puck movement.
Goalie Stability Signal: Hart confirmed gives Vegas clear crease control before puck drop.
X-Factor Signal: Vegas can win this game by turning Utah’s speed into wall battles and repeated defensive-zone shifts.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Golden Knights edge
Transition Edge: Golden Knights slight edge
Defensive Stability: Golden Knights edge
Goaltending Edge: Golden Knights slight edge
Game Control Projection: Vegas projects to control the more repeatable playoff details, while Utah needs speed, special-teams execution and a strong Vejmelka performance to make the game unstable.
Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers
Faceoff: 04:00 CET
Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Mikael Granlund – Mason McTavish – Cutter Gauthier
Jackson LaCombe – Beckett Sennecke
Power Play 2
Leo Carlsson – Alex Killorn – Troy Terry
Chris Kreider – John Carlson
Goalies
Lukas Dostal – Expected
Injured: Radko Gudas (OUT), Jansen Harkins (OUT), Ross Johnston (OUT), Petr Mrazek (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim continues to present a difficult structural matchup for Edmonton. The Ducks are not built around one superstar, but their power play units show balance and variety. Granlund, McTavish, Gauthier, Carlsson, Terry, Kreider and Carlson give Anaheim multiple ways to create pressure if Edmonton becomes careless with the puck.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim must keep pressure controlled and avoid giving McDavid free transition lanes.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry are the main open-ice connectors for the Ducks.
Blue Line Signal: Gudas being out removes defensive bite, making LaCombe and Carlson more important.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal is expected and gives Anaheim a credible chance if he tracks through traffic well.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim needs disciplined layers and fast puck support to continue frustrating Edmonton’s stars.
Edmonton Oilers – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Leon Draisaitl – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Zach Hyman
Connor McDavid – Evan Bouchard
Power Play 2
Vasily Podkolzin – Matt Savoie – Jack Roslovic
Mattias Ekholm – Jake Walman
Goalies
Connor Ingram – Expected
Injured: Jason Dickinson (DTD), Adam Henrique (OUT), Max Jones (OUT), Mattias Janmark (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Edmonton still has the highest offensive ceiling on this slate because McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins and Bouchard remain a devastating top power-play core. The issue is execution. If Anaheim keeps the middle closed and Edmonton’s puck movement stays slow, the Oilers’ elite talent can still be forced into frustration.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Edmonton must increase puck retrieval pressure instead of relying only on rush chances.
Transition Signal: McDavid remains the central pace engine and must attack with speed through the middle lane.
Blue Line Signal: Bouchard and Ekholm are critical to clean exits and power-play structure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ingram is expected and must provide calm behind a team that may open the game up.
X-Factor Signal: Edmonton’s power play has to become dangerous immediately, because special teams can flip this series.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Oilers edge
Transition Edge: Oilers clear edge
Defensive Stability: Ducks slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection: Edmonton projects to own the higher ceiling through star power and special teams, but Anaheim can control the emotional rhythm if it keeps the Oilers outside and limits central speed.
Matchup: Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes
Faceoff: 21:00 CET
Ottawa Senators – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Tim Stutzle – Brady Tkachuk – Drake Batherson
Jordan Spence – Claude Giroux
Power Play 2
Shane Pinto – Warren Foegele – Fabian Zetterlund
Thomas Chabot – Dylan Cozens
Goalies
Linus Ullmark – Expected
Injured: Jake Sanderson (OUT), Artem Zub (OUT), Nick Jensen (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Ottawa enters this matchup under heavy structural pressure. The loss of Sanderson and Zub removes two important defensive-zone stabilizers, which makes every breakout more difficult against Carolina’s layered forecheck. Ullmark becomes the central survival piece because the Senators may spend long stretches defending inside their own zone.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Ottawa must create pressure through Tkachuk and Batherson but cannot afford uncontrolled risk.
Transition Signal: Stutzle becomes the main exit and entry driver with Sanderson unavailable.
Blue Line Signal: The absence of Sanderson and Zub weakens Ottawa’s puck-moving and defensive-zone recovery structure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ullmark gives Ottawa its strongest chance to keep the game alive under pressure.
X-Factor Signal: Ottawa’s power play must produce because five-on-five creation is becoming harder against Carolina.
Carolina Hurricanes – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Taylor Hall – Nikolaj Ehlers – Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov – Shayne Gostisbehere
Power Play 2
Logan Stankoven – Jordan Staal – Jackson Blake
Alexander Nikishin – Sebastian Aho
Goalies
Frederik Andersen – Expected
Injured: None
IHM Lineup Note:
Carolina comes in with complete system confidence and no injury disruption. The Hurricanes continue to win this series through repetition, forecheck pressure, clean reloads, and disciplined defensive layers. Their power play units also show strong depth, with dangerous names spread across both groups rather than loaded into one predictable unit.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Carolina’s pressure structure remains the strongest tactical weapon in this matchup.
Transition Signal: Hall, Ehlers, Aho and Jarvis give the Hurricanes multiple speed and entry options.
Blue Line Signal: Gostisbehere and Nikishin create offensive activation while the team structure protects behind them.
Goalie Stability Signal: Andersen gives Carolina reliable playoff calm behind an already strong system.
X-Factor Signal: Carolina can turn Ottawa’s injured blue line into repeated long defensive-zone shifts.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Hurricanes edge
Transition Edge: Hurricanes edge
Defensive Stability: Hurricanes clear edge
Goaltending Edge: Senators slight edge
Game Control Projection: Carolina projects to control the rhythm through forecheck pressure and defensive depth, while Ottawa needs Ullmark, special teams and a more direct offensive approach to avoid elimination-level pressure.
Matchup: Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars
Faceoff: 23:30 CET
Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Joel Eriksson Ek – Kirill Kaprizov – Matt Boldy
Quinn Hughes – Vladimir Tarasenko
Power Play 2
Ryan Hartman – Marcus Johansson – Bobby Brink
Brock Faber – Jared Spurgeon
Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt – Expected
Injured: Mats Zuccarello (DTD), Charlie Stramel (OUT), Yakov Trenin (OUT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota still has a dangerous top-end structure through Kaprizov, Boldy, Eriksson Ek and Hughes, but the injury notes around Zuccarello and Trenin affect the balance of the lineup. The Wild remain dangerous in transition, but they need more sustained offensive-zone pressure if they want to keep Dallas from controlling the pace through Heiskanen and Oettinger.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Minnesota can pressure well, but missing Trenin lowers some physical depth impact.
Transition Signal: Kaprizov and Hughes remain the main pace-changing weapons.
Blue Line Signal: Hughes, Faber and Spurgeon give Minnesota strong puck-moving intelligence.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wallstedt is expected, which adds a younger, less proven playoff crease layer.
X-Factor Signal: Minnesota needs Kaprizov and Boldy to generate high-danger looks quickly before Dallas settles into structure.
Dallas Stars – Projected lineup
Power Play 1
Wyatt Johnston – Jason Robertson – Mikko Rantanen
Matt Duchene – Miro Heiskanen
Power Play 2
Mavrik Bourque – Justin Hryckowian – Jamie Benn
Thomas Harley – Esa Lindell
Goalies
Jake Oettinger – Expected
Injured: Nathan Bastian (OUT), Roope Hintz (OUT), Tyler Seguin (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Dallas still misses important forward pieces, but the structure remains dangerous because Heiskanen, Robertson, Rantanen, Duchene and Johnston give the Stars elite power-play and transition potential. Oettinger expected in net gives Dallas the stronger playoff goaltending profile in this matchup.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Dallas must force Minnesota into longer defensive-zone possessions and reduce rush exchanges.
Transition Signal: Heiskanen is the central driver of clean exits and controlled entries.
Blue Line Signal: Heiskanen and Harley give Dallas strong offensive-zone support from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Oettinger provides the more established playoff stability compared with Wallstedt.
X-Factor Signal: Dallas needs its power play to punish Minnesota’s penalty structure and change the series rhythm.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Stars slight edge
Transition Edge: Wild slight edge
Defensive Stability: Stars edge
Goaltending Edge: Stars edge
Game Control Projection: Dallas projects to have the cleaner playoff control profile through Heiskanen and Oettinger, while Minnesota needs elite execution from Kaprizov, Hughes and Boldy to tilt the game through speed.
Q&A: Projected Lineups and Starting Goalies
What are NHL projected lineups?
Projected lineups are expected player combinations, goalie plans and special-teams units based on the latest team information before puck drop.
Are these NHL projected lineups final?
They are highly useful but not guaranteed. Coaches can still make changes after warmups, injury updates or game-time decisions.
Why are projected goalies important?
Goalies directly influence game control, confidence, defensive structure and matchup risk.
What is the difference between expected and confirmed goalies?
Expected means the goalie is likely to start. Confirmed means the team or a reliable lineup source has confirmed the starter.
Why are power play units included?
Power play units reveal offensive hierarchy, puck-touch priority and which players are trusted in high-leverage situations.
Why do injuries matter so much in playoff lineups?
A missing top defenseman, center or goalie can change the entire tactical balance of a playoff game.
How should readers analyze projected lineups?
Focus on center depth, top-four defense quality, goalie status, injuries and whether the team’s normal identity is still intact.
Can special teams decide playoff games?
Yes. In tight playoff games, one power-play goal or one failed penalty kill can decide the outcome.
Why does IHM add tactical signals?
Because player names alone do not explain how the lineup may function under real game pressure.
What is the IHM Match Pressure Index?
It is a quick tactical summary of offensive pressure, transition edge, defensive stability, goaltending edge and projected game control.
When are final NHL lineups usually confirmed?
Most final confirmations come during warmups or shortly before puck drop.
What should readers watch after publication?
Late goalie changes, injury updates, scratches and any power-play adjustments that shift the tactical balance.