NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day May 7, 2026
Date: May 6, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Final update: All projected lineups for today have been added.
Matchup: Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Buffalo Sabres – Projected lineup
Forwards
Jason Zucker – Tage Thompson – Ryan McLeod
Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Alex Tuch
Depth offensive rotation
Checking and support units
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Additional defensive pairings
Support rotation
Goalies
Alex Lyon – Expected
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Power Play 1
Tage Thompson – Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod
Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Power Play 2
Josh Norris – Zach Benson – Alex Tuch
Josh Doan – Jack Quinn
Injured: Sam Carrick (DTD), Noah Ostlund (OUT), Justin Danforth (IR), Jiri Kulich (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Buffalo continues to lean into its modern speed-and-skill structure with Dahlin, Byram, Thompson, Tuch, McLeod and Norris driving transition pressure. Lyon expected gives the Sabres continuity in goal, while the blue line still provides one of the strongest puck-moving foundations in the playoffs.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Buffalo wants quick recoveries and layered offensive-zone pressure.
Transition Signal: Dahlin and Byram remain the key pace accelerators from the back end.
Blue Line Signal: The Sabres still own a strong puck-moving defensive structure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Lyon expected gives Buffalo a calm and controlled crease option.
X-Factor Signal: Buffalo’s offensive depth can create matchup problems if Montreal loses defensive spacing through the neutral zone.
Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup
Forwards
Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky
Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach – Alexandre Texier
Additional scoring depth
Bottom-six support rotation
Defense
Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson
Lane Hutson – support pairings
Additional defensive structure
Goalies
Jakub Dobes – Expected
Jacob Fowler
Power Play 1
Nick Suzuki – Cole Caufield – Juraj Slafkovsky
Ivan Demidov – Lane Hutson
Power Play 2
Kirby Dach – Zachary Bolduc – Alexandre Texier
Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson
Injured: Patrik Laine (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal still brings one of the most dangerous young offensive cores in the postseason. Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov and Hutson continue to drive creativity and transition pace, while Dobson’s inclusion on the second power-play unit gives the Canadiens another layer of blue-line control.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal must pressure Buffalo’s exits before Dahlin and Byram fully activate the transition game.
Transition Signal: Suzuki and Demidov remain the central pace manipulators for the Canadiens.
Blue Line Signal: Hutson and Dobson increase Montreal’s offensive blue-line mobility.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dobes expected keeps Montreal’s crease structure stable entering another high-pressure matchup.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal needs disciplined puck management because Buffalo punishes turnovers quickly through transition.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Sabres slight edge
Defensive Stability: Sabres slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Buffalo projects to carry more repeatable transition pressure through its puck-moving defense, while Montreal’s route depends on young offensive skill, creativity and quick-strike execution.
Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights
Faceoff: 03:30 CET
Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup
Forwards
Chris Kreider – Leo Carlsson – Troy Terry
Alex Killorn – Mason McTavish – Beckett Sennecke
Additional offensive support
Depth rotation
Defense
Mikael Granlund – John Carlson structure
Jackson LaCombe – Cutter Gauthier support unit
Additional defensive depth
Goalies
Lukas Dostal – Confirmed
Ville Husso
Power Play 1
Leo Carlsson – Chris Kreider – Troy Terry
Mikael Granlund – John Carlson
Power Play 2
Mason McTavish – Alex Killorn – Beckett Sennecke
Jackson LaCombe – Cutter Gauthier
Injured: Radko Gudas (OUT), Petr Mrazek (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim continues to lean on youthful skill and offensive pace with Carlsson, Terry, McTavish, Sennecke and Gauthier carrying much of the attack-driving responsibility. Dostal confirmed gives the Ducks a defined crease plan, but the absence of Gudas still reduces defensive bite and crease-clearing presence.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim must avoid getting trapped in extended defensive-zone cycles.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry remain the most important pace carriers.
Blue Line Signal: Carlson and LaCombe must move pucks efficiently under Vegas pressure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal confirmed is critical if Anaheim wants to survive Vegas offensive volume.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim needs its young skill players to convert chances before Vegas settles into game control.
Vegas Golden Knights – Projected lineup
Forwards
Mitch Marner – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone
Ivan Barbashev – Brett Howden – Tomas Hertl
Additional playoff depth
Bottom-six support structure
Defense
Pavel Dorofeyev – Shea Theodore structure
Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
Additional defensive support
Goalies
Carter Hart – Expected
Adin Hill
Power Play 1
Mitch Marner – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone
Pavel Dorofeyev – Shea Theodore
Power Play 2
Ivan Barbashev – Brett Howden – Tomas Hertl
Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
Injured: Jeremy Lauzon (OUT), Alex Pietrangelo (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Vegas still looks like the more structurally complete playoff team. Eichel, Marner, Stone, Hertl, Theodore, Hanifin and Andersson provide elite puck control, experience and layered offensive pressure. Even without Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights continue to control pace effectively through possession and defensive discipline.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Vegas wants controlled wall pressure and repeated offensive-zone possession.
Transition Signal: Eichel and Marner remain elite controlled-entry creators.
Blue Line Signal: Theodore and Hanifin continue to anchor Vegas puck movement.
Goalie Stability Signal: Hart expected gives Vegas a stable playoff crease structure.
X-Factor Signal: Vegas becomes dangerous when Anaheim gets stretched defending the cycle and cross-ice puck movement.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Golden Knights edge
Transition Edge: Golden Knights edge
Defensive Stability: Golden Knights edge
Goaltending Edge: Slight Golden Knights edge
Game Control Projection: Vegas projects to control puck possession and playoff structure through deeper defensive layers and more mature offensive sequencing, while Anaheim’s path depends on Dostal, speed and efficient finishing from its young core.
Q&A: Projected Lineups and Starting Goalies
What are NHL projected lineups?
Projected lineups show expected forward lines, defense pairs, goalies and power-play units before official warmup confirmation.
Why do projected lineups matter in the playoffs?
Because playoff hockey is heavily matchup-driven and every lineup adjustment can impact the series balance.
What does a confirmed goalie mean?
It means the starting goalie has officially been confirmed by the team or reliable lineup source.
What does expected goalie mean?
It means the goalie is projected to start but not yet officially confirmed.
Why are power-play units important?
They reveal offensive hierarchy, puck-touch priority and tactical deployment in key scoring situations.
How important are injuries in playoff hockey?
Very important, because missing top centers, defensemen or goalies can completely shift matchup structure.
Why does IHM include tactical signals?
Because line combinations alone do not explain how teams are likely to function under playoff pressure.
What should readers focus on first?
Goalie status, center depth, top defense pairs and transition-driving players.
Can line combinations reveal strategy?
Yes. Coaches often adjust lines to emphasize speed, defensive structure or matchup control.
When are final lineups confirmed?
Usually during warmups or shortly before puck drop.
Why are playoff power plays so important?
Because special teams often decide low-scoring postseason games.
What is the IHM Match Pressure Index?
It is a tactical summary measuring offensive pressure, transition edge, defensive stability, goaltending and projected game control.