NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day May 7, 2026
Date: May 10, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Final update: All projected lineups for today have been added.
Matchup: Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup
Forwards
Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky
Zachary Bolduc – Jake Evans – Kirby Dach
Additional offensive support
Depth rotational units
Defense
Lane Hutson – Noah Dobson
Ivan Demidov support structure
Additional defensive layers
Goalies
Jakub Dobes – Expected
Jacob Fowler
Power Play 1
Nick Suzuki – Cole Caufield – Juraj Slafkovsky
Ivan Demidov – Lane Hutson
Power Play 2
Jake Evans – Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach
Alex Newhook – Noah Dobson
Injured: Patrik Laine (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal continues to build around speed, puck movement and young offensive skill. Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov and Hutson remain the main engines behind the Canadiens’ attack, while Dobson adds another important puck-moving layer on the second power-play unit. Dobes expected gives Montreal stability entering another high-pressure playoff game.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal must pressure Buffalo’s exits before the Sabres establish transition rhythm.
Transition Signal: Suzuki and Demidov remain Montreal’s main pace-driving creators.
Blue Line Signal: Hutson and Dobson give Montreal dynamic offensive support from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dobes expected keeps Montreal’s defensive structure predictable and organized.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal needs clean puck management because Buffalo punishes turnovers extremely quickly.
Buffalo Sabres – Projected lineup
Forwards
Zach Benson – Tage Thompson – Jack Quinn
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Alex Tuch
Additional scoring depth
Bottom-six support rotation
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Support defensive structure
Additional depth pairings
Goalies
Alex Lyon – Expected
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Power Play 1
Tage Thompson – Zach Benson – Jack Quinn
Rasmus Dahlin – Josh Doan
Power Play 2
Ryan McLeod – Jason Zucker – Alex Tuch
Bowen Byram – Josh Norris
Injured: Noah Ostlund (OUT), Justin Danforth (IR), Jiri Kulich (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Buffalo still carries one of the fastest transition identities in the postseason. Dahlin and Byram continue to drive the pace from the blue line, while Thompson, Quinn, Tuch and McLeod create layered offensive pressure through speed and quick puck movement. Lyon expected keeps the Sabres stable in goal entering another important playoff matchup.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Buffalo wants aggressive puck recovery and fast offensive-zone reloads.
Transition Signal: Dahlin remains the primary pace accelerator from the back end.
Blue Line Signal: Dahlin and Byram still provide elite puck-distribution potential.
Goalie Stability Signal: Lyon expected gives Buffalo a calm structure behind an aggressive style.
X-Factor Signal: Buffalo becomes dangerous when the defense activates into second-wave offense.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Sabres slight edge
Defensive Stability: Even
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Buffalo projects to carry slightly more transition pressure through its blue-line mobility, while Montreal’s route depends on creativity, efficient puck movement and quick offensive execution.
Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights
Faceoff: 03:30 CET
Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup
Forwards
Chris Kreider – Mikael Granlund – Troy Terry
Alex Killorn – Ryan Poehling – Beckett Sennecke
Leo Carlsson support structure
Additional depth rotation
Defense
John Carlson – Jackson LaCombe
Cutter Gauthier support pairings
Additional defensive depth
Goalies
Lukas Dostal – Confirmed
Ville Husso
Power Play 1
Mikael Granlund – Chris Kreider – Troy Terry
Leo Carlsson – John Carlson
Power Play 2
Ryan Poehling – Alex Killorn – Beckett Sennecke
Jackson LaCombe – Cutter Gauthier
Injured: Radko Gudas (DTD), Drew Helleson (OUT), Petr Mrazek (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim continues to lean heavily on youthful speed and offensive creativity. Carlsson, Terry, Gauthier, Sennecke and McTavish still provide the offensive upside, while Dostal confirmed remains the Ducks’ most important stabilizing factor. The uncertainty around Gudas also affects Anaheim’s physical defensive identity.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim needs selective pressure and disciplined defensive spacing.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry remain the main pace-driving threats.
Blue Line Signal: Carlson and LaCombe must move pucks quickly before Vegas establishes cycle pressure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal confirmed gives Anaheim a real chance to survive long defensive stretches.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim’s young offensive core must finish efficiently because Vegas rarely gives away momentum twice.
Vegas Golden Knights – Projected lineup
Forwards
Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev – Mitch Marner
William Karlsson – Brett Howden – Ivan Barbashev
Tomas Hertl support structure
Depth playoff rotation
Defense
Shea Theodore – Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin support pairing
Additional defensive structure
Goalies
Carter Hart – Expected
Adin Hill
Power Play 1
Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev – Mitch Marner
Tomas Hertl – Shea Theodore
Power Play 2
William Karlsson – Brett Howden – Ivan Barbashev
Rasmus Andersson – Noah Hanifin
Injured: Jeremy Lauzon (OUT), Mark Stone (OUT), Alex Pietrangelo (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Vegas still carries major offensive control through Eichel, Marner, Theodore, Hertl and Hanifin, but the absence of Stone removes an important playoff leadership and two-way presence. Karlsson returning to the power-play structure helps stabilize the depth scoring layers, while Hart expected gives Vegas a clear crease plan.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Vegas wants extended offensive-zone pressure and controlled puck 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 keeps the defensive structure composed and stable.
X-Factor Signal: Without Stone, Vegas needs stronger secondary scoring support around the top unit.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Golden Knights edge
Transition Edge: Golden Knights slight edge
Defensive Stability: Golden Knights edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Vegas projects to control more possession and playoff structure despite missing Stone, while Anaheim’s path depends on Dostal, quick-strike offense and surviving extended defensive-zone pressure.
Q&A: Projected Lineups and Starting Goalies
What are NHL projected lineups?
Projected lineups are expected player combinations, goalie starts and special-teams units before official warmup confirmation.
Why are projected lineups important in the playoffs?
Because playoff hockey depends heavily on matchups, injuries, defensive structure and goalie stability.
What does expected goalie mean?
It means the goalie is projected to start but has not yet been officially confirmed.
What does confirmed goalie mean?
It means the goalie has officially been named as the starter.
Why are power-play units important?
Because they reveal offensive hierarchy and show how teams plan to generate scoring pressure.
How important are injuries in playoff hockey?
Very important, especially when top centers, defensemen or leaders are unavailable.
Why does IHM include tactical notes?
Because understanding structure and matchup logic matters more than only listing names.
What should readers analyze first?
Goalie status, center depth, top defensive pairings and transition-driving players.
Can projected lineups change before puck drop?
Yes. Warmups, late scratches and coaching adjustments can still modify the final lineup.
Why are playoff power plays so important?
Because one special-teams sequence can completely shift momentum and game control.
What is the IHM Match Pressure Index?
It is a tactical summary evaluating offensive pressure, transition edge, defensive structure and projected control.
Why does playoff structure matter more than regular-season style?
Because playoff hockey is tighter, more physical and far more dependent on repeatable execution.