NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day May 4, 2026
Date: May 3, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Final update: All projected lineups for today have been added.
Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens
Faceoff: 00:00 CET
Tampa Bay Lightning – Projected lineup
Forwards
Gage Goncalves – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Jake Guentzel
Zemgus Girgensons – Yanni Gourde – Nick Paul
Corey Perry – Dominic James – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Defense
J.J. Moser – Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
Charle-Edouard D’Astous – Emil Lilleberg
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Confirmed
Jonas Johansson
Power Play 1
Brayden Point – Jake Guentzel – Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel – Darren Raddysh
Power Play 2
Dominic James – Gage Goncalves – Nick Paul
Charle-Edouard D’Astous – Corey Perry
Injured: Pontus Holmberg (OUT), Victor Hedman (IR-LT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Tampa Bay has Vasilevskiy confirmed again, which gives the Lightning the strongest stabilizing piece in this matchup. The absence of Hedman still changes the blue-line ceiling, but Kucherov, Point, Guentzel and Hagel keep Tampa’s top unit extremely dangerous. D’Astous returning to the power-play picture also gives the second unit a cleaner puck-moving option.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Tampa should attack Montreal’s young puck movers early and force rushed defensive-zone decisions.
Transition Signal: Point and Kucherov remain the main pace controllers and the most dangerous entry creators.
Blue Line Signal: Without Hedman, Tampa still lacks its normal elite defensive distribution layer.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vasilevskiy confirmed gives Tampa a clear playoff goaltending edge.
X-Factor Signal: Tampa’s PP1 must turn possession into direct shot pressure instead of overpassing around Montreal’s box.
Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup
Forwards
Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky
Alexandre Texier – Alex Newhook – Ivan Demidov
Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach – Oliver Kapanen
Jake Evans – Phillip Danault – Josh Anderson
Defense
Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier
Kaiden Guhle – Lane Hutson
Jayden Struble – Arber Xhekaj
Goalies
Jakub Dobes – Expected
Jacob Fowler
Power Play 1
Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky – Ivan Demidov
Cole Caufield – Lane Hutson
Power Play 2
Kirby Dach – Zachary Bolduc – Alexandre Texier
Mike Matheson – Alex Newhook
Injured: Noah Dobson (DTD), Patrik Laine (IR)
IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal still leans into youth, speed and creativity, with Demidov and Hutson giving the Canadiens a dangerous deception layer on the power play. Dobson moving to day to day is important because his possible return would improve Montreal’s defensive structure and puck movement, but for now the Canadiens still need to protect Dobes carefully against Tampa’s elite finishers.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal must keep pressure active and avoid sitting back against Tampa’s veteran puck control.
Transition Signal: Suzuki and Demidov are the key players for controlled entries and quick attack creation.
Blue Line Signal: Hutson gives Montreal offensive upside, but Tampa can target space behind aggressive blue-line movement.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dobes is expected and must stay sharp against lateral puck movement.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal’s young power-play unit can shift the game if Hutson and Demidov create fast east-west movement.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Lightning edge
Transition Edge: Even
Defensive Stability: Lightning slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Lightning clear edge
Game Control Projection: Tampa projects to control the calmer playoff structure through Vasilevskiy and veteran execution, while Montreal needs speed, power-play creativity and disciplined puck management to make the game unstable.
Matchup: Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild
Faceoff: 03:00 CET
Colorado Avalanche – Projected lineup
Forwards
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog – Nazem Kadri – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Nicolas Roy
Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Logan O’Connor
Defense
Brett Kulak – Cale Makar
Devon Toews – Sam Malinski
Nick Blankenburg – Brent Burns
Goalies
Scott Wedgewood – Confirmed
Mackenzie Blackwood
Power Play 1
Nazem Kadri – Gabriel Landeskog – Martin Necas
Nathan MacKinnon – Cale Makar
Power Play 2
Brock Nelson – Artturi Lehkonen – Valeri Nichushkin
Devon Toews – Sam Malinski
Injured: Joel Kiviranta (OUT), Josh Manson (OUT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Colorado enters with Wedgewood confirmed and still has the stronger high-end control profile. MacKinnon and Makar remain the two biggest pace drivers in the matchup, while Landeskog, Kadri, Necas and Nichushkin give the Avalanche a deep offensive platform. Manson being out removes physical defensive bite, but Colorado still has enough puck movement to dictate long stretches.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Colorado can pressure Minnesota through fast second-touch recovery and immediate puck support.
Transition Signal: MacKinnon and Makar remain elite speed engines who can break structure from any zone.
Blue Line Signal: Makar and Toews give Colorado a major puck-movement edge, even with Manson unavailable.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wedgewood confirmed gives Colorado continuity and confidence.
X-Factor Signal: Colorado can control this game if its top power-play unit forces Minnesota into penalty-kill fatigue.
Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup
Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Matt Boldy
Marcus Johansson – Danila Yurov – Mats Zuccarello
Vladimir Tarasenko – Michael McCarron – Yakov Trenin
Marcus Foligno – Nico Sturm – Nick Foligno
Defense
Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber
Jake Middleton – Jared Spurgeon
Zach Bogosian – Jeff Petry
Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt – Expected
Filip Gustavsson
Power Play 1
Ryan Hartman – Kirill Kaprizov – Matt Boldy
Quinn Hughes – Mats Zuccarello
Power Play 2
Danila Yurov – Marcus Johansson – Vladimir Tarasenko
Brock Faber – Jared Spurgeon
Injured: Jonas Brodin (OUT), Joel Eriksson Ek (OUT), Charlie Stramel (OUT)
IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota still has elite skill through Kaprizov, Boldy, Hughes, Zuccarello and Faber, but the absences of Brodin and Eriksson Ek are serious structural losses. Brodin’s absence affects defensive matchup stability, while Eriksson Ek being out removes a major center, net-front and special-teams piece. Wallstedt expected in goal adds another pressure point against Colorado’s speed.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Minnesota must be aggressive but controlled, because Colorado punishes broken layers quickly.
Transition Signal: Hughes and Kaprizov are the main players who can match Colorado’s pace in open ice.
Blue Line Signal: Without Brodin, the defensive burden on Hughes, Faber and Spurgeon becomes heavier.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wallstedt is expected and will need strong traffic management against elite shooters.
X-Factor Signal: Minnesota needs its power play to compensate for missing Eriksson Ek at five-on-five.
IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Avalanche edge
Transition Edge: Avalanche edge
Defensive Stability: Avalanche edge
Goaltending Edge: Avalanche slight edge
Game Control Projection: Colorado projects to control more of the dangerous possession through MacKinnon, Makar and confirmed goaltending, while Minnesota needs Kaprizov, Hughes and special teams to create enough pressure to offset key injuries.
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.
