Tag: NHL Lineups

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 28, 2026

Date: April 27, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

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

Matchup: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Pittsburgh Penguins – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Arturs Silovs – Confirmed
Stuart Skinner

Power Play 1
Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell – Evgeni Malkin
Bryan Rust – Erik Karlsson

Power Play 2
Ben Kindel – Egor Chinakhov – Anthony Mantha
Thomas Novak – Kris Letang

Injured: P. Kettles (OUT), Filip Hallander (IR), Caleb Jones (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Pittsburgh keeps Silovs confirmed in goal, which gives the Penguins a clear crease plan before puck drop. The veteran power-play structure remains the key tactical weapon: Crosby, Malkin, Rakell, Rust, Karlsson and Letang still give Pittsburgh elite puck control, deception and playoff experience when the game slows into special-teams situations.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Pittsburgh must create more connected pressure instead of relying only on veteran puck skill.
Transition Signal: Karlsson and Letang remain the main breakout engines and must move the puck before Philadelphia’s speed closes lanes.
Blue Line Signal: The Penguins have offensive quality on the back end, but defensive spacing must stay compact against Flyers rush pressure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Silovs confirmed creates continuity and gives Pittsburgh a defined response structure.
X-Factor Signal: Crosby and Malkin must turn offensive-zone control into real slot pressure, not just perimeter possession.

Philadelphia Flyers – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York – Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler – Alex Bump

Goalies
Dan Vladar – Expected
Samuel Ersson

Power Play 1
Christian Dvorak – Travis Konecny – Owen Tippett
Alex Bump – Rasmus Ristolainen

Power Play 2
Trevor Zegras – Tyson Foerster – Porter Martone
Noah Cates – Jamie Drysdale

Injured: Emil Andrae (DTD), Nikita Grebenkin (OUT), Ty Murchison (OUT), Rodrigo Abols (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia continues to carry a strong speed-and-pressure identity, with Vladar expected in goal and a power-play look that spreads shooting and playmaking across two units. The Andrae day-to-day note matters because the Flyers lose some blue-line flexibility if he cannot play, but their forward structure remains dangerous through Konecny, Tippett, Zegras, Foerster, Martone and Michkov.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Philadelphia should keep attacking Pittsburgh’s defense with speed, pressure and quick weak-side support.
Transition Signal: Zegras, Tippett and Michkov remain the main open-ice acceleration threats.
Blue Line Signal: Drysdale and Ristolainen must manage puck movement carefully, especially if Andrae is unavailable.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vladar expected gives the Flyers a stable but still pressure-tested crease plan.
X-Factor Signal: Philadelphia can keep tilting the series if its speed forces Pittsburgh’s veteran core into defensive recovery shifts.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Flyers slight edge
Defensive Stability: Penguins slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Philadelphia projects to create more pace and pressure through speed, while Pittsburgh’s best route is slowing the game into veteran puck control, power-play execution and Silovs-driven stability.

Matchup: Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights

Faceoff: 03:30 CET

Utah Mammoth – Projected lineup

Forwards
Clayton Keller – Logan Cooley – Dylan Guenther
Kailer Yamamoto – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse
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 – Expected
Vitek Vanecek

Power Play 1
Logan Cooley – Clayton Keller – Dylan Guenther
Mikhail Sergachev – Nick Schmaltz

Power Play 2
Alexander Kerfoot – JJ Peterka – Lawson Crouse
Michael Carcone – MacKenzie Weegar

Injured: Barrett Hayton (OUT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Utah still has enough pace and skill to challenge Vegas, especially through Cooley, Keller, Guenther, Sergachev and Weegar. The Mammoth need a cleaner special-teams game and more direct pressure from their top unit because Vegas will not give them many easy second chances in a structured playoff environment.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Utah must pressure earlier and force Vegas defensemen into quicker puck decisions.
Transition Signal: Cooley and Keller remain the main speed triggers and must attack before Vegas sets its layers.
Blue Line Signal: Sergachev and Weegar give Utah enough puck-moving quality to support controlled entries and power-play rotation.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vejmelka expected gives Utah a workable crease base, but the workload must stay manageable.
X-Factor Signal: Utah needs to turn this into a pace-driven game instead of letting Vegas dominate wall battles and half-ice structure.

Vegas Golden Knights – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
Jeremy Lauzon – Kaedan Korczak

Goalies
Carter Hart – Confirmed
Adin Hill

Power Play 1
Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev – Mark Stone
Ivan Barbashev – Shea Theodore

Power Play 2
Tomas Hertl – Brett Howden – Mitch Marner
Rasmus Andersson – Noah Hanifin

Injured: William Karlsson (IR-LT), Alex Pietrangelo (IR-LT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Vegas has Carter Hart confirmed and still owns the more mature playoff control profile. Even without Karlsson and Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights have elite game-management pieces across both power-play units, with Eichel, Stone, Marner, Hertl, Theodore, Hanifin and Andersson giving them multiple ways to sustain pressure.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Vegas can pressure Utah with weight, wall control and disciplined second-man support.
Transition Signal: Eichel and Marner remain elite controlled-entry options who can slow the game and create cleaner looks.
Blue Line Signal: Theodore, Andersson and Hanifin give Vegas strong puck movement despite Pietrangelo being unavailable.
Goalie Stability Signal: Hart confirmed gives Vegas a clear crease edge in preparation and game-state control.
X-Factor Signal: Vegas can win this matchup by forcing Utah into repeated defensive-zone shifts and limiting rush chances.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Golden Knights edge
Transition Edge: Golden Knights slight edge
Defensive Stability: Golden Knights edge
Goaltending Edge: Golden Knights slight edge
Game Control Projection: Vegas projects to control the more repeatable playoff details through structure, power-play depth and confirmed goaltending, while Utah needs speed, cleaner exits and a strong Vejmelka performance to destabilize the game.

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 highly 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 reliable 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 so much in playoff lineups?
A missing top defenseman, center or goalie can change the entire tactical balance of a playoff game.

How should readers analyze projected lineups?
Focus on center depth, top-four defense quality, goalie status, injuries and whether the team’s normal identity is still intact.

Can special teams decide playoff games?
Yes. In tight playoff games, one power-play goal or one failed penalty kill can decide the outcome.

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 any power-play adjustments that shift the tactical balance.

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 26, 2026

Date: April 26, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

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

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
Zachary Bolduc – Oliver Kapanen – Kirby Dach
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 – Cole Caufield – Ivan Demidov
Juraj Slafkovsky – Lane Hutson

Power Play 2
Kirby Dach – Alex Newhook – Zachary Bolduc
Mike Matheson – Alexandre Texier

Injured: Noah Dobson (OUT), Patrik Laine (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal continues to trust its young offensive core, but the power play adjustment is important. Demidov moving into a central PP1 role gives the Canadiens more creativity, deception and shot-pass threat around Suzuki and Caufield. Hutson remains the key blue-line activator, while Dobson’s absence still lowers the defensive control ceiling.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal should keep attacking Tampa’s depth defense and force rushed decisions below the goal line.
Transition Signal: Suzuki remains the main controlled-entry driver, with Demidov adding a higher-skill second layer.
Blue Line Signal: Hutson gives Montreal elite creativity, but the Canadiens must protect against counterattacks behind him.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dobes is expected and must stay calm against Tampa’s elite finishing pressure.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal’s PP1 can change the game if Demidov and Hutson create east-west movement before Tampa’s penalty kill sets its box.

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 – Scott Sabourin

Defense
J.J. Moser – Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
Declan Carlile – Emil Lilleberg

Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Expected
Jonas Johansson

Power Play 1
Brayden Point – Brandon Hagel – Jake Guentzel
Nikita Kucherov – Darren Raddysh

Power Play 2
Dominic James – Gage Goncalves – Corey Perry
J.J. Moser – Nick Paul

Injured: Charle-Edouard D’Astous (OUT), Pontus Holmberg (OUT), Victor Hedman (IR-LT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Tampa Bay still has the more proven playoff core, but the absence of Hedman remains a major structural issue. Kucherov is now even more important as the primary offensive brain, while Raddysh must carry more power-play and breakout responsibility. Vasilevskiy expected in goal gives the Lightning the strongest stabilizing element in the matchup.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Tampa must pressure Montreal’s young puck movers early and force turnovers before the Canadiens can build speed.
Transition Signal: Point and Kucherov remain the most dangerous pace manipulators for the Lightning.
Blue Line Signal: Without Hedman, Tampa’s blue-line structure is more functional than dominant.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vasilevskiy gives Tampa a clear playoff goaltending advantage.
X-Factor Signal: Tampa’s PP1 must punish Montreal’s mistakes because five-on-five control is no longer automatic in this series.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Lightning slight edge
Transition Edge: Even
Defensive Stability: Even
Goaltending Edge: Lightning edge
Game Control Projection: Tampa projects to own the calmer playoff structure through Vasilevskiy and veteran execution, but Montreal’s young PP1 and transition speed can make this game dangerous if the Lightning lose puck discipline.

Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers

Faceoff: 03:30 CET

Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Lukas Dostal – Expected
Ville Husso

Power Play 1
Leo Carlsson – Troy Terry – Cutter Gauthier
Jackson LaCombe – Mason McTavish

Power Play 2
Mikael Granlund – Alex Killorn – Beckett Sennecke
Chris Kreider – Jacob Trouba

Injured: Radko Gudas (DTD), Ross Johnston (DTD), Jansen Harkins (OUT), Petr Mrazek (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim’s structure remains dangerous because the Ducks are not trying to out-skill Edmonton shift for shift. They are trying to slow the Oilers, protect the middle, and attack through balanced power-play looks. Dostal expected in goal keeps Anaheim’s upset path alive, while Gudas being day to day affects defensive edge and net-front bite.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim must pressure with discipline and avoid giving McDavid clean counterattack lanes.
Transition Signal: Carlsson, Terry and Gauthier are the main speed and skill connectors.
Blue Line Signal: LaCombe and Carlson remain important for puck movement, while Gudas’ status affects defensive heaviness.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal expected gives Anaheim a credible playoff crease profile.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim must keep the game structured and force Edmonton’s stars into low-percentage perimeter possessions.

Edmonton Oilers – Projected lineup

Forwards
Matthew Savoie – Connor McDavid – Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin – Leon Draisaitl – Kasperi Kapanen
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jason Dickinson – Jack Roslovic
Colton Dach – Curtis Lazar – Trent Frederic

Defense
Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse – Connor Murphy
Jake Walman – Ty Emberson

Goalies
Tristan Jarry – Expected
Connor Ingram

Power Play 1
Leon Draisaitl – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Zach Hyman
Connor McDavid – Evan Bouchard

Power Play 2
Matt Savoie – Vasily Podkolzin – Jack Roslovic
Mattias Ekholm – Jake Walman

Injured: Jason Dickinson (DTD), Adam Henrique (OUT), Max Jones (OUT), Mattias Janmark (IR-LT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Edmonton still has the highest offensive ceiling in this matchup, but the goalie switch to Jarry expected adds a fresh tactical layer. The Oilers’ power play remains loaded with McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins and Bouchard, but execution must improve. If the puck movement stays slow or Anaheim blocks the middle, Edmonton’s elite talent can still be forced into frustration.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Edmonton must retrieve more pucks below the goal line instead of depending only on rush creation.
Transition Signal: McDavid remains the central pace engine, and the Oilers need him attacking downhill with speed.
Blue Line Signal: Bouchard and Ekholm are critical for clean exits, PP control and controlled offensive-zone resets.
Goalie Stability Signal: Jarry expected creates a new crease variable, but also gives Edmonton a chance to reset emotionally.
X-Factor Signal: Edmonton’s PP1 must become decisive, because special teams are the clearest path to breaking Anaheim’s structure.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Oilers edge
Transition Edge: Oilers clear edge
Defensive Stability: Ducks slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection: Edmonton projects to own the higher ceiling through McDavid, Draisaitl and the power play, but Anaheim can keep controlling the emotional rhythm if Dostal holds and the Ducks continue closing central ice.

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 highly 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 reliable 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 so much in playoff lineups?
A missing top defenseman, center or goalie can change the entire tactical balance of a playoff game.

How should readers analyze projected lineups?
Focus on center depth, top-four defense quality, goalie status, injuries and whether the team’s normal identity is still intact.

Can special teams decide playoff games?
Yes. In tight playoff games, one power-play goal or one failed penalty kill can decide the outcome.

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 any power-play adjustments that shift the tactical balance.

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 25, 2026

Date: April 25, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

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

Matchup: Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres

Faceoff: 20:00 CET

Boston Bruins- Projected lineup

Forwards
Morgan Geekie – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt – Pavel Zacha – Viktor Arvidsson
James Hagens – Fraser Minten – Lukas Reichel
Tanner Jeannot – Sean Kuraly – Mark Kastelic

Defense
Jonathan Aspirot – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Mason Lohrei
Nikita Zadorov – Andrew Peeke

Goalies
Jeremy Swayman – Expected
Joonas Korpisalo

Power Play 1
Pavel Zacha – Morgan Geekie – David Pastrnak
Viktor Arvidsson – Charlie McAvoy

Power Play 2
Elias Lindholm – Casey Mittelstadt – Lukas Reichel
Hampus Lindholm – Fraser Minten

Injured: D. Locmelis (OUT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Boston enters this game needing a response, and the Bruins still have the tools to turn the series into a heavier, more structured battle. Swayman expected in goal gives them stability, while Pastrnak, McAvoy, Lindholm and Zacha remain the key pieces if Boston wants to slow Buffalo’s speed and win the middle of the ice.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Boston must increase wall pressure and force Buffalo’s puck movers into slower exits.
Transition Signal: Pastrnak remains the most dangerous release option, but Boston needs more support through the neutral zone.
Blue Line Signal: McAvoy is the main defensive organizer and must control the matchup against Thompson and Tuch.
Goalie Stability Signal: Swayman expected gives Boston a strong playoff base.
X-Factor Signal: Boston’s power play must create more direct shot traffic instead of letting Buffalo defend comfortably.

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 – Josh Dunne – Beck Malenstyn

Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Logan Stanley – Connor Timmins

Goalies
Alex Lyon – Expected
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Power Play 1
Tage Thompson – Jason Zucker – Alex Tuch
Rasmus Dahlin – Noah Ostlund

Power Play 2
Ryan McLeod – Zach Benson – Josh Doan
Bowen Byram – Jack Quinn

Injured: Josh Norris (DTD), Sam Carrick (OUT), Justin Danforth (IR), Jiri Kulich (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Buffalo comes in with momentum and a clear identity: speed from the back end, quick offensive-zone recovery, and confident goaltending from Lyon if he gets the crease again. The Norris day-to-day note matters, but the Sabres still have enough pace and power-play variety to keep Boston under pressure.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Buffalo can pressure Boston through speed, second-man support and quick puck recovery.
Transition Signal: Dahlin, Power and Byram give Buffalo a strong breakout and controlled-entry platform.
Blue Line Signal: Buffalo’s defense remains more dynamic in puck movement than Boston’s group.
Goalie Stability Signal: Lyon expected gives Buffalo confidence after his strong Game 3 performance.
X-Factor Signal: Thompson and Tuch must keep forcing Boston’s defense to defend through screens and inside pressure.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Sabres slight edge
Transition Edge: Sabres edge
Defensive Stability: Bruins slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even to Bruins slight edge
Game Control Projection: Buffalo projects to create more speed-driven pressure, while Boston needs to slow the game into a structured, physical playoff battle to regain control.

Matchup: Los Angeles Kings vs Colorado Avalanche

Faceoff: 22:30 CET

Los Angeles Kings – Projected lineup

Forwards
Artemi Panarin – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore – Quinton Byfield – Alex Laferriere
Joel Armia – Scott Laughton – Andrei Kuzmenko
Mathieu Joseph – Samuel Helenius – Jeff Malott

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

Goalies
Anton Forsberg – Expected
Darcy Kuemper

Power Play 1
Anze Kopitar – Artemi Panarin – Alex Laferriere
Adrian Kempe – Brandt Clarke

Power Play 2
Quinton Byfield – Trevor Moore – Andrei Kuzmenko
Scott Laughton – Drew Doughty

Injured: Kevin Fiala (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Los Angeles is facing elimination-level pressure and still needs a major offensive correction. The Kings have enough names to respond, but their problem in this series has been converting possession into dangerous interior chances. Forsberg expected gives clarity in goal, but the real issue is whether Los Angeles can create more than isolated attacks.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Kings must force longer Colorado retrievals and stop giving the Avalanche clean first passes.
Transition Signal: Panarin, Kempe and Byfield are the main players who can change pace quickly.
Blue Line Signal: Doughty and Clarke are essential to creating cleaner power-play movement and offensive-zone support.
Goalie Stability Signal: Forsberg expected means Los Angeles has a defined crease plan, but he may face high-quality looks.
X-Factor Signal: Without Fiala, the Kings need more finishing from Kempe, Panarin and the second unit.

Colorado- Projected lineup

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

Defense
Brett Kulak – Cale Makar
Devon Toews – Sam Malinski
Josh Manson – Brent Burns

Goalies
Scott Wedgewood – Expected
Mackenzie Blackwood

Power Play 1
Nathan MacKinnon – Gabriel Landeskog – Martin Necas
Nazem Kadri – Cale Makar

Power Play 2
Valeri Nichushkin – Artturi Lehkonen – Nicolas Roy
Devon Toews – Sam Malinski

Injured: Josh Manson (DTD)

IHM Lineup Note:
Colorado enters with a sweep opportunity and still looks like the cleaner, faster and more layered team. MacKinnon and Makar remain the core engines, while Wedgewood expected in goal gives the Avalanche continuity. The only notable question is Manson’s day-to-day status, but Colorado’s overall control profile remains strong.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Colorado can pressure Los Angeles through immediate second-touch recovery and speed below the dots.
Transition Signal: MacKinnon and Makar continue to dominate the pace and entry battle.
Blue Line Signal: Makar, Toews and Malinski give Colorado superior puck movement and offensive-zone extension.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wedgewood expected gives Colorado calm and continuity after strong previous starts.
X-Factor Signal: Colorado can end the series if it keeps forcing the Kings into rush defense and low-percentage clears.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Avalanche edge
Transition Edge: Avalanche clear edge
Defensive Stability: Avalanche slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Colorado projects to control the more dangerous phases through speed, puck movement and blue-line activation, while Los Angeles needs its best offensive performance of the series to avoid elimination pressure becoming final.

Matchup: Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Faceoff: 02:00 CET

Philadelphia Flyers – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York – Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler – Oliver Bonk

Goalies
Dan Vladar – Confirmed
Samuel Ersson

Power Play 1
Trevor Zegras – Tyson Foerster – Porter Martone
Noah Cates – Jamie Drysdale

Power Play 2
Christian Dvorak – Travis Konecny – Owen Tippett
Matvei Michkov – Rasmus Ristolainen

Injured: Emil Andrae (OUT), Nikita Grebenkin (OUT), Ty Murchison (OUT), Rodrigo Abols (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia has Vladar confirmed and continues to carry a dangerous blend of speed, youth and pressure. With Andrae out, the third pair loses some puck movement, but the Flyers still have strong attacking pieces across both power-play groups. Zegras, Konecny, Tippett, Martone and Michkov remain the main offensive pressure points.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Philadelphia should continue using speed and aggressive support to force Pittsburgh into rushed exits.
Transition Signal: Zegras and Michkov are the creativity triggers, while Tippett gives direct attacking speed.
Blue Line Signal: Drysdale becomes more important on power-play movement with Andrae out.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vladar confirmed gives Philadelphia a clear crease structure before puck drop.
X-Factor Signal: The Flyers can keep controlling the series if they turn their speed into repeat offensive-zone pressure.

Pittsburgh – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Arturs Silovs – Confirmed
Stuart Skinner

Power Play 1
Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell – Evgeni Malkin
Bryan Rust – Erik Karlsson

Power Play 2
Ben Kindel – Anthony Mantha – Egor Chinakhov
Thomas Novak – Kris Letang

Injured: P. Kettles (OUT), Filip Hallander (IR), Caleb Jones (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Pittsburgh makes a significant crease adjustment with Silovs confirmed. The Penguins still have elite veteran power-play brains through Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, Letang and Rust, but the question is whether they can generate enough controlled offense at five-on-five against Philadelphia’s pace.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Pittsburgh needs a more connected first layer to slow Philadelphia’s young transition game.
Transition Signal: Karlsson and Letang remain the main breakout and power-play distribution engines.
Blue Line Signal: Pittsburgh’s defense can move the puck, but it must avoid getting stretched by Flyers speed.
Goalie Stability Signal: Silovs confirmed adds a new variable and could reset the matchup energy.
X-Factor Signal: Crosby and Malkin must turn power-play time into real scoreboard pressure.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Flyers slight edge
Defensive Stability: Penguins slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Philadelphia projects to keep stressing Pittsburgh through speed and pressure, while the Penguins need Silovs, special teams and veteran puck control to pull the game back into their preferred rhythm.

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 highly 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 reliable 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 so much in playoff lineups?
A missing top defenseman, center or goalie can change the entire tactical balance of a playoff game.

How should readers analyze projected lineups?
Focus on center depth, top-four defense quality, goalie status, injuries and whether the team’s normal identity is still intact.

Can special teams decide playoff games?
Yes. In tight playoff games, one power-play goal or one failed penalty kill can decide the outcome.

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 any power-play adjustments that shift the tactical balance.

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 25, 2026

Date: April 24, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

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

Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Tampa Bay Lightning – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Brayden Point – Brandon Hagel – Jake Guentzel
Nikita Kucherov – Darren Raddysh

Power Play 2
Anthony Cirelli – Gage Goncalves – Nick Paul
J.J. Moser – Corey Perry

Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Expected

Injured: Charle-Edouard D’Astous (OUT), Pontus Holmberg (OUT), Victor Hedman (IR-LT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Tampa Bay still has elite playoff weapons through Point, Kucherov, Hagel and Guentzel, but the absence of Hedman remains the biggest structural issue. Without Hedman, the Lightning lose some of their normal blue-line calm, breakout precision and special-teams control. Vasilevskiy is expected, which keeps Tampa’s overall floor high.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Tampa should attack Montreal’s young defense with heavier early pressure and quick puck recovery.
Transition Signal: Point and Kucherov remain the most dangerous pace manipulators in this matchup.
Blue Line Signal: Raddysh and Moser must carry more offensive and breakout responsibility without Hedman.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vasilevskiy gives Tampa the clearest goaltending advantage on this matchup card.
X-Factor Signal: Tampa’s power play must become sharper because Montreal has already shown it can survive five-on-five pressure.

Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Nick Suzuki – Cole Caufield – Juraj Slafkovsky
Ivan Demidov – Lane Hutson

Power Play 2
Alex Newhook – Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach
Mike Matheson – Alexandre Texier

Goalies
Jakub Dobes – Expected

Injured: Noah Dobson (OUT), Patrik Laine (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal continues to lean on its young offensive core. Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov and Hutson give the Canadiens creativity, deception and speed, especially on the power play. The question remains defensive stability, particularly with Dobson unavailable and Tampa’s top players capable of punishing small mistakes quickly.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal should continue pressing Tampa’s depth defense and force rushed decisions below the goal line.
Transition Signal: Suzuki remains the central pace and decision hub for controlled entries.
Blue Line Signal: Hutson adds creativity, but the Canadiens must manage risk behind his offensive instincts.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dobes is expected and must handle pressure cleanly against Tampa’s elite finishing group.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal’s young skill must stay aggressive without giving Tampa easy counterattack chances.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Lightning edge
Transition Edge: Lightning slight edge
Defensive Stability: Even
Goaltending Edge: Lightning edge
Game Control Projection: Tampa projects to push with more urgency and special-teams pressure, but Montreal has enough speed and confidence to punish mistakes if the Lightning lose structure.

Matchup: Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights

Faceoff: 03:30 CET

Utah Mammoth – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Logan Cooley – Clayton Keller – Dylan Guenther
Mikhail Sergachev – Nick Schmaltz

Power Play 2
Alex Kerfoot – JJ Peterka – Michael Carcone
Lawson Crouse – MacKenzie Weegar

Goalies
Karel Vejmelka – Expected

Injured: Barrett Hayton (OUT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Utah has enough skill to make this game uncomfortable, especially through Cooley, Keller, Guenther, Sergachev and Weegar. The problem is consistency. Against Vegas, the Mammoth cannot rely only on flashes of transition. They need sustained pressure, cleaner exits and stronger defensive-zone discipline.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Utah must pressure Vegas earlier and prevent the Golden Knights from walking out cleanly.
Transition Signal: Cooley and Keller are the main pace creators and must attack before Vegas sets its layers.
Blue Line Signal: Sergachev and Weegar give Utah enough quality to move the puck under pressure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vejmelka is expected and will need to handle net-front traffic calmly.
X-Factor Signal: Utah needs a faster game script, because slow half-ice hockey favors Vegas.

Vegas Golden Knights – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Mitch Marner – Tomas Hertl – Pavel Dorofeyev
Jack Eichel – Mark Stone

Power Play 2
Brett Howden – Ivan Barbashev – Colton Sissons
Shea Theodore – Rasmus Andersson

Goalies
Carter Hart – Confirmed

Injured: William Karlsson (IR-LT), Alex Pietrangelo (IR-LT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Vegas has Carter Hart confirmed and still looks like the more mature playoff team. Even without Karlsson and Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights have enough structure, size and puck control through Eichel, Marner, Stone, Hertl, Theodore and Andersson to dictate long stretches.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Vegas can pressure with weight and timing while staying above the puck defensively.
Transition Signal: Eichel and Marner provide elite controlled-entry quality and delay-game creativity.
Blue Line Signal: Losing Pietrangelo matters, but Theodore and Andersson still give Vegas strong puck movement.
Goalie Stability Signal: Hart confirmed gives Vegas clear crease control before puck drop.
X-Factor Signal: Vegas can win this game by turning Utah’s speed into wall battles and repeated defensive-zone shifts.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Golden Knights edge
Transition Edge: Golden Knights slight edge
Defensive Stability: Golden Knights edge
Goaltending Edge: Golden Knights slight edge
Game Control Projection: Vegas projects to control the more repeatable playoff details, while Utah needs speed, special-teams execution and a strong Vejmelka performance to make the game unstable.

Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Mikael Granlund – Mason McTavish – Cutter Gauthier
Jackson LaCombe – Beckett Sennecke

Power Play 2
Leo Carlsson – Alex Killorn – Troy Terry
Chris Kreider – John Carlson

Goalies
Lukas Dostal – Expected

Injured: Radko Gudas (OUT), Jansen Harkins (OUT), Ross Johnston (OUT), Petr Mrazek (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim continues to present a difficult structural matchup for Edmonton. The Ducks are not built around one superstar, but their power play units show balance and variety. Granlund, McTavish, Gauthier, Carlsson, Terry, Kreider and Carlson give Anaheim multiple ways to create pressure if Edmonton becomes careless with the puck.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim must keep pressure controlled and avoid giving McDavid free transition lanes.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry are the main open-ice connectors for the Ducks.
Blue Line Signal: Gudas being out removes defensive bite, making LaCombe and Carlson more important.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal is expected and gives Anaheim a credible chance if he tracks through traffic well.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim needs disciplined layers and fast puck support to continue frustrating Edmonton’s stars.

Edmonton Oilers – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Leon Draisaitl – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Zach Hyman
Connor McDavid – Evan Bouchard

Power Play 2
Vasily Podkolzin – Matt Savoie – Jack Roslovic
Mattias Ekholm – Jake Walman

Goalies
Connor Ingram – Expected

Injured: Jason Dickinson (DTD), Adam Henrique (OUT), Max Jones (OUT), Mattias Janmark (IR-LT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Edmonton still has the highest offensive ceiling on this slate because McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins and Bouchard remain a devastating top power-play core. The issue is execution. If Anaheim keeps the middle closed and Edmonton’s puck movement stays slow, the Oilers’ elite talent can still be forced into frustration.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Edmonton must increase puck retrieval pressure instead of relying only on rush chances.
Transition Signal: McDavid remains the central pace engine and must attack with speed through the middle lane.
Blue Line Signal: Bouchard and Ekholm are critical to clean exits and power-play structure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ingram is expected and must provide calm behind a team that may open the game up.
X-Factor Signal: Edmonton’s power play has to become dangerous immediately, because special teams can flip this series.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Oilers edge
Transition Edge: Oilers clear edge
Defensive Stability: Ducks slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection: Edmonton projects to own the higher ceiling through star power and special teams, but Anaheim can control the emotional rhythm if it keeps the Oilers outside and limits central speed.

Matchup: Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes

Faceoff: 21:00 CET

Ottawa Senators – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Tim Stutzle – Brady Tkachuk – Drake Batherson
Jordan Spence – Claude Giroux

Power Play 2
Shane Pinto – Warren Foegele – Fabian Zetterlund
Thomas Chabot – Dylan Cozens

Goalies
Linus Ullmark – Expected

Injured: Jake Sanderson (OUT), Artem Zub (OUT), Nick Jensen (IR)

IHM Lineup Note:
Ottawa enters this matchup under heavy structural pressure. The loss of Sanderson and Zub removes two important defensive-zone stabilizers, which makes every breakout more difficult against Carolina’s layered forecheck. Ullmark becomes the central survival piece because the Senators may spend long stretches defending inside their own zone.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Ottawa must create pressure through Tkachuk and Batherson but cannot afford uncontrolled risk.
Transition Signal: Stutzle becomes the main exit and entry driver with Sanderson unavailable.
Blue Line Signal: The absence of Sanderson and Zub weakens Ottawa’s puck-moving and defensive-zone recovery structure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ullmark gives Ottawa its strongest chance to keep the game alive under pressure.
X-Factor Signal: Ottawa’s power play must produce because five-on-five creation is becoming harder against Carolina.

Carolina Hurricanes – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Taylor Hall – Nikolaj Ehlers – Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov – Shayne Gostisbehere

Power Play 2
Logan Stankoven – Jordan Staal – Jackson Blake
Alexander Nikishin – Sebastian Aho

Goalies
Frederik Andersen – Expected

Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
Carolina comes in with complete system confidence and no injury disruption. The Hurricanes continue to win this series through repetition, forecheck pressure, clean reloads, and disciplined defensive layers. Their power play units also show strong depth, with dangerous names spread across both groups rather than loaded into one predictable unit.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Carolina’s pressure structure remains the strongest tactical weapon in this matchup.
Transition Signal: Hall, Ehlers, Aho and Jarvis give the Hurricanes multiple speed and entry options.
Blue Line Signal: Gostisbehere and Nikishin create offensive activation while the team structure protects behind them.
Goalie Stability Signal: Andersen gives Carolina reliable playoff calm behind an already strong system.
X-Factor Signal: Carolina can turn Ottawa’s injured blue line into repeated long defensive-zone shifts.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Hurricanes edge
Transition Edge: Hurricanes edge
Defensive Stability: Hurricanes clear edge
Goaltending Edge: Senators slight edge
Game Control Projection: Carolina projects to control the rhythm through forecheck pressure and defensive depth, while Ottawa needs Ullmark, special teams and a more direct offensive approach to avoid elimination-level pressure.

Matchup: Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars

Faceoff: 23:30 CET

Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Joel Eriksson Ek – Kirill Kaprizov – Matt Boldy
Quinn Hughes – Vladimir Tarasenko

Power Play 2
Ryan Hartman – Marcus Johansson – Bobby Brink
Brock Faber – Jared Spurgeon

Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt – Expected

Injured: Mats Zuccarello (DTD), Charlie Stramel (OUT), Yakov Trenin (OUT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota still has a dangerous top-end structure through Kaprizov, Boldy, Eriksson Ek and Hughes, but the injury notes around Zuccarello and Trenin affect the balance of the lineup. The Wild remain dangerous in transition, but they need more sustained offensive-zone pressure if they want to keep Dallas from controlling the pace through Heiskanen and Oettinger.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Minnesota can pressure well, but missing Trenin lowers some physical depth impact.
Transition Signal: Kaprizov and Hughes remain the main pace-changing weapons.
Blue Line Signal: Hughes, Faber and Spurgeon give Minnesota strong puck-moving intelligence.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wallstedt is expected, which adds a younger, less proven playoff crease layer.
X-Factor Signal: Minnesota needs Kaprizov and Boldy to generate high-danger looks quickly before Dallas settles into structure.

Dallas Stars – Projected lineup

Power Play 1
Wyatt Johnston – Jason Robertson – Mikko Rantanen
Matt Duchene – Miro Heiskanen

Power Play 2
Mavrik Bourque – Justin Hryckowian – Jamie Benn
Thomas Harley – Esa Lindell

Goalies
Jake Oettinger – Expected

Injured: Nathan Bastian (OUT), Roope Hintz (OUT), Tyler Seguin (IR-LT)

IHM Lineup Note:
Dallas still misses important forward pieces, but the structure remains dangerous because Heiskanen, Robertson, Rantanen, Duchene and Johnston give the Stars elite power-play and transition potential. Oettinger expected in net gives Dallas the stronger playoff goaltending profile in this matchup.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Dallas must force Minnesota into longer defensive-zone possessions and reduce rush exchanges.
Transition Signal: Heiskanen is the central driver of clean exits and controlled entries.
Blue Line Signal: Heiskanen and Harley give Dallas strong offensive-zone support from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Oettinger provides the more established playoff stability compared with Wallstedt.
X-Factor Signal: Dallas needs its power play to punish Minnesota’s penalty structure and change the series rhythm.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Stars slight edge
Transition Edge: Wild slight edge
Defensive Stability: Stars edge
Goaltending Edge: Stars edge
Game Control Projection: Dallas projects to have the cleaner playoff control profile through Heiskanen and Oettinger, while Minnesota needs elite execution from Kaprizov, Hughes and Boldy to tilt the game through speed.

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 highly 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 reliable 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 so much in playoff lineups?
A missing top defenseman, center or goalie can change the entire tactical balance of a playoff game.

How should readers analyze projected lineups?
Focus on center depth, top-four defense quality, goalie status, injuries and whether the team’s normal identity is still intact.

Can special teams decide playoff games?
Yes. In tight playoff games, one power-play goal or one failed penalty kill can decide the outcome.

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 any power-play adjustments that shift the tactical balance.

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 22, 2026

Date: April 21, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

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

Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens

Faceoff: 01:00 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 – Scott Sabourin

Defense
J.J. Moser – Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
Declan Carlile – Emil Lilleberg

Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson

Scratched: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Conor Geekie, Max Crozier, Brandon Halverson
Injured: Pontus Holmberg (upper body), Victor Hedman (personal leave), Charle-Edouard D’Astous

IHM Lineup Note:
Tampa Bay is under real pressure after dropping Game 1 at home. The Lightning still have elite offensive brains and playoff-tested core pieces, but the continued absence of Hedman and the forced adjustment on the third pair reduce some of their usual control and calm from the back end.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Tampa should press harder early and try to turn Game 2 into a more physical, emotionally charged response game.
Transition Signal: Kucherov and Point remain the most dangerous pace manipulators in the series.
Blue Line Signal: Without Hedman and with Carlile stepping in, the Lightning blue line loses some top-end puck control.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vasilevskiy remains the most proven big-game goalie in the matchup.
X-Factor Signal: Tampa needs cleaner defensive support beneath the puck and sharper slot protection after the Game 1 overtime loss.

Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier
Kaiden Guhle – Lane Hutson
Jayden Struble – Arber Xhekaj

Goalies
Jakub Dobes
Jacob Fowler

Scratched: Brendan Gallagher, Joe Veleno, Adam Engstrom, David Reinbacher
Injured: Patrik Laine (lower body), Noah Dobson (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal comes in with confidence after stealing Game 1, and the Canadiens have no reason to change a lineup that already showed enough pace and courage to punish Tampa’s mistakes. Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, and Demidov continue to give this group real offensive danger.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal should continue to pressure Tampa’s depth defenders and force less comfortable breakouts.
Transition Signal: Suzuki remains the series’ key Montreal driver in controlled entries and pace decisions.
Blue Line Signal: Carrier with Matheson gives Montreal a more stable top-pair look than earlier setups.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dobes and Fowler are less proven than Vasilevskiy, but the team structure in front of them was strong enough in Game 1.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal’s young skill must stay aggressive and avoid falling into a passive road-game shell.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Lightning edge
Transition Edge: Lightning slight edge
Defensive Stability: Even
Goaltending Edge: Lightning edge
Game Control Projection: Tampa Bay projects to push harder and own more of the puck in Game 2, but Montreal has already shown it can punish structural lapses and make this game uncomfortable again.

Matchup: Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins

Faceoff: 01:30 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 – Josh Dunne – Beck Malenstyn

Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Logan Stanley – Connor Timmins

Goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Alex Lyon

Scratched: Colten Ellis, Michael Kesselring, Tyson Kozak, Tanner Pearson, Luke Schenn
Injured: Sam Carrick (upper body), Noah Ostlund (upper body), Jiri Kulich (blood clot), Justin Danforth (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Buffalo sticks with the same lineup after taking Game 1, which makes perfect sense. Dahlin, Power, Byram, Thompson, Tuch, and Norris still give the Sabres one of the most dynamic modern playoff structures in the East, especially in terms of transition flow from the blue line.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Buffalo can pressure Boston’s retrievals with more speed than weight and still create dangerous offensive-zone recoveries.
Transition Signal: Dahlin and Power remain major pace drivers, and that is a real series advantage.
Blue Line Signal: The Sabres’ top four can both defend and keep offensive possessions alive at a high level.
Goalie Stability Signal: Luukkonen remains good enough to support Buffalo’s faster, more aggressive style.
X-Factor Signal: Buffalo needs to resist the temptation to over-open the game and instead make Boston defend in layers.

Boston Bruins – Projected lineup

Forwards
Morgan Geekie – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt – Pavel Zacha – Viktor Arvidsson
James Hagens – Fraser Minten – Marat Khusnutdinov
Tanner Jeannot – Sean Kuraly – Mark Kastelic

Defense
Jonathan Aspirot – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Mason Lohrei
Nikita Zadorov – Andrew Peeke

Goalies
Jeremy Swayman
Joonas Korpisalo

Scratched: Alex Steeves, Jordan Harris, Henri Jokiharju, Lukas Reichel, Michael Eyssimont
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
Boston also stays unchanged, which signals confidence in the structure rather than panic after Game 1. McAvoy, Lindholm, Swayman, and Pastrnak still give the Bruins a very serious chance to drag this series into the kind of heavy, controlled matchup they prefer.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Boston wants a more grinding, layered forecheck game to wear Buffalo down over time.
Transition Signal: The Bruins are less explosive overall, but Pastrnak remains the most dangerous one-shot finisher in the series.
Blue Line Signal: McAvoy is the key defensive organizer and the Bruins’ main answer to Buffalo’s pace.
Goalie Stability Signal: Swayman still gives Boston a big-game calm factor and series-level equalizer.
X-Factor Signal: Boston must do a better job of protecting the middle and forcing Buffalo to the walls for longer stretches.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Sabres slight edge
Transition Edge: Sabres edge
Defensive Stability: Bruins slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Bruins slight edge
Game Control Projection: Buffalo still projects to carry more of the play-driving phases, while Boston’s route is to compress the game and let Swayman plus its defensive structure change the series texture.

Matchup: Vegas Golden Knights vs Utah Mammoth

Faceoff: 03:30 CET

Vegas Golden Knights – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
Jeremy Lauzon – Kaedan Korczak

Goalies
Carter Hart
Adin Hill

Scratched: Ben Hutton, Brandon Saad, Akira Schmid
Injured: William Karlsson (lower body), Jonas Rondbjerg (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Vegas keeps control of the series and still looks like the more mature playoff machine. Eichel, Marner, Stone, Hertl, Theodore, Hanifin, and Andersson give the Golden Knights multiple layers of possession, pressure, and defensive reliability.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Vegas can keep Utah under repeated wall pressure without opening itself up defensively.
Transition Signal: Eichel and Marner drive elite entry quality and can slow the game to create cleaner chances.
Blue Line Signal: The Golden Knights still have the more stable and polished top-six defense structure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Hill and Hart give Vegas two strong crease options, with Hill still the more trusted playoff profile.
X-Factor Signal: Vegas wants another controlled, structured home game where Utah is forced to chase the puck and spend energy defending the cycle.

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: Daniil But, Kevin Rooney, Nick DeSimone, Dmitri Simashev, Matt Villalta
Injured: Barrett Hayton (upper body), Jack McBain (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Utah gets an important boost with Durzi back in the projected lineup, and that should help the Mammoth move the puck more cleanly from the third pair. They still need much more offensive efficiency than in Game 1 because Vegas will not hand them many easy looks.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Utah must pressure with more conviction and force quicker Vegas decisions on retrievals.
Transition Signal: Cooley, Keller, and Guenther remain the main engines for opening this game up.
Blue Line Signal: Sergachev, Weegar, Marino, and Durzi give Utah enough quality to challenge if exits stay sharp.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vejmelka remains capable of keeping Utah in the fight if the skaters reduce slot breakdowns.
X-Factor Signal: Utah needs more pace and less half-ice grind if it wants to reset the series.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Golden Knights edge
Transition Edge: Slight Golden Knights edge
Defensive Stability: Golden Knights edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Vegas projects to control more of the repeatable playoff details again, while Utah’s clearest path is to increase pace and turn the game into a more open exchange than Game 1 allowed.

Matchup: Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Colorado Avalanche – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Brett Kulak – Cale Makar
Devon Toews – Sam Malinski
Josh Manson – Brent Burns

Goalies
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Scratched: Ross Colton, Nick Blankenburg, Zakhar Bardakov
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
Colorado comes into Game 2 still looking like the higher-ceiling team in the matchup. MacKinnon, Makar, Toews, Kadri, Nichushkin, Landeskog, and Nelson give the Avalanche an elite blend of pace, structure, and blue-line activation that can overwhelm opponents if the game opens up.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Colorado can create pressure through speed and immediate second-touch recoveries.
Transition Signal: MacKinnon and Makar remain the dominant pace drivers in the series.
Blue Line Signal: The Avalanche still hold the stronger puck-moving and attack-support edge from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wedgewood is confirmed again and gives Colorado clarity, even if not a massive individual advantage.
X-Factor Signal: Colorado wants to force Los Angeles into more rush-defense situations and fewer controlled half-ice sequences.

Los Angeles Kings – Projected lineup

Forwards
Artemi Panarin – Quinton Byfield – Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore – Anze Kopitar – Joel Armia
Alex Laferriere – Scott Laughton – Drew Doughty
Samuel Helenius – Jeff Malott – Brandt Clarke

Defense
Mikey Anderson – Brian Dumoulin
Cody Ceci – Mathieu Joseph
Jake Moverare – Trevor Moore

Goalies
Anton Forsberg

Scratched: Kevin Fiala on IR
Injuries: Kevin Fiala IR

IHM Lineup Note:
Based on the extra Game 2 special-teams snapshot you sent, the Kings still rely on Panarin, Kopitar, Kempe, Byfield, Doughty, and Clarke for their most important offensive control points, with Forsberg confirmed in goal. Even with some roster presentation oddities in the snippet, the core takeaway is unchanged: Los Angeles must win structure and defensive detail, not a skill race.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: The Kings need controlled pressure and cleaner line support rather than a wide-open chase game.
Transition Signal: Panarin and Kempe remain the main attacking levers, with Byfield essential in carrying pace.
Blue Line Signal: Doughty and Anderson still anchor the main defensive resistance against Colorado’s speed.
Goalie Stability Signal: Forsberg being confirmed gives Los Angeles a defined crease plan for Game 2.
X-Factor Signal: The Kings must slow Colorado’s middle-lane speed and make every zone entry more expensive.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Avalanche edge
Transition Edge: Avalanche clear edge
Defensive Stability: Avalanche slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Colorado still projects to control the more dangerous and repeatable offensive phases, while Los Angeles needs a compact, highly disciplined playoff road performance to keep Game 2 within its preferred structure.

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 calls, and playoff adjustments can still change the setup.

Why do playoff lineups matter more than regular-season lineups?
Because playoff hockey is more matchup-driven, more physical, and more sensitive to goalie quality, center depth, and top-four defense structure.

Why are Game 2 lineups so important?
Because they often reveal whether a coach trusts the same formula, is reacting to Game 1, or is trying to reset matchup control before the series shifts location.

What does a healthy scratch mean in the playoffs?
It means a player is available but left out for tactical, matchup, or performance reasons.

Why do coaches keep the same lineup after a win?
Because continuity, chemistry, and successful matchup results often matter more than experimenting in a playoff series.

What should readers focus on first in a projected lineup?
Center depth, top-four defense quality, starting goalie strength, and whether the lineup supports the team’s normal playoff identity.

How important are injuries in a playoff series?
Very important, because one missing top center, defenseman, or scorer can change the entire tactical balance of a matchup.

Can line combinations reveal playoff strategy?
Yes. They often show whether a coach wants more speed, more forecheck, tighter defense, or more matchup control.

Why does IHM add tactical notes to projected lineups?
Because names alone do not explain how a lineup may function under playoff pace, pressure, and matchup conditions.

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

What should readers watch for after publication?
Late goalie confirmations, true game-time decisions, and final lineup tweaks that can shift the tactical balance.

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 21, 2026

Date: April 20, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

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

Matchup: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Pittsburgh Penguins – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Stuart Skinner
Arturs Silovs

Scratched: Justin Brazeau, Ilya Solovyov, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Jack St. Ivany
Injured: Filip Hallander (blood clot)

IHM Lineup Note:
Pittsburgh enters Game 2 with its veteran core intact, and that gives the Penguins a very different pressure profile than the temporary rest-heavy versions seen late in the regular season. Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, Letang, Rakell, and Rust still give this group enough experience and offensive intelligence to push back hard after dropping Game 1.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Pittsburgh can apply heavier and smarter pressure through its veteran top six, especially off Crosby and Malkin support routes.
Transition Signal: Karlsson and Letang remain the primary breakout accelerators from the back end.
Blue Line Signal: The Penguins still have puck-moving quality, though they must avoid getting stretched by Philadelphia’s rush speed.
Goalie Stability Signal: Skinner gives Pittsburgh a workable foundation, but he must be cleaner on rebound control in a playoff environment.
X-Factor Signal: The Penguins need their stars to dictate the middle of the ice and avoid letting Philadelphia turn the game into a pace-and-chaos contest.

Philadelphia Flyers – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson

Scratched: Garrett Wilson, Alex Bump, Noah Juulsen, Carl Grundstrom, Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek
Injured: Rodrigo Abols (lower body), Nikita Grebenkin (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia already took the series lead and now enters Game 2 with clear tactical momentum. The Flyers combine speed, work rate, and line pressure well, and if Tippett and Andrae are healthy enough to go, this remains a lineup capable of stretching Pittsburgh’s defensive reads with pace and direct attacks.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Philadelphia can force rushed exits through active winger pressure and quick reload habits.
Transition Signal: Zegras, Tippett, Konecny, and Michkov give the Flyers multiple speed-trigger options.
Blue Line Signal: Sanheim and York remain the key stabilizers when the game turns more open.
Goalie Stability Signal: The crease is solid enough, though not a dominant series edge on paper.
X-Factor Signal: The Flyers want this game played with tempo and emotional edge, not slow half-ice control.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Flyers slight edge
Defensive Stability: Penguins slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Pittsburgh projects to push for a more deliberate, veteran-controlled response at home, while Philadelphia’s best path remains speed, pressure, and forcing the Penguins into reactive hockey.

Matchup: Carolina Hurricanes vs Ottawa Senators

Faceoff: 01:30 CET

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, Pyotr Kochetkov
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
Carolina enters Game 2 with the exact same lineup that won Game 1, and that is a strong signal in itself. This group has elite forecheck structure, speed across multiple lines, and one of the most reliable puck-pressure systems in the bracket.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Carolina’s layered pressure remains one of the hardest playoff structures to break cleanly.
Transition Signal: Aho, Jarvis, Hall, Ehlers, and Stankoven give the Hurricanes both speed and support timing.
Blue Line Signal: Slavin anchors the defensive reads, while Gostisbehere and Nikishin keep the attack flowing from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Andersen remains a calm, playoff-capable backbone in front of a strong system.
X-Factor Signal: Carolina wants repeat offensive-zone time and quick recovery touches rather than a trade-chance game.

Ottawa Senators – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Jake Sanderson – Nikolas Matinpalo
Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence
Dennis Gilbert – Lassi Thomson

Goalies
Linus Ullmark
James Reimer

Scratched: Kurtis MacDermid, Stephen Halliday, Hayden Hodgson, Cameron Crotty, Graeme Clarke, Arthur Kaliyev, Xavier Bourgeault, Oscar Pettersson, Tyler Boucher, Carter Yakemchuk
Injured: Artem Zub (undisclosed), Tyler Kleven (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Ottawa still has enough top-six skill and emotion to make this series dangerous, but the health question around Zub matters against Carolina’s wave-based puck pressure. Ullmark gives the Senators a chance to resist long stretches of territorial control, but the skaters must clean up exits and slot coverage.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Ottawa can bring pushback through Tkachuk, Cozens, and Giroux, but must stay connected behind the first wave.
Transition Signal: Stutzle remains the main engine for carrying play out of pressure and into attack.
Blue Line Signal: Zub’s availability is highly important because Carolina will test Ottawa’s depth pairs repeatedly.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ullmark is Ottawa’s biggest stabilizer and series-level equalizer.
X-Factor Signal: The Senators need a more direct, emotional, and heavy game than Game 1 to disrupt Carolina’s flow.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Hurricanes edge
Transition Edge: Hurricanes slight edge
Defensive Stability: Hurricanes edge
Goaltending Edge: Senators slight edge
Game Control Projection: Carolina projects to own more of the structured possession and forecheck battle again, while Ottawa needs Ullmark plus better defensive support to flip the rhythm of the series.

Matchup: Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild

Faceoff: 03:30 CET

Dallas Stars – Projected lineup

Forwards
Justin Hryckowian – Wyatt Johnston – Mikko Rantanen
Jason Robertson – Matt Duchene – Mavrik Bourque
Sam Steel – Arttu Hyry – Jamie Benn
Oskar Back – Radek Faksa – Colin Blackwell

Defense
Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley – Nils Lundkvist
Lian Bichsel – Tyler Myers

Goalies
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

Scratched: Michael Bunting, Kyle Capobianco, Adam Erne, Ilya Lyubushkin, Alexander Petrovic
Injured: Nathan Bastian (hand), Roope Hintz (lower body), Tyler Seguin (ACL)

IHM Lineup Note:
Dallas gets a major structural boost with Heiskanen back in the lineup, and that alone changes the texture of the series after the Game 1 blowout. The Stars still miss Hintz, but Heiskanen, Oettinger, Rantanen, Robertson, Duchene, and Johnston give them the tools to reset the matchup immediately.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Dallas can pressure more effectively when its back end exits cleanly and feeds second-wave support.
Transition Signal: Heiskanen dramatically improves puck transport and neutral-zone control.
Blue Line Signal: The Stars are far more stable and dangerous offensively with Heiskanen restoring top-pair command.
Goalie Stability Signal: Oettinger remains one of the most important series-shaping goalies in the West.
X-Factor Signal: Dallas needs a tighter first ten minutes and far better slot management than in Game 1.

Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson

Scratched: Bobby Brink, Robby Fabbri, Viking Gustafsson-Nyberg, Daemon Hunt, Matt Kiersted, Jeff Petry, Nico Sturm
Injuries: None

IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota comes into Game 2 after a dominant opener and has no reason to alter the formula. Kaprizov, Boldy, Eriksson Ek, Hughes, Faber, Brodin, and Spurgeon give the Wild elite balance between skill, structure, and puck-control confidence.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Minnesota can pressure with real purpose and still stay above the puck defensively.
Transition Signal: Kaprizov and Hughes are the most dangerous pace-changing pieces in the lineup.
Blue Line Signal: Minnesota’s defense remains one of the smartest and most mobile groups on the slate.
Goalie Stability Signal: Gustavsson gives the Wild a strong edge if he starts after the Game 1 win, though Wallstedt is also capable.
X-Factor Signal: Minnesota wants to keep Dallas chasing the game and stop the Stars from establishing clean controlled entries.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Wild slight edge
Defensive Stability: Wild slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Stars slight edge on pedigree, even on current form
Game Control Projection: Dallas should look much more composed with Heiskanen back, but Minnesota still projects to carry the sharper team structure and confidence edge after taking Game 1 convincingly.

Matchup: Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Edmonton Oilers – Projected lineup

Forwards
Matthew Savoie – Connor McDavid – Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin – Leon Draisaitl – Kasperi Kapanen
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jason Dickinson – Jack Roslovic
Colton Dach – Adam Henrique – Trent Frederic

Defense
Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse – Connor Murphy
Jake Walman – Ty Emberson

Goalies
Connor Ingram
Tristan Jarry

Scratched: Curtis Lazar, Calvin Pickard, Josh Samanski, Spencer Stastney
Injured: Mattias Janmark (shoulder), Max Jones (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
If Draisaitl is available, Edmonton’s Game 1 ceiling rises immediately. McDavid, Hyman, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Bouchard, and Ekholm give the Oilers the most explosive offensive core in this matchup, and Dickinson’s return also helps rebalance the middle six.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Edmonton can pressure more effectively when its stars force defenders into rushed retrieval decisions.
Transition Signal: McDavid remains the most dangerous open-ice player on the slate, and Draisaitl’s status changes the entire matchup math.
Blue Line Signal: Ekholm and Bouchard provide the key two-way platform for pushing the game forward.
Goalie Stability Signal: The crease remains usable, though not the main projected advantage in the series opener.
X-Factor Signal: Edmonton needs to turn its top-end skill into actual slot pressure and avoid playing a loose, rushed defensive game.

Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Jackson LaCombe – Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov – John Carlson
Tyson Hinds – Radko Gudas

Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso

Scratched: Drew Helleson, Frank Vatrano, Olen Zellweger
Injured: Jansen Harkins (hand surgery), Ross Johnston (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim is not entering this series as a passive underdog. Carlsson, Terry, McTavish, Gauthier, Granlund, Carlson, Trouba, and Dostal give the Ducks enough structure and veteran support to make Game 1 uncomfortable if Edmonton does not manage the puck cleanly.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Anaheim can bring enough pressure to expose Oilers turnovers if the game gets careless.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry are the main clean-entry creators, while Gauthier adds shot threat off motion.
Blue Line Signal: Carlson and Mintyukov improve Anaheim’s ability to sustain offense from the points.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal is a legitimate playoff spoiler if he sees the puck cleanly and manages rebounds.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim wants a composed road opener where Edmonton’s stars are forced to work through layers instead of playing free.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Oilers edge
Transition Edge: Oilers clear edge if Draisaitl plays, slight edge if not
Defensive Stability: Ducks slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection: Edmonton projects to own the higher ceiling through star power, but Anaheim has enough structure and crease stability to make this dangerous if the Oilers do not manage the pace and puck cleanly in Game 1.

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 calls, and playoff adjustments can still change the setup.

Why do playoff lineups matter more than regular-season lineups?
Because playoff hockey is more matchup-driven, more physical, and more sensitive to goalie quality, center depth, and top-four defense structure.

Why are starting goalies so important in Game 2 or Game 1 situations?
They can shape series momentum, protect mistakes under pressure, and influence how aggressively a team can attack.

What does a healthy scratch mean in the playoffs?
It means a player is available but left out for tactical, matchup, or performance reasons.

Why do coaches keep the same lineup after a win?
Because continuity, chemistry, and successful matchups often matter more than experimenting during a playoff series.

What should readers focus on first in a projected lineup?
Center depth, top-four defense quality, starting goalie strength, and whether the lineup supports the team’s normal playoff identity.

How important are injuries in a playoff series?
Very important, because one missing top center, defenseman, or scorer can change the entire tactical balance of a matchup.

Can line combinations reveal playoff strategy?
Yes. They often show whether a coach wants more speed, more forecheck, tighter defense, or more matchup control.

Why does IHM add tactical notes to projected lineups?
Because names alone do not explain how a lineup may function under playoff pace, pressure, and matchup conditions.

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

What should readers watch for after publication?
Late goalie confirmations, true game-time decisions, and final lineup tweaks that can shift the tactical balance.

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 15, 2026

Date: April 14, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

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

Matchup: New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

New York Islanders – Projected lineup

Forwards
Simon Holmstrom – Bo Horvat – Victor Eklund
Calum Ritchie – Mathew Barzal – Brayden Schenn
Anders Lee – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Emil Heineman
Ondrej Palat – Casey Cizikas – Liam Foudy

Defense
Adam Pelech – Matthew Schaefer
Carson Soucy – Tony DeAngelo
Isaiah George – Scott Mayfield

Goalies
David Rittich
Ilya Sorokin

Scratched: Anthony Duclair, Adam Boqvist, Marc Gatcomb
Injured: Ryan Pulock (undisclosed), Maxim Shabanov (upper body), Kyle Palmieri (ACL), Alexander Romanov (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
The Islanders still bring a more natural NHL top-nine shape in this matchup, and that matters against a Carolina group resting major pieces. Horvat and Barzal remain the central drivers of structure and pace, while Eklund adds fresh unpredictability in his debut.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Islanders can apply more direct pressure through their middle six than this version of Carolina usually sees.
Transition Signal: Barzal remains the main pace accelerator through the neutral zone.
Blue Line Signal: Missing Pulock lowers some defensive comfort, but Pelech still anchors the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Sorokin provides the strongest crease layer in this matchup if he starts.
X-Factor Signal: New York should target Carolina’s reduced finishing threat and force the game into controlled structure.

Carolina Hurricanes – Projected lineup

Forwards
Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Bradly Nadeau
William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Nicolas Deslauriers
Eric Robinson – Skyler Brind’Amour – Jordan Martinook

Defense
K’Andre Miller – Jalen Chatfield
Alexander Nikishin – Sean Walker
Mike Reilly – Charles Alexis Legault

Goalies
Frederik Andersen
Brandon Bussi

Scratched: Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Jaccob Slavin, Shayne Gostisbehere, Felix Unger Sorum, Pyotr Kochetkov
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
This is a heavily rotated Hurricanes version with much of the elite core sitting out. Carolina still keeps its system identity, but the offensive ceiling and matchup pressure are clearly reduced compared with its standard playoff-level setup.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Carolina still pressures in layers, though with less finishing danger at the end of possessions.
Transition Signal: Hall and Ehlers carry most of the clean-entry creation.
Blue Line Signal: Chatfield and Walker help preserve structure, but the unit lacks the usual star support.
Goalie Stability Signal: Andersen keeps Carolina organized from the crease outward.
X-Factor Signal: The Hurricanes need system discipline and low-event control rather than a skill-heavy game.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Islanders edge
Transition Edge: Islanders slight edge
Defensive Stability: Even
Goaltending Edge: Islanders slight edge
Game Control Projection: New York projects to control more of the meaningful possession and should carry the cleaner game script if it avoids feeding Carolina transition turnovers.

Matchup: Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Philadelphia Flyers – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Cam York – Jamie Drysdale
Hunter McDonald – Oliver Bonk
Nick Seeler – Emil Andrae

Goalies
Samuel Ersson
Aleksei Kolosov

Scratched: Garrett Wilson, Carl Grundstrom, Alex Bump, Anthony Richard, Jacob Gaucher, Noah Juulsen, David Jiricek, Travis Sanheim, Rasmus Ristolainen, Dan Vladar
Injured: Rodrigo Abols (lower body), Nikita Grebenkin (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia still has enough attack talent to stay dangerous off the rush, but the blue line is much thinner than usual and the debut factor on defense adds volatility against Montreal’s structured top six.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Flyers can create disruption through work rate and pace, especially on the wings.
Transition Signal: Zegras, Tippett, and Michkov remain the main quick-strike weapons.
Blue Line Signal: Young pairings create uncertainty under sustained pressure.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ersson gives Philadelphia a credible chance, but not a clear edge.
X-Factor Signal: The Flyers need an aggressive, momentum-based game rather than a long structure battle.

Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Mike Matheson – Lane Hutson
Jayden Struble – Arber Xhekaj
Kaiden Guhle – Alexandre Carrier

Goalies
Jakub Dobes
Jacob Fowler

Scratched: Joe Veleno, Samuel Montembeault, Brendan Gallagher
Injured: Noah Dobson (upper body), Patrik Laine (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal brings the more complete offensive framework in this matchup. Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, and Demidov give the Canadiens multiple creation layers, and the back end still moves the puck well even without Dobson.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Montreal can apply steady pressure without overextending its structure.
Transition Signal: Suzuki remains the cleanest pace and decision driver in open ice.
Blue Line Signal: Matheson and Hutson give Montreal strong puck-flow control.
Goalie Stability Signal: Slight uncertainty remains in goal, but the team structure helps protect it.
X-Factor Signal: Montreal’s top-six skill should test Philadelphia’s thinner defensive group repeatedly.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Canadiens edge
Transition Edge: Canadiens edge
Defensive Stability: Canadiens slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Montreal projects as the more balanced and repeatable team, while Philadelphia needs pace, chaos, and rush finishing to tilt the matchup.

Matchup: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Washington Capitals

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Columbus Blue Jackets – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Zach Werenski – Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov – Denton Mateychuk
Jake Christiansen – Erik Gudbranson

Goalies
Jet Greaves
Elvis Merzlikins

Scratched: Egor Zamula, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Zach Aston-Reese
Injured: Damon Severson (shoulder surgery), Dmitri Voronkov (hand), Mathieu Olivier (hand)

IHM Lineup Note:
Columbus still looks deeper and more balanced through all four lines. Fantilli, Marchenko, Jenner, Monahan, and Werenski give the Blue Jackets enough speed and structure to control the game’s main phases.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Columbus can pressure with more depth and more sustained support than Washington.
Transition Signal: Fantilli and Johnson raise the pace ceiling in open ice.
Blue Line Signal: Werenski remains the core transport and matchup piece.
Goalie Stability Signal: The crease is stable enough, though not a huge separator.
X-Factor Signal: Columbus should lean into its lineup depth and force Washington below its top-end comfort zone.

Washington Capitals – Projected lineup

Forwards
Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Anthony Beauvillier
Aliaksei Protas – Ilya Protas – Tom Wilson
Connor McMichael – Justin Sourdif – Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime – Hendrix Lapierre – Ivan Miroshnichenko

Defense
Martin Fehervary – Dylan McIlrath
Jakub Chychrun – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Cole Hutson – Matt Roy

Goalies
Clay Stevenson
Logan Thompson

Scratched: Ethen Frank, David Kampf, Declan Chisholm, Timothy Liljegren
Injured: Pierre-Luc Dubois (upper body), Rasmus Sandin (lower body), Charlie Lindgren (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Washington still has meaningful top-end presence because Ovechkin, Wilson, and Chychrun can change games, but the overall depth profile is less comfortable than Columbus over a full sixty minutes.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Washington can bring heavy, direct pressure, especially through Wilson-driven shifts.
Transition Signal: The Capitals are more dangerous when they get straight-line entries rather than extended flow.
Blue Line Signal: Chychrun carries the main puck-moving burden from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Thompson would be the stronger stabilizer if he starts.
X-Factor Signal: Ovechkin’s finishing and power-play gravity remain the single biggest weapons.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Blue Jackets slight edge
Transition Edge: Blue Jackets edge
Defensive Stability: Blue Jackets slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Even
Game Control Projection: Columbus projects to control more of the five-on-five flow through depth and balance, while Washington needs its stars to swing key moments decisively.

Matchup: Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Boston Bruins – Projected lineup

Forwards
Morgan Geekie – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt – Pavel Zacha – Viktor Arvidsson
James Hagens – Fraser Minten – Marat Khusnutdinov
Tanner Jeannot – Sean Kuraly – Mark Kastelic

Defense
Jonathan Aspirot – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Mason Lohrei
Nikita Zadorov – Andrew Peeke

Goalies
Jeremy Swayman
Joonas Korpisalo

Scratched: Alex Steeves, Jordan Harris, Henri Jokiharju, Lukas Reichel, Michael Eyssimont
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
Boston looks more stable on the back end and still carries a true game-breaker in Pastrnak. With McAvoy, Lindholm, and Swayman in place, the Bruins have the cleaner overall structure in this matchup.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Bruins can pressure through heavy support and reliable line spacing.
Transition Signal: Pastrnak remains the most explosive attacking lever in the game.
Blue Line Signal: McAvoy and Lindholm give Boston the stronger defensive foundation.
Goalie Stability Signal: Swayman is the clearest crease edge in this matchup.
X-Factor Signal: Boston should test New Jersey’s goalie situation early and often.

New Jersey Devils – Projected lineup

Forwards
Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer
Jesper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown
Evgenii Dadonov – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad
Paul Cotter – Marc McLaughlin – Maxim Tsyplakov

Defense
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec
Topias Vilen – Johnathan Kovacevic

Goalies
Nico Daws
Jake Allen

Scratched: Dennis Cholowski
Injured: Luke Hughes (upper body), Arseny Gritsyuk (upper body), Stefan Noesen (knee), Zack MacEwen (upper body), Brett Pesce (lower body), Jacob Markstrom (undisclosed)

IHM Lineup Note:
New Jersey still has enough top-six talent to make this dangerous, especially through Jack Hughes and Bratt, but the missing pieces in goal and on defense lower the overall stability level against a structured Boston team.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Devils can create pressure through speed, but not always with full defensive insurance behind it.
Transition Signal: Jack Hughes remains the main tempo breaker and rush creator.
Blue Line Signal: Hamilton carries a massive share of the puck-moving responsibility.
Goalie Stability Signal: Daws is a workable option, but the edge remains on Boston’s side.
X-Factor Signal: New Jersey must turn pace into real slot danger, not just possession volume.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Even
Transition Edge: Devils slight edge
Defensive Stability: Bruins edge
Goaltending Edge: Bruins clear edge
Game Control Projection: Boston projects to have the more reliable game script through defense and goaltending, while New Jersey’s best route is a speed-driven chance-creation game.

Matchup: Minnesota Wild vs Anaheim Ducks

Faceoff: 02:00 CET

Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup

Forwards
Yakov Trenin – Danila Yurov – Vladimir Tarasenko
Marcus Johansson – Hunter Haight – Bobby Brink
Nico Sturm – Michael McCarron – Nick Foligno
Robby Fabbri – Ben Jones – Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Defense
Viking Gustafsson-Nyberg – Jared Spurgeon
Jake Middleton – Brock Faber
Daemon Hunt – Matt Kiersted

Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson

Scratched: Jonas Brodin, Mats Zuccarello, Joel Eriksson Ek, Zach Bogosian, Jeff Petry, Matt Boldy, Marcus Foligno, Ryan Hartman, Quinn Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota is clearly in a rest-heavy mode again, and that strips a lot of the usual top-end control from the lineup. The Wild still have enough defensive intelligence to compete, but the scoring ceiling is much lower than normal.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Wild pressure is more workmanlike than dangerous in this version of the lineup.
Transition Signal: Tarasenko and Yurov have to do more of the offensive lifting than usual.
Blue Line Signal: Faber and Spurgeon remain the main stabilizers.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wallstedt or Gustavsson gives Minnesota a credible crease base.
X-Factor Signal: Minnesota needs a low-event, disciplined game to compensate for missing stars.

Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Jackson LaCombe – Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov – John Carlson
Tyson Hinds – Radko Gudas

Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso

Scratched: Olen Zellweger, Frank Vatrano, Drew Helleson
Injured: Jansen Harkins (hand surgery), Ross Johnston (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim brings the stronger natural lineup in this matchup, especially because Minnesota is resting so many regulars. Carlsson, Terry, McTavish, Gauthier, and Dostal give the Ducks more game-breaking elements over sixty minutes.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Ducks can create more pressure and more dangerous recoveries than this version of Minnesota.
Transition Signal: Carlsson and Terry give Anaheim a better rush ceiling.
Blue Line Signal: LaCombe, Mintyukov, Trouba, and Carlson provide a stronger puck-moving base.
Goalie Stability Signal: Dostal is a meaningful edge if he starts.
X-Factor Signal: Anaheim should push pace early before Minnesota settles into a low-event script.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Ducks edge
Transition Edge: Ducks edge
Defensive Stability: Ducks slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection: Anaheim projects to control more of the game’s dangerous sequences, while Minnesota needs structure and goaltending to keep the contest within reach.

Matchup: Utah Mammoth vs Winnipeg Jets

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 – Dmitri Simashev
Ian Cole – Sean Durzi

Goalies
Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vanecek

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

IHM Lineup Note:
Utah still has a strong balance of pace, edge, and defensive structure. Keller, Cooley, Guenther, Sergachev, and Weegar give the Mammoth the better overall shape against a Winnipeg lineup missing several support pieces.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Utah can apply hard pressure without sacrificing shape.
Transition Signal: Cooley and Keller remain the main entry and attack connectors.
Blue Line Signal: Sergachev and Weegar create a reliable two-way platform.
Goalie Stability Signal: Vejmelka keeps Utah steady in game-state management.
X-Factor Signal: Utah should test Winnipeg’s thinner depth by pushing pace through multiple lines.

Winnipeg Jets – Projected lineup

Forwards
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabriel Vilardi
Cole Perfetti – Adam Lowry – Brad Lambert
Cole Koepke – Jonathan Toews – Isak Rosen
Nino Niederreiter – Brayden Yager – Nikita Chibrikov

Defense
Josh Morrissey – Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg – Colin Miller
Haydn Fleury – Jacob Bryson

Goalies
Eric Comrie
Connor Hellebuyck

Scratched: Ville Heinola
Injured: Morgan Barron (lower body), Alex Iafallo (undisclosed), Neal Pionk (undisclosed), Vladislav Namestnikov (undisclosed), Gustav Nyquist (undisclosed), Elias Salomonsson (concussion)

IHM Lineup Note:
Winnipeg still has important top-end pieces, but the lineup looks less complete than usual and that lowers the margin for error. Connor, Scheifele, Morrissey, and Hellebuyck still keep the Jets dangerous in any game script.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Jets can still pressure smartly, though with slightly less depth support than normal.
Transition Signal: Connor and Scheifele remain the main rush-finishing duo.
Blue Line Signal: Morrissey still controls the game’s direction from the back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Hellebuyck is the strongest single stabilizer in the matchup if he starts.
X-Factor Signal: Winnipeg needs its stars to own the middle of the ice and keep Utah from rolling four-line pressure.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Mammoth slight edge
Transition Edge: Even
Defensive Stability: Mammoth slight edge
Goaltending Edge: Jets edge
Game Control Projection: Utah projects to have the cleaner five-on-five structure overall, while Winnipeg’s best route is star-driven efficiency backed by Hellebuyck.

Matchup: Calgary Flames vs Colorado Avalanche

Faceoff: 03:00 CET

Calgary Flames – Projected lineup

Forwards
Blake Coleman – Mikael Backlund – Joel Farabee
Matvei Gridin – Morgan Frost – Victor Olofsson
Connor Zary – Rory Kerins – Adam Klapka
Yegor Sharangovich – Tyson Gross – Aydar Suniev

Defense
Zayne Parekh – Zach Whitecloud
Olli Maatta – Hunter Brzustewicz
Abram Wiebe – Brayden Pachal

Goalies
Dustin Wolf
Devin Cooley

Scratched: Ryan Lomberg, John Beecher, Martin Pospisil, Ryan Strome
Injured: Jake Bean (undisclosed), Samuel Honzek (upper body), Jonathan Huberdeau (hip surgery), Joel Hanley (upper body), Kevin Bahl (lower body), Yan Kuznetsov (upper body), Matt Coronato (undisclosed)

IHM Lineup Note:
Calgary has some interesting youth and enough effort to stay competitive, but this is still a thinner lineup than Colorado’s in terms of top-end finishing, transition pressure, and overall control.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Flames need straight-line, physical pressure rather than an open-ice skill battle.
Transition Signal: Calgary does not want to trade rushes with Colorado for long stretches.
Blue Line Signal: The defensive group can compete, but it faces a major speed test.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wolf can keep Calgary alive if the shot quality stays manageable.
X-Factor Signal: Calgary has to compress space and force Colorado into a lower-event night.

Colorado Avalanche – Projected lineup

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

Defense
Devon Toews – Sam Malinski
Brett Kulak – Brent Burns
Nick Blankenburg – Jack Ahcan

Goalies
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

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

IHM Lineup Note:
Even without Makar, Colorado still carries far more high-end power in this matchup. MacKinnon, Landeskog, Nichushkin, Necas, and Toews give the Avalanche multiple ways to take over the game.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Colorado can overwhelm retrievals through pace and second-man support.
Transition Signal: MacKinnon remains the biggest neutral-zone force in the matchup.
Blue Line Signal: Missing Makar lowers the ceiling, but Toews still anchors the structure well.
Goalie Stability Signal: Colorado’s crease profile remains solid enough to support an aggressive game plan.
X-Factor Signal: If Colorado gets inside the dots consistently, Calgary will struggle to absorb the pressure.

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 control the most dangerous parts of the game through speed and top-end talent, while Calgary needs a very compact, goalie-driven performance to stay close.

Matchup: St. Louis Blues vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Faceoff: 03:30 CET

St. Louis Blues – Projected lineup

Forwards
Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud
Pavel Buchnevich – Pius Suter – Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours – Dalibor Dvorsky – Jonathan Drouin
Alexey Toropchenko – Jack Finley – Oskar Sundqvist

Defense
Philip Broberg – Logan Mailloux
Cam Fowler – Colton Parayko
Tyler Tucker – Justin Holl

Goalies
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer

Scratched: Jonatan Berggren, Matthew Kessel, Nathan Walker
Injured: None

IHM Lineup Note:
St. Louis brings a far more normal NHL structure into this game. Thomas, Buchnevich, Kyrou, Parayko, and Binnington give the Blues the clear edge in lineup continuity and game management.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Blues can pressure with more quality and more offensive support than Pittsburgh’s rested group.
Transition Signal: Thomas remains the cleanest puck-distribution engine on the ice.
Blue Line Signal: Parayko and Fowler give St. Louis a stable and experienced backbone.
Goalie Stability Signal: Binnington is a strong advantage in game-state control.
X-Factor Signal: St. Louis should dictate pace simply by rolling its more intact lineup.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Projected lineup

Forwards
Elmer Soderblom – Ben Kindel – Anthony Mantha
Ville Koivunen – Tommy Novak – Justin Brazeau
Rutger McGroarty – Kevin Hayes – Avery Hayes
Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Joona Koppanen – Noel Acciari

Defense
Ryan Shea – Connor Clifton
Ryan Graves – Ilya Solovyov
Jake Livanavage – Jack St. Ivany

Goalies
Stuart Skinner
Arturs Silovs

Scratched: Evgeni Malkin, Egor Chinakhov, Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Parker Wotherspoon, Erik Karlsson, Samuel Girard, Kris Letang
Injured: Connor Dewar (lower body), Filip Hallander (blood clot), Blake Lizotte (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Pittsburgh is clearly in rest mode with many core names out, and that completely changes the matchup. The Penguins can still compete through effort, but the lineup lacks the skill and structure it normally uses to control games.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Forecheck Signal: Pittsburgh can bring work rate, but not the same offensive threat or support detail.
Transition Signal: The lineup has fewer clean possession drivers than usual.
Blue Line Signal: Defensive depth is stretched and relies on simpler play.
Goalie Stability Signal: Skinner is capable, but the team context around him is much weaker here.
X-Factor Signal: Pittsburgh needs energy, opportunism, and special-teams swings to stay even.

IHM Match Pressure Index:
Offensive Pressure: Blues edge
Transition Edge: Blues edge
Defensive Stability: Blues edge
Goaltending Edge: Blues slight edge
Game Control Projection: St. Louis projects to control the game through lineup quality, structure, and continuity, while Pittsburgh’s best chance is a messy, opportunistic script that breaks the expected flow.

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, morning skates, and coaching decisions before official confirmation.

How accurate are projected lineups?
They are usually close to final, but game-time decisions, maintenance situations, and late scratches can still change the lineup.

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

Why are starting goalies so important?
Goalies directly shape rebound control, save margin, confidence, and the 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 decisions, or late adjustments based on the opponent.

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

How should readers interpret projected lineups?
Focus on 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 safety, or more matchup control.

Why does IHM add tactical notes to projected lineups?
Because names alone do not explain how a lineup may actually function together inside the game.

When are final lineups 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.