NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 30, 2026
Date: April 30, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Final update: All projected lineups for today have been added.
Matchup: Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars
Faceoff: 01:30 CET
Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup
Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt – Expected
Power Play 1
Joel Eriksson Ek – Kirill Kaprizov – Matt Boldy
Quinn Hughes – Mats Zuccarello
Power Play 2
Ryan Hartman – Marcus Johansson – Yakov Trenin
Vladimir Tarasenko – Brock Faber
Injured: Jonas Brodin (OUT), Charlie Stramel (OUT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota enters with a dangerous top-unit structure built around Kaprizov, Boldy, Eriksson Ek and Hughes. Zuccarello being involved on the first power play adds another passing layer, while Wallstedt expected in goal makes crease execution one of the key pressure points.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Minnesota should pressure Dallas depth defenders and force rushed exits.
Transition Signal: Hughes and Kaprizov remain the main pace-changing weapons.
Blue Line Signal: Faber and Hughes give Minnesota strong puck-moving intelligence.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wallstedt is expected and must manage playoff pressure cleanly.
X-Factor Signal: Minnesota needs its top power-play unit to create quick danger before Dallas settles into structure.
Dallas Stars – Projected lineup
Goalies
Jake Oettinger – Expected
Power Play 1
Matt Duchene – Jason Robertson – Mikko Rantanen
Wyatt Johnston – Miro Heiskanen
Power Play 2
Mavrik Bourque – Justin Hryckowian – Jamie Benn
Thomas Harley – Esa Lindell
Injured: Nathan Bastian (OUT), Roope Hintz (OUT), Arttu Hyry (OUT), Nils Lundkvist (OUT), Tyler Seguin (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Dallas still has elite top-end offensive firepower despite the injury list. Robertson, Rantanen, Duchene, Johnston and Heiskanen give the Stars a dangerous first power-play unit, but the missing forward depth makes five-on-five control harder.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Dallas must create controlled pressure instead of relying only on rush moments.
Transition Signal: Heiskanen remains the main exit and entry driver.
Blue Line Signal: Harley and Lindell become more important with Lundkvist unavailable.
Goalie Stability Signal: Oettinger gives Dallas the stronger playoff goaltending profile.
X-Factor Signal: Dallas needs power-play production to cover for missing center and winger depth.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Stars slight edge
Transition Edge: Wild slight edge
Defensive Stability: Wild slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Stars edge
Game Control Projection: Dallas has the stronger goalie and elite top-unit threat, while Minnesota has the cleaner transition profile if Hughes and Kaprizov control pace.
Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers
Faceoff: 04:00 CET
Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup
Goalies
Lukas Dostal – Confirmed
Power Play 1
Leo Carlsson – Chris Kreider – Troy Terry
Jackson LaCombe – Mikael Granlund
Power Play 2
Alex Killorn – Cutter Gauthier – Beckett Sennecke
Mason McTavish – John Carlson
Injured: Radko Gudas (OUT), Jansen Harkins (OUT), Ross Johnston (OUT), Petr Mrazek (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim has Dostal confirmed, which gives the Ducks a strong base against Edmonton’s elite attacking pressure. Their power-play setup is balanced, with Carlsson and Terry leading one unit and Gauthier, McTavish and Carlson giving the second group real shooting threat.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim must pressure Edmonton carefully without opening counterattack lanes.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry remain the key players for clean offensive entries.
Blue Line Signal: Gudas being out removes defensive bite and net-front toughness.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal confirmed is a major stabilizing factor.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim must keep the game structured and force Edmonton to attack from the outside.
Edmonton Oilers – Projected lineup
Goalies
Connor Ingram – Expected
Power Play 1
Leon Draisaitl – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Zach Hyman
Connor McDavid – Evan Bouchard
Power Play 2
Mattias Ekholm – Vasily Podkolzin – Kasperi Kapanen
Darnell Nurse – Jake Walman
Injured: Adam Henrique (DTD), Max Jones (OUT), Mattias Janmark (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Edmonton still owns the highest offensive ceiling in this matchup. McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Hyman and Bouchard form a power-play unit capable of changing the game quickly, but the Oilers must clean up puck management and avoid feeding Anaheim transition chances.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Edmonton needs stronger retrieval pressure and faster support below the goal line.
Transition Signal: McDavid remains the central pace engine and must attack downhill.
Blue Line Signal: Bouchard and Ekholm are critical to clean exits and offensive-zone resets.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ingram is expected and must hold steady if the game opens up.
X-Factor Signal: Edmonton’s first power-play unit must become decisive and punish Anaheim’s penalties.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Oilers edge
Transition Edge: Oilers edge
Defensive Stability: Ducks slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection: Edmonton projects to push pace through elite skill, while Anaheim can keep the game dangerous if Dostal holds and the Ducks maintain compact defensive layers.
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 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 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 in playoff lineups?
A missing top defenseman, center or goalie can change the tactical balance of a playoff game.
How should readers analyze projected lineups?
Focus on center depth, top defense pairs, goalie status, injuries and whether the team’s normal identity is still intact.
Can special teams decide playoff games?
Yes. One power-play goal or one failed penalty kill can decide a tight playoff game.
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 power-play adjustments that shift the tactical balance.