NHL Projected Lineups - Game Day April 4, 2026
Date: April 3, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Update: Additional matchups will be added as projected lineups are updated throughout the day.
New York Islanders vs Philadelphia Flyers
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Islanders - Projected lineup
Forwards
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Emil Heineman
Calum Ritchie - Brayden Schenn - Mathew Barzal
Ondrej Palat - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Simon Holmstrom
Kyle MacLean - Casey Cizikas - Marc Gatcomb
Defense
Matthew Schaefer - Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech - Carson Soucy
Scott Mayfield - Adam Boqvist
Goalies
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich
Scratched
Anthony Duclair
Adam Boqvist
Isaiah George
Injured
Tony DeAngelo (lower body)
Kyle Palmieri (ACL)
Alexander Romanov (upper body)
Semyon Varlamov (knee)
IHM Lineup Note:
The Islanders still look like a structure-first team built around Sorokin, Horvat and Barzal. Their path here is to slow the middle, manage the puck cleanly and let the top six attack off controlled possession rather than chaos.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Islanders prefer a more controlled tempo.
Forecheck Signal: Moderate pressure with strong support underneath.
Blue Line Signal: Pulock and Pelech still provide the cleaner defensive base.
Goalie Stability Signal: Islanders.
X-Factor Signal: Holmstrom’s availability matters because it affects third-line balance and transition detail.
Flyers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Tyson Foerster - Trevor Zegras - Owen Tippett
Travis Konecny - Christian Dvorak - Porter Martone
Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Matvei Michkov
Sean Couturier - Luke Glendening - Carl Grundstrom
Defense
Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Emil Andrae
Goalies
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson
Scratched
Garrett Wilson
Alex Bump
Garnet Hathaway
Injured
Rodrigo Abols (lower body)
Nikita Grebenkin (upper body)
Noah Juulsen (undisclosed)
IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia brings more pace and skill variety than the Islanders, especially through Zegras, Tippett, Konecny and Michkov. The Flyers are more dangerous when they can force rush situations and avoid long, low-event defensive sequences.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Flyers.
Forecheck Signal: More aggressive than New York’s when they get legs underneath the puck.
Blue Line Signal: More mobile than stable.
Goalie Stability Signal: Islanders.
X-Factor Signal: Martone’s continued integration gives Philadelphia extra offensive unpredictability.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Flyers
Transition Edge
Flyers
Defensive Stability
Islanders
Goaltending Edge
Islanders
Game Control Projection
Philadelphia has the better route to a faster, more open game, but the Islanders still own the safer defensive structure and the clearer path if this turns into a tighter territorial battle.
Anaheim Ducks vs St. Louis Blues
Faceoff: 04:00 CET
Ducks - Projected lineup
Forwards
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
Alex Killorn - Tim Washe - Mikael Granlund
Jeffrey Viel - Ryan Poehling - Beckett Sennecke
Mason McTavish - Nathan Gaucher - Frank Vatrano
Defense
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Ian Moore - John Carlson
Olen Zellweger - Drew Helleson
Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso
Scratched
None
Injured
Jansen Harkins (hand surgery)
Ross Johnston (lower body)
Pavel Mintyukov (lower body)
Radko Gudas (lower body)
Cutter Gauthier (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim still has enough offensive spread to threaten through Carlsson, Terry, Granlund, McTavish and Vatrano, but the missing blue-line pieces reduce their defensive bite and physical edge. Dostal remains a key stabilizer in this matchup.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Ducks can play faster than St. Louis if the game opens up.
Forecheck Signal: Stronger through the forward group than the current injured defense group.
Blue Line Signal: Reduced without Mintyukov and Gudas.
Goalie Stability Signal: Ducks slight edge with Dostal.
X-Factor Signal: Terry’s maintenance note matters because Anaheim loses finishing quality if he is not fully sharp.
Blues - Projected lineup
Forwards
Dylan Holloway - Robert Thomas - Jimmy Snuggerud
Jake Neighbours - Pavel Buchnevich - Jordan Kyrou
Otto Stenberg - Dalibor Dvorsky - Jonatan Berggren
Alexey Toropchenko - Jack Finley - Pius Suter
Defense
Philip Broberg - Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein - Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler - Justin Holl
Goalies
Joel Hofer
Jordan Binnington
Scratched
Nathan Walker
Matthew Kessel
Oskar Sundqvist
Jonathan Drouin
Injured
Tyler Tucker (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
St. Louis brings the more settled overall structure, especially with Thomas back driving the middle and Parayko anchoring the defensive shape. The Blues should feel comfortable if they can stop Anaheim from creating repeated rush exchanges.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Blues prefer a more measured game than Anaheim.
Forecheck Signal: Blues can pressure effectively through heavier support routes.
Blue Line Signal: Blues.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Thomas is the key connector because he gives St. Louis cleaner exits and better offensive rhythm.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Even
Transition Edge
Ducks
Defensive Stability
Blues
Goaltending Edge
Ducks slight edge
Game Control Projection
Anaheim has the better route to a speed-driven game, but St. Louis still looks like the more structurally reliable team if they can slow entries and keep Thomas dictating the center lane.
New York Rangers vs Detroit Red Wings
Faceoff: 18:30 CET
Rangers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Gabe Perreault - Mika Zibanejad - Alexis Lafreniere
Tye Kartye - J.T. Miller - Conor Sheary
Jonny Brodzinski - Vincent Trocheck - Will Cuylle
Adam Sykora - Noah Laba - Jaroslav Chmelar
Defense
Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
Drew Fortescue - Braden Schneider
Matthew Robertson - Will Borgen
Goalies
Jonathan Quick
Igor Shesterkin
Scratched
Vincent Iorio
Adam Edstrom
Taylor Raddysh
Dylan Garand
Injured
Matt Rempe (upper body)
Urho Vaakanainen (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
New York still has a strong structural spine with Fox, Gavrikov, Zibanejad, Miller, Trocheck and Quick returning to the crease mix. The Rangers are more dangerous when they stay organized and let their better defensive habits support the skill forwards.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Rangers prefer a controlled pace over a track meet.
Forecheck Signal: Measured but effective through support pressure.
Blue Line Signal: Rangers.
Goalie Stability Signal: Rangers.
X-Factor Signal: Quick’s return matters because it restores depth and calm in goal management.
Red Wings - Projected lineup
Forwards
Emmitt Finnie - Dylan Larkin - Carter Mazur
Alex DeBrincat - Andrew Copp - Patrick Kane
David Perron - J.T. Compher - Lucas Raymond
James van Riemsdyk - Marco Kasper - Mason Appleton
Defense
Simon Edvinsson - Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot - Justin Faulk
Albert Johansson - Jacob Bernard-Docker
Goalies
John Gibson
Cam Talbot
Scratched
Travis Hamonic
Dominik Shine
Injured
Michael Rasmussen (undisclosed)
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (undisclosed)
IHM Lineup Note:
Detroit keeps enough scoring depth to challenge New York, especially with Larkin, Kane, DeBrincat and Raymond all in the lineup. The main question is whether the Wings can stay as clean structurally as the Rangers over a full game.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Red Wings can play faster than New York if they get room in transition.
Forecheck Signal: Competitive but less disciplined than the Rangers.
Blue Line Signal: Seider gives Detroit real stability, but New York’s overall pair control is stronger.
Goalie Stability Signal: Slight edge Rangers.
X-Factor Signal: Faulk’s status matters because Detroit’s second pair loses reliability if he is limited or out.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Red Wings slight edge
Transition Edge
Red Wings
Defensive Stability
Rangers
Goaltending Edge
Rangers
Game Control Projection
Detroit has the better route to an open-ice game through Larkin, Kane and Raymond, but New York still looks better built for a tighter matchup where structure and goaltending become decisive.
Ottawa Senators vs Minnesota Wild
Faceoff: 19:00 CET
Senators - Projected lineup
Forwards
Fabian Zetterlund - Tim Stutzle - Drake Batherson
Brady Tkachuk - Dylan Cozens - Ridly Greig
Claude Giroux - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
Warren Foegele - Lars Eller - Nick Cousins
Defense
Jorian Donovan - Artem Zub
Nikolas Matinpalo - Jordan Spence
Lassi Thomson - Cameron Crotty
Goalies
Linus Ullmark
James Reimer
Scratched
Stephen Halliday
Kurtis MacDermid
Injured
Jake Sanderson (upper body)
Nick Jensen (lower body)
Dennis Gilbert (upper body)
Thomas Chabot (upper body)
Carter Yakemchuk (upper body)
Tyler Kleven (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Ottawa is dealing with serious blue-line attrition, which changes the entire structural outlook of the matchup. Ullmark gives them a chance, but the missing defense depth puts a lot of pressure on Stutzle, Tkachuk and Batherson to generate enough offense.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Senators need pace and attack to offset the defensive losses.
Forecheck Signal: Ottawa should pressure hard through the top six.
Blue Line Signal: Wild clear edge.
Goalie Stability Signal: Senators with Ullmark.
X-Factor Signal: Sanderson’s status remains huge because Ottawa’s entire back-end shape changes if he returns.
Wild - Projected lineup
Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov - Ryan Hartman - Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy
Vladimir Tarasenko - Danila Yurov - Bobby Brink
Yakov Trenin - Michael McCarron - Marcus Foligno
Defense
Quinn Hughes - Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin - Jared Spurgeon
Jake Middleton - Zach Bogosian
Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson
Scratched
Nick Foligno
Daemon Hunt
Hunter Haight
Robby Fabbri
Nico Sturm
Jeff Petry
Injured
None
IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota comes in with one of the cleaner overall matchup profiles on the day. Kaprizov, Boldy, Eriksson Ek, Hughes and Faber give the Wild a strong mix of top-end skill and defensive control.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Wild can play either controlled or fast depending on the flow.
Forecheck Signal: Strong layered pressure.
Blue Line Signal: Wild.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Wallstedt starting adds intrigue, but the skater support in front of him is excellent.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Wild
Transition Edge
Wild
Defensive Stability
Wild
Goaltending Edge
Senators slight edge with Ullmark
Game Control Projection
Ottawa still has enough scoring talent to produce pushback, but Minnesota owns the much cleaner defensive setup and should control more of the full-game shape unless Ullmark steals key stretches.
Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche
Faceoff: 21:00 CET
Stars - Projected lineup
Forwards
Jason Robertson - Wyatt Johnston - Mikko Rantanen
Jamie Benn - Matt Duchene - Colin Blackwell
Oskar Back - Justin Hryckowian - Mavrik Bourque
Arttu Hyry - Adam Erne
Defense
Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley - Nils Lundkvist
Lian Bichsel - Ilya Lyubushkin
Kyle Capobianco
Goalies
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith
Scratched
Cameron Hughes
Alexander Petrovic
Injured
Nathan Bastian (hand)
Michael Bunting (lower body)
Radek Faksa (lower body)
Roope Hintz (lower body)
Tyler Myers (undisclosed)
Tyler Seguin (ACL)
Sam Steel (undisclosed)
IHM Lineup Note:
Dallas still has enough top-end quality through Robertson, Johnston, Rantanen, Duchene and Heiskanen to stay dangerous against anyone. Dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen gives them extra flexibility on the back end, but also changes forward rhythm.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Stars can play fast, but they are also comfortable in structure.
Forecheck Signal: Strong layered pressure.
Blue Line Signal: Stars slight edge with Heiskanen and depth flexibility.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Johnston and Rantanen together give Dallas major finishing gravity.
Avalanche - Projected lineup
Forwards
Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly - Nazem Kadri - Joel Kiviranta
Ross Colton - Jack Drury - Logan O’Connor
Defense
Devon Toews - Sam Malinski
Brett Kulak - Josh Manson
Nick Blankenburg - Brent Burns
Goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Scratched
Zakhar Bardakov
Injured
Cale Makar (upper body)
Nicolas Roy (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Colorado still has elite offensive speed through MacKinnon, Necas, Lehkonen, Landeskog and Nichushkin, but missing Makar changes the entire defensive and transition ceiling of the group. Even so, the Avalanche remain explosive.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Avalanche.
Forecheck Signal: Colorado through speed and repeated entries.
Blue Line Signal: Stars slight edge without Makar in the lineup.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: MacKinnon is the fastest game-breaker on the ice and can change the flow almost alone.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Avalanche slight edge
Transition Edge
Avalanche
Defensive Stability
Stars
Goaltending Edge
Even
Game Control Projection
Colorado has the better route to a high-speed game, but Dallas still looks better equipped for a tighter tactical battle because of the cleaner defensive shape and Heiskanen-led stability.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Florida Panthers
Faceoff: 23:00 CET
Penguins - Projected lineup
Forwards
Egor Chinakhov - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Tommy Novak - Ben Kindel - Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha - Rikard Rakell - Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom - Connor Dewar - Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
Samuel Girard - Kris Letang
Ryan Shea - Connor Clifton
Goalies
Arturs Silovs
Stuart Skinner
Scratched
Ilya Solovyov
Ryan Graves
Avery Hayes
Injured
Kevin Hayes (upper body)
Filip Hallander (blood clot)
Blake Lizotte (upper body)
Jack St. Ivany (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Pittsburgh still has enough offensive intelligence through Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, Letang and Rakell to challenge a depleted Panthers team. The issue remains overall structure and whether the Penguins can defend cleanly enough after the first breakdown.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Medium-high if Crosby and Karlsson get the game moving.
Forecheck Signal: Penguins can pressure smartly through veteran reads.
Blue Line Signal: Offensive upside but defensive volatility.
Goalie Stability Signal: Panthers slight edge with Bobrovsky.
X-Factor Signal: Crosby remains the best all-around controller of game rhythm in this matchup.
Panthers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe - Sam Bennett - Matthew Tkachuk
Mackie Samoskevich - Eetu Luostarinen - A.J. Greer
Noah Gregor - Tomas Nosek - Jesper Boqvist
Nolan Foote - Luke Kunin - Vinnie Hinostroza
Defense
Gustav Forsling - Seth Jones
Donovan Sebrango - Mike Benning
Tobias Bjornfot - Mikulas Hovorka
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Daniil Tarasov
Scratched
Cole Reinhardt
Injured
Aaron Ekblad (hand)
Dmitry Kulikov (broken nose)
Evan Rodrigues (finger)
Sam Reinhart (foot)
Niko Mikkola (knee)
Anton Lundell (ribs)
Uvis Balinskis (fractured foot)
Brad Marchand (lower body)
Cole Schwindt (lower body)
Aleksander Barkov (knee)
Jonah Gadjovich (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Florida is operating with a severely damaged lineup, but Tkachuk, Bennett, Verhaeghe, Forsling, Jones and Bobrovsky still make the Panthers dangerous. This is now more of a survival-through-structure team than a full-strength depth machine.
IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Panthers will try to keep it controlled and heavy.
Forecheck Signal: Strong through Tkachuk, Bennett and Greer.
Blue Line Signal: Reduced but still functional through Forsling and Jones.
Goalie Stability Signal: Panthers.
X-Factor Signal: Bobrovsky can become the central matchup changer if Pittsburgh generates volume.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Penguins slight edge
Transition Edge
Penguins
Defensive Stability
Panthers slight edge
Goaltending Edge
Panthers
Game Control Projection
Pittsburgh has more route to offense through veteran skill, but Florida still owns the tougher, more grinding path if Bobrovsky anchors the game and the forecheck keeps the matchup from opening up too much.
Q&A: Projected Lineups and Starting Goalies
Q1: What is the difference between a projected lineup and the final lineup card?
A projected lineup is the best available estimate based on practices, media reports, travel notes and coach comments. The final lineup card can still change because of warmup decisions, illness updates or late scratches.
Q2: Why is lineup order important when reading hockey analysis?
Line order shows more than talent hierarchy. It reveals who is expected to drive offense, which players are trusted in matchup minutes and where coaches are concentrating scoring pressure.
Q3: What should readers check first in a lineup post?
Start with the top center, first power-play unit and confirmed goalie. Those three areas usually reveal the tactical identity of the matchup fastest.
Q4: Why can one missing defenseman change an entire game?
A single blue-line absence can change zone exits, retrieval speed, gap control, penalty killing and offensive support. The effect often spreads through the entire structure.
Q5: How should readers interpret a game-time decision?
It usually means the player is close enough to matter to the tactical setup but not safe enough to treat as fully available until warmups confirm it.
Q6: What do IHM Tactical Signals add that raw line combinations do not?
IHM Tactical Signals translate names into game logic by identifying likely pace control, forecheck identity, blue-line leverage, goalie stability and key swing points.
Q7: What does IHM Match Pressure Index do?
It condenses the matchup into a direct read on offensive burden, transition edge, defensive stability, goaltending and likely control direction.
Q8: Why does center depth matter so much?
Centers drive faceoffs, low-zone support, transition routes and matchup defense. When center depth drops, the whole team shape becomes less stable.
Q9: Why are power-play units so important in lineup analysis?
Because special teams often decide close NHL games. Power-play personnel also reveal who the coaching staff trusts most in high-leverage offensive situations.
Q10: What usually points to a lower-event game?
Reliable goaltending, veteran centers, steady top-pair defense and conservative team structure usually indicate a tighter, more territorial matchup.
Q11: Why does home ice still matter?
The home coach gets last change, which helps create favorable matchups, protect weaker combinations and control deployment in key situations.
Q12: Can projected lineups still change after this post is published?
Yes. Treat projected lineups as the latest reliable snapshot, not the final card. Always recheck closer to puck drop for confirmed changes and late updates.
