IceHockeyMan

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 10, 2026

Date: April 9, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

Final update: All projected lineups for today have been added.

Matchup: New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Faceoff: 00:45 CET

New York Islanders – Projected lineup

Forwards
Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Simon Holmstrom
Calum Ritchie – Mathew Barzal – Brayden Schenn
Maxim Shabanov – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Emil Heineman
Ondrej Palat – Casey Cizikas – Marc Gatcomb

Defense
Matthew Schaefer – Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech – Tony DeAngelo
Carson Soucy – Scott Mayfield

Goalies
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich

Scratched: Anthony Duclair, Adam Boqvist, Isaiah George
Injured: Kyle Palmieri (ACL), Alexander Romanov (upper body), Semyon Varlamov (knee)

IHM Lineup Note:
The Islanders carry a more settled matchup structure here, with Horvat and Barzal giving them two clear middle-lane engines. If DeAngelo is available, puck movement from the back end becomes cleaner and helps New York exit pressure faster.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: New York can apply more layered pressure through its top nine.
Transition Signal: Barzal remains the main pace accelerator through the neutral zone.
Blue Line Signal: Pulock and Pelech stabilize the defensive reads, especially below the dots.
Goalie Stability Signal: Sorokin gives the Islanders a strong control layer in second-chance situations.
X-Factor Signal: The Islanders can attack Toronto’s current center-depth issues through matchup deployment.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Projected lineup

Forwards
Easton Cowan – John Tavares – William Nylander
Matias Maccelli – Max Domi – Matthew Knies
Michael Pezzetta – Luke Haymes – Nicholas Robertson
Steven Lorentz – Jacob Quillan – Calle Jarnkrok

Defense
Morgan Rielly – Philippe Myers
Jake McCabe – William Villeneuve
Simon Benoit – Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Goalies
Artur Akhtyamov
Joseph Woll

Scratched: Troy Stecher
Injured: Auston Matthews (MCL), Chris Tanev (groin), Anthony Stolarz (lower body), Brandon Carlo (lower body), Dakota Joshua (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Without Matthews, Toronto loses its most important center-ice driver and matchup anchor. That forces more offensive creation onto Nylander and Tavares while also increasing defensive strain on a blue line that is already missing key support pieces.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Toronto likely needs shorter, simpler offensive-zone possessions rather than extended cycle control.
Transition Signal: Nylander is the main clean-entry threat and will be leaned on heavily.
Blue Line Signal: The pairings lack full shutdown confidence and may struggle versus layered attacks.
Goalie Stability Signal: Akhtyamov making his first NHL start adds volatility to the game script.
X-Factor Signal: Toronto’s center depth and defensive rhythm remain the biggest stress points.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Islanders edge
Transition Edge: Islanders slight edge
Defensive Stability: Islanders edge
Goaltending Edge: Islanders clear edge
Game Control Projection: New York projects as the more structured team and should control more of the game flow if its forecheck establishes early pressure.

Matchup: Ottawa Senators vs Florida Panthers

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Ottawa Senators – Projected lineup

Forwards
Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux
Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridly Greig
Nick Cousins – Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio
Warren Foegele – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund

Defense
Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence
Lassi Thomson – Nikolas Matinpalo

Goalies
James Reimer
Linus Ullmark

Scratched: Stephen Halliday, Kurtis MacDermid, Cameron Crotty
Injured: Nick Jensen (lower body), Dennis Gilbert (upper body), Tyler Kleven (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Ottawa comes in with a far more complete offensive spine and gets a major boost from Chabot’s return. This lineup can roll more natural puck-moving sequences and should dictate the territorial battle against a heavily depleted Florida group.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Ottawa can pressure Florida’s inexperienced defensive combinations with more consistency.
Transition Signal: Stutzle and Cozens give the Senators clear speed and attack layers through the middle.
Blue Line Signal: Chabot’s return improves breakout quality and offensive-zone support timing.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ullmark remains the higher-end safety net if he gets the start.
X-Factor Signal: Ottawa’s health advantage should show up in pace, support spacing, and in-zone recovery.

Florida Panthers – Projected lineup

Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Mackie Samoskevich
Jesper Boqvist – Eetu Luostarinen – A.J. Greer
Cole Schwindt – Tomas Nosek – Noah Gregor
Nolan Foote – Luke Kunin – Vinnie Hinostroza

Defense
Gustav Forsling – Mike Benning
Donovan Sebrango – Ludvig Jansson
Tobias Bjornfot – Marek Alcher

Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Daniil Tarasov

Scratched: Matthew Tkachuk, Cole Reinhardt, Mikulas Hovorka
Injured: Aaron Ekblad (hand), Dmitry Kulikov (broken finger), Evan Rodrigues (finger), Sam Reinhart (foot), Niko Mikkola (knee), Anton Lundell (ribs), Uvis Balinskis (fractured foot), Brad Marchand (lower body), Aleksander Barkov (knee), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body), Seth Jones (foot)

IHM Lineup Note:
Florida is no longer operating with its usual identity structure. Too many core pieces are out, and that changes everything from line support to defensive-zone exits. Bobrovsky may have to cover for extended breakdowns.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Florida’s pressure game is likely to be less connected and less punishing than normal.
Transition Signal: Clean exits and support routes become harder with so many regulars missing.
Blue Line Signal: Debut-level and depth-level defenders create obvious management risk under forecheck heat.
Goalie Stability Signal: Bobrovsky is the main survival mechanism in this setup.
X-Factor Signal: Florida’s ability to keep the game low-event is critical.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Senators edge
Transition Edge: Senators edge
Defensive Stability: Senators edge
Goaltending Edge: Panthers slight edge if Bobrovsky starts
Game Control Projection: Ottawa should carry the cleaner structure and more repeatable territorial control, while Florida will need a tighter, lower-event script to stay in range.

Matchup: New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

New Jersey Devils – Projected lineup

Forwards
Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer
Jesper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown
Lenni Hameenaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad
Paul Cotter – Marc McLaughlin – Brian Halonen

Defense
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Dennis Cholowski – Johnathan Kovacevic
Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec

Goalies
Jake Allen
Jacob Markstrom

Scratched: Evgenii Dadonov, Maxim Tsyplakov
Injured: Luke Hughes (upper body), Arseny Gritsyuk (upper body), Stefan Noesen (knee), Zack MacEwen (ACL), Brett Pesce (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
New Jersey still has enough top-six talent to generate pace and shot volume, but the loss of Luke Hughes removes an important transition and possession piece from the back end. Hamilton now carries a bigger creative load.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Devils can pressure well with their top two lines, especially off turnovers.
Transition Signal: Jack Hughes and Bratt remain the speed engine for quick-strike entries.
Blue Line Signal: The absence of Luke Hughes reduces some exit fluidity and offensive support timing.
Goalie Stability Signal: Markstrom provides stronger game-shaping security if he starts.
X-Factor Signal: New Jersey can attack Pittsburgh’s deeper-line defensive vulnerabilities if it wins the pace battle early.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Projected lineup

Forwards
Egor Chinakhov – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Tommy Novak – Ben Kindel – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Rickard Rakell – Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari

Defense
Parker Wotherspoon – Erik Karlsson
Samuel Girard – Kris Letang
Ryan Shea – Connor Clifton

Goalies
Stuart Skinner
Arturs Silovs

Scratched: Ilya Solovyov, Ryan Graves, Avery Hayes
Injured: Kevin Hayes (upper body), Filip Hallander (blood clot), Blake Lizotte (upper body), Jack St. Ivany (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Pittsburgh still leans on elite veteran brains down the middle, but this configuration can become unstable outside the Crosby and Malkin orbit. Skinner returning from injury adds another uncertain layer.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Pittsburgh may rely more on smart route pressure than pure speed pressure.
Transition Signal: Karlsson and Letang can still move play, but support layers must stay compact.
Blue Line Signal: There is puck-moving talent, but not always enough shutdown balance.
Goalie Stability Signal: Skinner’s return introduces uncertainty after time away.
X-Factor Signal: Crosby’s line remains the main structure-setter and matchup equalizer.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Devils slight edge
Transition Edge: Devils edge
Defensive Stability: Devils slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Devils slight edge
Game Control Projection: New Jersey projects to have more sustainable puck control and pace, but Pittsburgh can swing the script if its veteran core wins the middle of the ice.

Matchup: Detroit Red Wings vs Philadelphia Flyers

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Detroit Red Wings – Projected lineup

Forwards
Emmitt Finnie – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – Andrew Copp – Patrick Kane
David Perron – J.T. Compher – Marco Kasper
James van Riemsdyk – Michael Rasmussen – Carter Mazur

Defense
Simon Edvinsson – Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot – Justin Faulk
Albert Johansson – Axel Sandin-Pellikka

Goalies
John Gibson
Cam Talbot

Scratched: Travis Hamonic, Jacob Bernard-Docker
Injured: Michael Rasmussen (lower body), Mason Appleton (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Detroit’s top six carries enough shooting and finishing skill to punish coverage lapses quickly. If Larkin is fully ready after maintenance, the Red Wings regain their most important pace and transition organizer.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Detroit can pressure selectively, but it is most dangerous when attacking off quick regains.
Transition Signal: Larkin and Raymond drive the cleanest rush patterns.
Blue Line Signal: Edvinsson and Seider are the core stabilizers on retrievals and exits.
Goalie Stability Signal: Gibson gives Detroit a strong battle-save layer if he starts.
X-Factor Signal: Detroit’s ability to turn neutral-zone touches into immediate offense is the key threat.

Philadelphia Flyers – Projected lineup

Forwards
Tyson Foerster – Trevor Zegras – Owen Tippett
Travis Konecny – Christian Dvorak – Porter Martone
Alex Bump – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov
Denver Barkey – Luke Glendening – Sean Couturier

Defense
Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York – Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler – Emil Andrae

Goalies
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson

Scratched: Garrett Wilson, Carl Grundstrom, Noah Juulsen, Garnet Hathaway
Injured: Rodrigo Abols (lower body), Nikita Grebenkin (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia comes in with lineup continuity after sticking with the same group from its last win. The Flyers can create strong pressure through work rate and puck pursuit, especially if Zegras and Michkov generate interior touches.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Flyers can bring disruptive energy and second-man pressure on retrievals.
Transition Signal: The attack can be dangerous if Konecny and Michkov get support on the rush.
Blue Line Signal: Sanheim remains the main stabilizer and transport defender.
Goalie Stability Signal: The crease is solid enough, though not a clear dominant edge.
X-Factor Signal: Philadelphia’s work rate and turnover creation can make this matchup uncomfortable.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Red Wings slight edge
Transition Edge: Red Wings slight edge
Defensive Stability: Even
Goaltending Edge: Red Wings slight edge
Game Control Projection: Detroit projects to have the cleaner top-end scoring routes, but Philadelphia can disrupt the rhythm if it turns the game into a pressure-heavy forecheck battle.

Matchup: Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Buffalo Sabres – Projected lineup

Forwards
Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Josh Doan
Jordan Greenway – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malenstyn

Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Logan Stanley – Michael Kesselring

Goalies
Colten Ellis
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Scratched: Zach Metsa, Conor Timmins, Josh Dunne, Tanner Pearson
Injured: Alex Lyon (lower body), Sam Carrick (upper body), Noah Ostlund (upper body), Jiri Kulich (blood clot), Justin Danforth (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Buffalo has more natural attacking flow in this setup, especially with Dahlin and Power able to feed tempo from the back end. If Ellis starts, though, the Sabres bring a new-variable crease situation into an otherwise strong matchup profile.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Buffalo can apply meaningful pressure when its defense joins the attack quickly.
Transition Signal: Dahlin-driven puck movement gives the Sabres a clear speed advantage.
Blue Line Signal: Buffalo’s top four can transport and extend offensive possessions well.
Goalie Stability Signal: Luukkonen is the more established control option, Ellis adds uncertainty if used.
X-Factor Signal: Tage Thompson’s release remains the most dangerous single-shot weapon in the game.

Columbus Blue Jackets – Projected lineup

Forwards
Cole Sillinger – Adam Fantilli – Kent Johnson
Kirill Marchenko – Charlie Coyle – Conor Garland
Mason Marchment – Boone Jenner – Danton Heinen
Isac Lundestrom – Sean Monahan – Miles Wood

Defense
Zach Werenski – Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov – Denton Mateychuk
Egor Zamula – Erik Gudbranson

Goalies
Jet Greaves
Elvis Merzlikins

Scratched: Luca Del Bel Belluz, Jake Christiansen, Zach Aston-Reese
Injured: Damon Severson (shoulder surgery), Dmitri Voronkov (hand), Mathieu Olivier (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Columbus still has enough center depth and wing support to be dangerous, but Buffalo’s back-end mobility can stress the Blue Jackets if their defensive spacing breaks down under repeated transition pressure.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Columbus can bring heavy pressure through Jenner and Marchment shifts.
Transition Signal: Fantilli and Johnson remain the main speed-threat duo.
Blue Line Signal: Werenski is the central distributor and matchup-balancer.
Goalie Stability Signal: The crease is workable, but not a major projected edge here.
X-Factor Signal: Columbus must win more of the middle-lane battles to prevent Buffalo from dictating pace.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Sabres edge
Transition Edge: Sabres edge
Defensive Stability: Sabres slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Slight Sabres edge
Game Control Projection: Buffalo projects to own more of the puck-driving phases, while Columbus needs a more physical and disruptive game to slow the Sabres’ tempo.

Matchup: Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup

Forwards
Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky
Alexandre Texier – Alex Newhook – Ivan Demidov
Josh Anderson – Jake Evans – Kirby Dach
Joe Veleno – Phillip Danault – Oliver Kapanen

Defense
Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson
Jayden Struble – Lane Hutson
Adam Engstrom – Arber Xhekaj

Goalies
Jakub Dobes
Jacob Fowler

Scratched: Zachary Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Samuel Montembeault
Injured: Kaiden Guhle (maintenance), Alexander Carrier (upper body), Patrik Laine (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal still has enough skill in its top six to create dangerous scoring pockets, but the absence of some stabilizing pieces leaves the Canadiens more dependent on puck management and structure discipline.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal can pressure well in bursts, especially through Anderson and Slafkovsky shifts.
Transition Signal: Suzuki and Caufield remain the smartest attack connectors in open ice.
Blue Line Signal: Matheson, Dobson, and Hutson give Montreal real puck-moving potential.
Goalie Stability Signal: The projected crease setup is less established than Tampa Bay’s.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal needs its young skill to convert on limited clean looks.

Tampa Bay Lightning – Projected lineup

Forwards
Jake Guentzel – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Gage Goncalves – Anthony Cirelli – Corey Perry
Zemgus Girgensons – Yanni Gourde – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Jakob Pelletier – Nick Paul – Scott Sabourin

Defense
J.J. Moser – Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
Charle-Edouard D’Astous – Emil Lilleberg

Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson

Scratched: Steve Santini, Victor Hedman
Injured: Declan Carlile (lower body), Max Crozier (core muscle), Dominic James (lower body), Brandon Hagel (lower body), Pontus Holmberg (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Even without Hagel and with Hedman scratched, Tampa Bay still brings elite top-end offensive control. The return of Cirelli strengthens matchup responsibility and gives the Lightning more detail in both directions.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Tampa can alternate between controlled pressure and quick-strike entries.
Transition Signal: Kucherov and Point remain among the league’s best pace manipulators.
Blue Line Signal: Missing Hedman lowers the ceiling, but the structure still holds enough experience.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vasilevskiy is the strongest goalie presence in this matchup.
X-Factor Signal: Tampa’s elite execution on rush timing and slot access is the difference-maker.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Lightning edge
Transition Edge: Lightning clear edge
Defensive Stability: Lightning slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Lightning clear edge
Game Control Projection: Tampa Bay projects to own the more dangerous and repeatable offensive sequences, especially if its top six establishes early puck-possession rhythm.

Matchup: St. Louis Blues vs Winnipeg Jets

Faceoff: 02:00 CET

St. Louis Blues – Projected lineup

Forwards
Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud
Jake Neighbours – Pavel Buchnevich – Jonatan Berggren
Otto Stenberg – Dalibor Dvorsky – Jordan Kyrou
Alexey Toropchenko – Jack Finley – Nathan Walker

Defense
Philip Broberg – Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein – Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler – Tyler Tucker

Goalies
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer

Scratched: Justin Holl, Jonathan Drouin, Matthew Kessel, Oskar Sundqvist, Pius Suter
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
St. Louis brings a reasonably balanced lineup with enough youth and veteran support to play with pace. Thomas and Buchnevich remain the key connectors if the Blues want to challenge Winnipeg’s structure through the middle.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: The Blues can generate effective pressure if Walker and Toropchenko tilt the bottom-six energy shifts.
Transition Signal: Thomas is still the cleanest possession carrier in the lineup.
Blue Line Signal: Parayko and Broberg give St. Louis real reach and puck-retrieval value.
Goalie Stability Signal: Binnington can hold the game steady if under volume.
X-Factor Signal: The Blues need their young offensive pieces to be direct and decisive.

Winnipeg Jets – Projected lineup

Forwards
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti – Adam Lowry – Gabriel Vilardi
Cole Koepke – Jonathan Toews – Isak Rosen
Nino Niederreiter – Vladislav Namestnikov – Brad Lambert

Defense
Josh Morrissey – Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg – Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury – Jacob Bryson

Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie

Scratched: Colin Miller, Ville Heinola
Injured: Morgan Barron (lower body), Elias Salomonsson (concussion), Gustav Nyquist (undisclosed)

IHM Lineup Note:
Winnipeg still has the stronger game-breaking core here, especially with Connor, Scheifele, Morrissey, and Hellebuyck. The lineup is built to control key zones rather than chase chaos.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Winnipeg can apply smart pressure without opening its structure too much.
Transition Signal: Connor and Scheifele remain the main rush-conversion duo.
Blue Line Signal: Morrissey drives the flow and controls exit quality.
Goalie Stability Signal: Hellebuyck is a major matchup edge.
X-Factor Signal: Winnipeg’s ability to compress space after losing possession is the hidden separator.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Jets slight edge
Transition Edge: Jets edge
Defensive Stability: Jets edge
Goaltending Edge: Jets clear edge
Game Control Projection: Winnipeg projects to manage the game more efficiently through structure and crease control, while St. Louis needs a higher-event script to increase upset chances.

Matchup: Chicago Blackhawks vs Carolina Hurricanes

Faceoff: 02:30 CET

Chicago Blackhawks – Projected lineup

Forwards
Teuvo Teravainen – Connor Bedard – Nick Lardis
Tyler Bertuzzi – Anton Frondell – Ilya Mikheyev
Ryan Donato – Frank Nazar – Andre Burakovsky
Andrew Mangiapane – Ryan Greene – Landon Slaggert

Defense
Wyatt Kaiser – Sam Rinzel
Alex Vlasic – Louis Crevier
Kevin Korchinski – Ethan Del Mastro

Goalies
Spencer Knight
Arvid Soderblom

Scratched: Sam Lafferty, Dominic Toninato, Sacha Boisvert
Injured: Matt Grzelcyk (upper body), Artyom Levshunov (hand), Oliver Moore (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Chicago still has some offensive talent, but this is a difficult matchup for a team that can get trapped in its own zone for long stretches. Bedard must become the main pressure-release option.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Chicago can only pressure consistently if its support timing stays tight.
Transition Signal: Bedard and Nazar are the main acceleration points.
Blue Line Signal: Young defenders may face sustained retrieval pressure from Carolina’s depth.
Goalie Stability Signal: Knight may need to steal sequences under heavy shot and rebound volume.
X-Factor Signal: Chicago’s ability to survive the first wave of pressure is everything.

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, Skyler Brind’Amour, Bradley Nadeau, Josiah Slavin, Charles Alexis Legault
Injured: Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Carolina brings one of the deepest pressure structures in hockey. This lineup can roll four lines, activate the weak side, and suffocate exits through layered forecheck detail and quick reloads.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Carolina has a clear edge in volume, route discipline, and reload timing.
Transition Signal: The Hurricanes create speed by support structure more than by individual rushes alone.
Blue Line Signal: Slavin anchors the defensive reads, while Gostisbehere adds attack extension.
Goalie Stability Signal: Andersen gives the Hurricanes reliable game-state calm.
X-Factor Signal: Carolina’s pressure consistency can break Chicago’s breakout rhythm early.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Hurricanes clear edge
Transition Edge: Hurricanes edge
Defensive Stability: Hurricanes clear edge
Goaltending Edge: Hurricanes edge
Game Control Projection: Carolina projects to control territory, possession, and recovery cycles for large stretches unless Chicago gets elite finishing from a small number of chances.

Matchup: Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild

Faceoff: 03:00 CET

Dallas Stars – Projected lineup

Forwards
Justin Hryckowian – Wyatt Johnston – Mikko Rantanen
Jason Robertson – Matt Duchene – Mavrik Bourque
Adam Erne – Arttu Hyry – Jamie Benn
Cameron Hughes – Oskar Back – Colin Blackwell

Defense
Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley – Tyler Myers
Lian Bichsel – Ilya Lyubushkin

Goalies
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

Scratched: Kyle Capobianco, Alexander Petrovic
Injured: Nathan Bastian (hand), Michael Bunting (lower body), Radek Faksa (lower body), Roope Hintz (lower body), Nils Lundkvist (illness), Tyler Seguin (ACL), Sam Steel (undisclosed)

IHM Lineup Note:
Even with important absences, Dallas still has elite high-end offensive talent and one of the strongest top defensive pairs in the league. Oettinger behind Heiskanen and Lindell remains a major playoff-style stability layer.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Dallas can pressure more selectively and then attack off quick recoveries.
Transition Signal: Heiskanen and Harley help Dallas keep the puck moving cleanly out of pressure.
Blue Line Signal: The Stars still have enough puck-moving quality to maintain territorial control.
Goalie Stability Signal: Oettinger is one of the most important matchup advantages on the board.
X-Factor Signal: Rantanen and Robertson raise the finishing ceiling even when support depth is reduced.

Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup

Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
Vladimir Tarasenko – Danila Yurov – Nick Foligno
Yakov Trenin – Michael McCarron – Marcus Foligno

Defense
Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon
Jake Middleton – Zach Bogosian

Goalies
Filip Gustavsson
Jesper Wallstedt

Scratched: Bobby Brink, Robby Fabbri, Daemon Hunt, Jeff Petry, Nico Sturm
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota is healthy and dangerous, with enough experience and skill to challenge Dallas in both rush play and half-ice structure. Kaprizov remains the purest offensive game-breaker in the matchup.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: The Wild can pressure effectively through their winger depth and net-front habits.
Transition Signal: Kaprizov and Boldy give Minnesota strong east-west creation potential.
Blue Line Signal: Faber, Hughes, Brodin, and Spurgeon provide a mobile and intelligent defensive core.
Goalie Stability Signal: Gustavsson is reliable, but the overall crease edge still leans Dallas.
X-Factor Signal: Minnesota can absolutely win this game if it turns Dallas’ missing-depth issues into a prolonged pace battle.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Slight Stars edge
Defensive Stability: Even
Goaltending Edge: Stars slight edge
Game Control Projection: This projects as one of the tighter games on the slate, with Dallas having a cleaner control ceiling and Minnesota holding enough skill and structure to disrupt that script.

Matchup: Utah Mammoth vs Nashville Predators

Faceoff: 03:00 CET

Utah Mammoth – Projected lineup

Forwards
Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse
Kailer Yamamoto – Logan Cooley – Dylan Guenther
JJ Peterka – Alexander Kerfoot – Michael Carcone
Liam O’Brien – Kevin Stenlund – Brandon Tanev

Defense
Mikhail Sergachev – MacKenzie Weegar
Nate Schmidt – John Marino
Ian Cole – Sean Durzi

Goalies
Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vanecek

Scratched: Nick DeSimone, Kevin Rooney, Dmitri Simashev
Injured: Barrett Hayton (upper body), Jack McBain (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Utah brings the stronger overall lineup balance here. Keller, Cooley, and Guenther give them enough speed and creativity, while the blue line has real structure and bite with Sergachev and Weegar.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Utah can pressure hard through its middle six and keep the game physically honest.
Transition Signal: Cooley and Keller create the cleanest pace changes in the matchup.
Blue Line Signal: Sergachev and Weegar give Utah a reliable two-way foundation.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vejmelka can handle volume and keep Utah’s structure connected.
X-Factor Signal: Utah’s defensive depth should matter over sixty minutes.

Nashville Predators – Projected lineup

Forwards
Zachary L’Heureux – Ryan O’Reilly – Steven Stamkos
Filip Forsberg – Matthew Wood – Jonathan Marchessault
Tyson Jost – Erik Haula – Luke Evangelista
Reid Schaefer – Fedor Svechkov – Joakim Kemell

Defense
Brady Skjei – Roman Josi
Adam Wilsby – Nick Perbix
Ryan Ufko – Justin Barron

Goalies
Juuse Saros
Justus Annunen

Scratched: Jordan Oesterle, Ozzy Wiesblatt
Injured: Nicolas Hague (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Nashville still has legitimate top-end names, but this version of the lineup depends heavily on Josi, Forsberg, and Saros carrying large minutes and game-shaping responsibility.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: The Predators can still pressure with physicality and reach, but not always with elite connection.
Transition Signal: Nashville needs cleaner puck support from the centers to avoid stalled rushes.
Blue Line Signal: Josi remains the primary possession engine from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Saros can erase mistakes, but he may need to do it often.
X-Factor Signal: If Nashville’s stars do not control the first half of the game, Utah’s depth can take over.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Mammoth slight edge
Transition Edge: Mammoth edge
Defensive Stability: Mammoth slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Predators slight edge
Game Control Projection: Utah projects to have the more stable and repeatable five-on-five control, while Nashville’s best path is a star-driven, lower-margin game shaped by Saros.

Matchup: Colorado Avalanche vs Calgary Flames

Faceoff: 03:00 CET

Colorado Avalanche – Projected lineup

Forwards
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Nicolas Roy – Logan O’Connor
Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta

Defense
Devon Toews – Sam Malinski
Brett Kulak – Josh Manson
Nick Blankenburg – Brent Burns

Goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Scratched: Zakhar Bardakov
Injured: Cale Makar (upper body), Nazem Kadri (finger)

IHM Lineup Note:
Colorado still looks dangerous because MacKinnon drives so much of the game himself, but missing Makar changes the entire back-end dynamic. The Avalanche remain elite in bursts, though not quite as fluid in total structure.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Colorado can overwhelm teams with pace when its top six gets inside support.
Transition Signal: MacKinnon remains the single biggest neutral-zone force in this matchup.
Blue Line Signal: Without Makar, the breakout loses one of its most explosive dimensions.
Goalie Stability Signal: Blackwood has given Colorado steadier crease reliability.
X-Factor Signal: If Landeskog and Nichushkin establish net-front presence, Calgary’s defense will be under constant stress.

Calgary Flames – Projected lineup

Forwards
Yegor Sharangovich – Mikael Backlund – Matt Coronato
Joel Farabee – Morgan Frost – Matvei Gridin
Connor Zary – Ryan Strome – Aydar Suniev
Victor Olofsson – John Beecher – Adam Klapka

Defense
Yan Kuznetsov – Zach Whitecloud
Olli Maatta – Hunter Brzustewicz
Brayden Pachal – Zayne Parekh

Goalies
Dustin Wolf
Devin Cooley

Scratched: Ryan Lomberg, Tyson Gross, Blake Coleman, Martin Pospisil
Injured: Jake Bean (undisclosed), Samuel Honzek (upper body), Jonathan Huberdeau (hip surgery), Joel Hanley (upper body), Kevin Bahl (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Calgary has some young skill and enough effort players to stay competitive, but the overall lineup still looks thinner than Colorado’s, especially in terms of elite transition control and finishing ceiling.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Calgary needs straight-line pressure and physical disruption more than an open-ice game.
Transition Signal: The Flames do not want this to become a rush-trading matchup.
Blue Line Signal: The pairings can compete, but they face a speed and skill test against Colorado’s top end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wolf gives Calgary a chance if the shot quality stays manageable.
X-Factor Signal: Calgary must keep MacKinnon from owning the middle of the ice.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Avalanche edge
Transition Edge: Avalanche clear edge
Defensive Stability: Avalanche slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even to slight Avalanche edge
Game Control Projection: Colorado projects to command the most dangerous phases of the game through pace and top-end attack, while Calgary’s path depends on goalie support and a more physical, compressed style.

Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs San Jose Sharks

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup

Forwards
Chris Kreider – Leo Carlsson – Troy Terry
Alex Killorn – Mikael Granlund – Beckett Sennecke
Frank Vatrano – Mason McTavish – Jeffrey Viel
Tim Washe – Ryan Poehling – Ian Moore

Defense
Jackson LaCombe – Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov – John Carlson
Tyson Hinds – Drew Helleson

Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso

Scratched: Olen Zellweger
Injured: Jansen Harkins (hand surgery), Ross Johnston (lower body), Radko Gudas (lower body), Cutter Gauthier (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim’s lineup is not perfect, but it still holds more proven offensive balance and better top-four structure than San Jose. Dostal gives the Ducks a real chance to control the game if they stay organized.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim can create useful pressure through McTavish, Vatrano, and Kreider shifts.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry are the cleanest attack creators in open ice.
Blue Line Signal: LaCombe, Mintyukov, Trouba, and Carlson give Anaheim a stronger back-end foundation.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal is a clear positive for the Ducks.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim should attack San Jose’s defensive spacing off broken neutral-zone layers.

San Jose Sharks – Projected lineup

Forwards
Collin Graf – Macklin Celebrini – Will Smith
William Eklund – Alexander Wennberg – Kiefer Sherwood
Igor Chernyshov – Michael Misa – Tyler Toffoli
Barclay Goodrow – Zack Ostapchuk – Adam Gaudette

Defense
Dmitry Orlov – Vincent Desharnais
Mario Ferraro – John Klingberg
Sam Dickinson – Nick Leddy

Goalies
Yaroslav Askarov
Alex Nedeljkovic

Scratched: Pavol Regenda, Philipp Kurashev, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Ty Dellandrea
Injured: Ryan Reaves (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
San Jose has exciting skill, especially through Celebrini and Smith, but the defensive management and full-line consistency can still fluctuate too much against teams that move the puck with purpose.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: The Sharks can create moments of pressure, but not always enough sustained structure behind it.
Transition Signal: Celebrini and Smith remain the main pace-breakers and creative levers.
Blue Line Signal: The defense has names, but not always enough clean cohesion under pressure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Askarov can elevate the team’s ceiling if he gets the nod.
X-Factor Signal: San Jose’s young skill can make this dangerous if Anaheim gets loose defensively.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Ducks slight edge
Transition Edge: Even
Defensive Stability: Ducks edge
Goaltending Edge: Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection: Anaheim projects as the more stable team across sixty minutes, while San Jose’s best chance lies in letting its young skill turn the game into a looser exchange.

Matchup: Seattle Kraken vs Vegas Golden Knights

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Seattle Kraken – Projected lineup

Forwards
Bobby McMann – Matty Beniers – Jordan Eberle
Jared McCann – Berkly Catton – Frederick Gaudreau
Jaden Schwartz – Chandler Stephenson – Kaapo Kakko
Ryan Winterton – Oscar Fisker Molgaard – Jacob Melanson

Defense
Vince Dunn – Adam Larsson
Josh Mahura – Brandon Montour
Ryker Evans – Jamie Oleksiak

Goalies
Joey Daccord
Nikke Kokko

Scratched: Ryan Lindgren, Ben Meyers, Eeli Tolvanen, Matt Murray
Injured: Shane Wright (upper body), Philipp Grubauer (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Seattle still has enough skating and puck-moving ability to stay competitive, but the lineup loses some punch without Shane Wright and also enters with crease depth questions behind Daccord.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Seattle can pressure well when Beniers and McCann lines get moving downhill.
Transition Signal: Dunn and Montour help Seattle keep the puck alive and generate second-wave attacks.
Blue Line Signal: The defense is mobile enough to create offense, but can be exposed by elite finishing talent.
Goalie Stability Signal: Daccord is solid, but the overall crease situation is less comfortable than Vegas’.
X-Factor Signal: Seattle must win special teams and transition details to tilt this matchup.

Vegas Golden Knights – Projected lineup

Forwards
Brett Howden – Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev
Ivan Barbashev – Mitch Marner – Mark Stone
Brandon Saad – Tomas Hertl – Colton Sissons
Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Keegan Kolesar

Defense
Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
Jeremy Lauzon – Ben Hutton

Goalies
Adin Hill
Carter Hart

Scratched: Akira Schmid, Kaedan Korczak, Reilly Smith
Injured: Alexander Holtz (upper body), William Karlsson (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Vegas still looks deeper, heavier, and cleaner in its matchup structure. Eichel, Marner, Stone, Hertl, Theodore, and Hanifin give the Golden Knights a strong blend of brains, finish, and control.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Vegas can pressure with weight and timing without overextending.
Transition Signal: Eichel and Marner give this lineup elite entry and delay-game skill.
Blue Line Signal: Theodore, Hanifin, and Andersson create a strong puck-moving defensive core.
Goalie Stability Signal: Hill provides the more trusted matchup profile in net.
X-Factor Signal: Vegas can control this game simply by owning the walls and middle support routes.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Golden Knights edge
Transition Edge: Golden Knights edge
Defensive Stability: Golden Knights edge
Goaltending Edge: Golden Knights slight edge
Game Control Projection: Vegas projects to own the more mature, structured, and repeatable game script, while Seattle needs higher chaos and better finishing conversion to break that control.

Matchup: Los Angeles Kings vs Vancouver Canucks

Faceoff: 04:30 CET

Los Angeles Kings – Projected lineup

Forwards
Artemi Panarin – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore – Quinton Byfield – Alex Laferriere
Joel Armia – Scott Laughton – Jared Wright
Jeff Malott – Samuel Helenius – Taylor Ward

Defense
Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson – Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin – Cody Ceci

Goalies
Anton Forsberg
Darcy Kuemper

Scratched: Mathieu Joseph, Jacob Moverare
Injured: Alex Turcotte (undisclosed), Andrei Kuzmenko (meniscus)

IHM Lineup Note:
Los Angeles has the more mature two-way structure and better matchup balance. Kopitar, Panarin, Kempe, Byfield, Doughty, and Anderson give the Kings enough veteran control to dictate the game’s shape.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: The Kings can pressure with detail and stay above the puck consistently.
Transition Signal: Panarin and Kempe add more creative threat than Vancouver can comfortably match.
Blue Line Signal: Doughty and Anderson are still the main control pair for pace and defensive reads.
Goalie Stability Signal: Kuemper gives Los Angeles the stronger projected crease profile.
X-Factor Signal: The Kings should be able to lean on structure and matchup discipline over time.

Vancouver Canucks – Projected lineup

Forwards
Drew O’Connor – Elias Pettersson – Jake DeBrusk
Liam Ohgren – Marco Rossi – Brock Boeser
Max Sasson – Teddy Blueger – Linus Karlsson
Curtis Douglas – Aatu Raty – Nils Hoglander

Defense
Zeev Buium – Filip Hronek
Marcus Pettersson – Tom Willander
Elias Pettersson – Victor Mancini

Goalies
Nikita Tolopilo
Jiri Patera

Scratched: P.O. Joseph, Ty Mueller
Injured: Kevin Lankinen (upper body), Evander Kane (undisclosed), Filip Chytil (facial fracture), Thatcher Demko (hip surgery), Derek Forbort (undisclosed)

IHM Lineup Note:
Vancouver still has some offensive names, but the goaltending situation and overall roster balance place a lot of stress on the skaters. The Canucks need efficiency because they are unlikely to win a long territorial game.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Vancouver must pressure in short, targeted waves rather than trying to force a nonstop chase game.
Transition Signal: Pettersson and Boeser remain the primary offensive connectors.
Blue Line Signal: The defense can move the puck in spots, but it is not a projected strength against Los Angeles’ structure.
Goalie Stability Signal: This is the biggest risk area for Vancouver.
X-Factor Signal: The Canucks need a high-conversion finishing night to offset the matchup disadvantages.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Kings edge
Transition Edge: Kings slight edge
Defensive Stability: Kings clear edge
Goaltending Edge: Kings clear edge
Game Control Projection: Los Angeles projects to control the game through structure, matchup discipline, and crease stability, while Vancouver needs a more chaotic and opportunistic script to create upset conditions.

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 decisions, and game-time calls can still change the setup.

Why do line combinations matter?
They show chemistry, matchup intentions, puck-distribution roles, and how a coach wants to control pace and pressure.

Why are starting goalies so important?
Goalies directly change shot quality management, rebound control, confidence level, and overall game script.

What does a healthy scratch mean?
It means a player is available to play but is left out of the lineup by coaching choice.

Why do teams change lines late in the day?
Because of injuries, illness, maintenance, tactical matchup changes, or coaches reacting to the opponent.

What is the value of checking scratches and injuries?
They reveal missing structure pieces, role changes, and where a team may become weaker in transition, defense, or finishing.

How should fans read a projected lineup correctly?
Look at center depth, top-four defense quality, goalie situation, and whether the lineup still supports the team’s normal identity.

Can a lineup reveal tactical intent?
Yes. Coaches often show whether they want more pace, more forecheck, more defensive safety, or more matchup control.

Why does IHM add tactical notes to projected lineups?
Because raw line combinations only show names. Tactical notes explain how those names may actually function together in the game.

When are final lineups usually confirmed?
Most often during warmups or shortly before puck drop.

What should readers watch for after publication?
Late goalie confirmations, game-time decisions, and last-minute lineup switches that can change the tactical balance of a matchup.