IceHockeyMan – Hockey News & Tactical Analysis

NHL Projected Lineups – Game Day April 10, 2026

Date: April 9, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

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

Matchup: New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Faceoff: 00:45 CET

New York Islanders – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich

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

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

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

Toronto Maple Leafs – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Artur Akhtyamov
Joseph Woll

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Ottawa Senators vs Florida Panthers

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Ottawa Senators – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
James Reimer
Linus Ullmark

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

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

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

Florida Panthers – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Daniil Tarasov

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

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

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

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

Matchup: New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

New Jersey Devils – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Jake Allen
Jacob Markstrom

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

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

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

Pittsburgh Penguins – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Stuart Skinner
Arturs Silovs

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Detroit Red Wings vs Philadelphia Flyers

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Detroit Red Wings – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
John Gibson
Cam Talbot

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

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

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

Philadelphia Flyers – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Buffalo Sabres – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Colten Ellis
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

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

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

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

Columbus Blue Jackets – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Jet Greaves
Elvis Merzlikins

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Montreal Canadiens – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Jakub Dobes
Jacob Fowler

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

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

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

Tampa Bay Lightning – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson

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

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

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

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

Matchup: St. Louis Blues vs Winnipeg Jets

Faceoff: 02:00 CET

St. Louis Blues – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer

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

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

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

Winnipeg Jets – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Chicago Blackhawks vs Carolina Hurricanes

Faceoff: 02:30 CET

Chicago Blackhawks – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Spencer Knight
Arvid Soderblom

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

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

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

Carolina Hurricanes – Projected lineup

Forwards
Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook
William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

Defense
Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin

Goalies
Frederik Andersen
Brandon Bussi

Scratched: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nicolas Deslauriers, Mike Reilly, Skyler Brind’Amour, Bradley Nadeau, Josiah Slavin, Charles Alexis Legault
Injured: Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body)

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

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

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

Matchup: Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild

Faceoff: 03:00 CET

Dallas Stars – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

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

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

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

Minnesota Wild – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Filip Gustavsson
Jesper Wallstedt

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Utah Mammoth vs Nashville Predators

Faceoff: 03:00 CET

Utah Mammoth – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vanecek

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

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

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

Nashville Predators – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Juuse Saros
Justus Annunen

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Colorado Avalanche vs Calgary Flames

Faceoff: 03:00 CET

Colorado Avalanche – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

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

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

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

Calgary Flames – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Dustin Wolf
Devin Cooley

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs San Jose Sharks

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Anaheim Ducks – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso

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

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

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

San Jose Sharks – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Yaroslav Askarov
Alex Nedeljkovic

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Seattle Kraken vs Vegas Golden Knights

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Seattle Kraken – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Joey Daccord
Nikke Kokko

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

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

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

Vegas Golden Knights – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Adin Hill
Carter Hart

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

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

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

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

Matchup: Los Angeles Kings vs Vancouver Canucks

Faceoff: 04:30 CET

Los Angeles Kings – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Anton Forsberg
Darcy Kuemper

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

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

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

Vancouver Canucks – Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Nikita Tolopilo
Jiri Patera

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

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

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

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

Q&A: Projected Lineups and Starting Goalies

What are NHL projected lineups?
Projected lineups are expected forward lines, defense pairs, and goalies based on team reports, skates, and coaching decisions before official warmup confirmation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NHL Projected Lineups - Game Day April 8, 2026

Date: April 7, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

Update: Additional matchups will be added as projected lineups are updated throughout the day.

Carolina Hurricanes vs Boston Bruins

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

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 - Nicolas Deslauriers

Defense
Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller - Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere - Alexander Nikishin

Goalies
Brandon Bussi
Frederik Andersen

Scratched
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Eric Robinson
Mike Reilly

Injured
Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Carolina still looks like the more complete pressure team here, with Aho, Jarvis, Svechnikov and Gostisbehere driving the puck north and the Slavin pair stabilizing the defensive shape. Deslauriers staying in adds a slightly heavier bottom-six look.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Hurricanes.
Forecheck Signal: Hurricanes through repeat pressure and reload discipline.
Blue Line Signal: Hurricanes slight edge on mobility and support.
Goalie Stability Signal: Bruins slight edge if Swayman stays sharp, but Carolina structure helps Bussi.
X-Factor Signal: Aho line tempo against Boston’s top checking layers is the key opening battle.

Bruins - Projected lineup

Forwards
Marat Khusnutdinov - Fraser Minten - David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt - Pavel Zacha - Viktor Arvidsson
Lukas Reichel - Elias Lindholm - Morgan Geekie
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
Michael Eyssimont
Henri Jokiharju

Injured
None

IHM Lineup Note:
Boston comes in healthier and more settled than it was earlier, and the McAvoy-Pastrnak core still gives the Bruins enough top-end control to keep this close if they survive Carolina’s pace pressure.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Bruins prefer a more controlled game than Carolina.
Forecheck Signal: Bruins can pressure physically but less continuously.
Blue Line Signal: Even, with McAvoy balancing Carolina’s mobile back end.
Goalie Stability Signal: Bruins.
X-Factor Signal: Pastrnak’s ability to finish off limited space is the biggest single offensive threat on either side outside Aho’s line rhythm.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Hurricanes

Transition Edge
Hurricanes

Defensive Stability
Even

Goaltending Edge
Bruins

Game Control Projection
Boston has enough structure and goaltending to hang in, but Carolina still owns the cleaner all-zone pressure model and should control more of the territorial flow if their forecheck gets established early.

Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Red Wings - Projected lineup

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

Defense
Simon Edvinsson - Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot - Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Albert Johansson - Jacob Bernard-Docker

Goalies
John Gibson
Cam Talbot

Scratched
Travis Hamonic
Dominik Shine

Injured
Justin Faulk (lower body)
Mason Appleton (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Detroit still has enough scoring touch through Larkin, Kane, DeBrincat and Raymond to push the pace, but the blue line remains thinner if Faulk cannot go. Seider is the main stabilizer against Columbus’ skill depth.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Red Wings can play with tempo, especially through Larkin and Raymond.
Forecheck Signal: Active but less layered than Columbus when lines are intact.
Blue Line Signal: Blue Jackets slight edge if Faulk is absent.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Rasmussen returning to the lineup improves the lower-half center structure and physical detail.

Blue Jackets - Projected lineup

Forwards
Cole Sillinger - Adam Fantilli - Kent Johnson
Kirill Marchenko - Charlie Coyle - Conor Garland
Mason Marchment - Boone Jenner - Danton Heinen
Luca Del Bel Belluz - Sean Monahan - Isac Lundestrom

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

Goalies
Jet Greaves
Elvis Merzlikins

Scratched
Egor Zamula
Zach Aston-Reese
Miles Wood

Injured
Damon Severson (shoulder surgery)
Dmitri Voronkov (hand)
Mathieu Olivier (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Columbus reshaped the lineup significantly, and the skill ceiling is still real because Fantilli, Werenski, Marchenko, Monahan and Garland give them multiple attack routes. The question is whether the exact combinations hold or shift again at game time.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Blue Jackets.
Forecheck Signal: More dangerous than Detroit’s if the top nine clicks.
Blue Line Signal: Blue Jackets through Werenski and Mateychuk’s mobility.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Fantilli’s speed through the neutral zone is the cleanest transition weapon in the matchup.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Blue Jackets slight edge

Transition Edge
Blue Jackets

Defensive Stability
Even

Goaltending Edge
Even

Game Control Projection
Detroit has enough veteran offense to make this close, but Columbus carries the more dynamic transition profile if the reworked lines settle quickly and Werenski controls the puck from the back end.

Montreal Canadiens vs Florida Panthers

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Canadiens - Projected lineup

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

Defense
Mike Matheson - Noah Dobson
Jayden Struble - Lane Hutson
Kaiden Guhle - Arber Xhekaj

Goalies
Jakub Dobes
Jacob Fowler

Scratched
Brendan Gallagher
Samuel Montembeault
Adam Engstrom

Injured
Joe Veleno (undisclosed)
Alexander Carrier (upper body)
Patrik Laine (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal gets a big boost if Dach and Texier both return, because that gives the Canadiens much better center-wing support deeper in the lineup. The top six already had enough skill; now the lower half looks more functional too.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Canadiens can play fast enough to stress Florida’s thinner structure.
Forecheck Signal: Active, skill-driven and more effective with a deeper lineup.
Blue Line Signal: Canadiens slight edge on puck-moving depth tonight.
Goalie Stability Signal: Panthers slight edge if Bobrovsky starts, otherwise even.
X-Factor Signal: Demidov and Dach add a different level of playmaking and size variation to Montreal’s attack map.

Panthers - Projected lineup

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

Defense
Gustav Forsling - Seth Jones
Donovan Sebrango - Mike Benning
Tobias Bjornfot - Mikulas Hovorka

Goalies
Daniil Tarasov
Sergei Bobrovsky

Scratched
Nolan Foote
Matthew Tkachuk

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)
Aleksander Barkov (knee)
Jonah Gadjovich (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Florida is now surviving on structure, goaltending and a limited offensive core rather than full lineup depth. With Tkachuk away and the injury list still massive, the Panthers need Bennett, Verhaeghe, Forsling and Jones to carry a heavy burden.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Panthers want a controlled, lower-event game.
Forecheck Signal: Florida still has enough hard-area pressure to make the game uncomfortable.
Blue Line Signal: Canadiens edge on overall depth tonight.
Goalie Stability Signal: Panthers slight edge if Bobrovsky plays.
X-Factor Signal: Bennett remains the one forward who can still tilt the game physically and offensively for Florida.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Canadiens

Transition Edge
Canadiens

Defensive Stability
Even

Goaltending Edge
Panthers slight edge

Game Control Projection
Florida can still drag this into a heavier structure game, but Montreal now looks deeper, faster and more flexible offensively, which gives the Canadiens the better route to controlling the matchup.

New Jersey Devils vs Philadelphia Flyers

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Devils - Projected lineup

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

Defense
Jonas Siegenthaler - Dougie Hamilton
Luke Hughes - Johnathan Kovacevic
Brenden Dillon - Simon Nemec

Goalies
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen

Scratched
Dennis Cholowski
Evgenii Dadonov
Maksim Tsyplakov

Injured
Arseny Gritsyuk (upper body)
Stefan Noesen (knee)
Zack MacEwen (ACL)
Brett Pesce (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
New Jersey stays with the same winning lineup and still carries the better pure top-six firepower. Hughes, Bratt, Meier and Hamilton remain the key to stretching the Flyers and forcing the pace into a Devils-style game.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Devils.
Forecheck Signal: Devils through quick pressure and speed support.
Blue Line Signal: Devils slight edge in offensive influence.
Goalie Stability Signal: Slight edge Devils with Markstrom likely in a stronger position than Philadelphia’s tandem.
X-Factor Signal: Jack Hughes is still the cleanest pace-breaker on the ice.

Flyers - Projected lineup

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

Defense
Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen

Goalies
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson

Scratched
Garrett Wilson
Carl Grundstrom
Emil Andrae
Garnet Hathaway

Injured
Rodrigo Abols (lower body)
Nikita Grebenkin (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia still has enough pace and creativity through Zegras, Konecny, Tippett, Michkov and Martone to threaten New Jersey’s depth defense, but the Flyers need to keep the game fast and not get trapped in a structured half-ice battle.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Flyers want pace too, but they are less stable inside it than New Jersey.
Forecheck Signal: Active and disruptive, especially from the top nine.
Blue Line Signal: Even to slight Devils edge.
Goalie Stability Signal: Devils.
X-Factor Signal: Michkov and Martone together give Philadelphia live game-breaking skill if the game gets loose.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Devils slight edge

Transition Edge
Even

Defensive Stability
Devils

Goaltending Edge
Devils

Game Control Projection
Philadelphia can make this volatile through speed and skill, but New Jersey still owns the more complete top-end attack and the steadier path if the game settles into structure after the opening rush phase.

Ottawa Senators vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Senators - Projected lineup

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

Defense
Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Nikolas Matinpalo - Jordan Spence
Lassi Thomson - Cameron Crotty

Goalies
Linus Ullmark
James Reimer

Scratched
Stephen Halliday
Kurtis MacDermid

Injured
Nick Jensen (lower body)
Dennis Gilbert (upper body)
Thomas Chabot (upper body)
Carter Yakemchuk (upper body)
Tyler Kleven (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Ottawa gets an important structural lift with Sanderson back on the first pair. Ullmark, Sanderson, Stutzle and Tkachuk give the Senators a much more believable all-zone profile than they had a few days ago.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Senators can match Tampa’s pace better with this setup.
Forecheck Signal: Senators through Tkachuk, Greig and the middle-six grind.
Blue Line Signal: Slightly reduced by the remaining injuries, but Sanderson changes the equation.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Sanderson’s return is the single biggest tactical shift in the matchup.

Lightning - Projected lineup

Forwards
Gage Goncalves - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Jake Guentzel - Nick Paul - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Zemgus Girgensons - Yanni Gourde - Conor Geekie
Jakob Pelletier - Scott Sabourin - Corey Perry

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

Goalies
Jonas Johansson
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Scratched
Steve Santini
Victor Hedman
Dylan Duke

Injured
Declan Carlile (lower body)
Max Crozier (core muscle)
Dominic James (lower body)
Brandon Hagel (lower body)
Pontus Holmberg (upper body)
Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed)

IHM Lineup Note:
Tampa is significantly more wounded than usual and Johansson starting instead of Vasilevskiy lowers the safety margin. Even so, Point, Kucherov, Guentzel, McDonagh and Cernak still give the Lightning enough structure and elite finishing potential.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Lightning still prefer speed and offensive skill flow.
Forecheck Signal: More dangerous from the top six than the bottom half tonight.
Blue Line Signal: Senators slight edge if Sanderson is fully effective and Hedman remains out.
Goalie Stability Signal: Senators slight edge with Ullmark over Johansson.
X-Factor Signal: Kucherov remains the one player most capable of overriding matchup logic by himself.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Lightning slight edge

Transition Edge
Lightning

Defensive Stability
Senators slight edge

Goaltending Edge
Senators

Game Control Projection
Tampa still has the higher-end offensive talent, but Ottawa now looks better positioned to turn this into a more balanced matchup thanks to Sanderson’s return and Ullmark’s stability behind the defense.

St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche

Faceoff: 02:00 CET

Blues - Projected lineup

Forwards
Dylan Holloway - Robert Thomas - Jimmy Snuggerud
Jonathan Drouin - Dalibor Dvorsky - Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours - Pius Suter - Jonatan Berggren
Alexey Toropchenko - Jack Finley - Pavel Buchnevich

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

Goalies
Joel Hofer
Jordan Binnington

Scratched
Justin Holl
Nathan Walker
Matthew Kessel
Oskar Sundqvist
Otto Stenberg

Injured
None

IHM Lineup Note:
St. Louis brings back the same lineup after beating Colorado and now gets a second look at the same opponent. Thomas, Kyrou and Buchnevich remain the key drivers if the Blues want to repeat that result.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Blues still want this more controlled than Colorado does.
Forecheck Signal: Blues through layered wall pressure and support routes.
Blue Line Signal: Even.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Thomas controlling the middle is still the best way for St. Louis to shorten Colorado’s speed advantage.

Avalanche - Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Scratched
Joel Kiviranta
Zakhar Bardakov

Injured
Cale Makar (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Colorado gets Roy and Nichushkin back, which restores more forward depth and improves their matchup flexibility. Even without Makar, the Avalanche still have the highest raw pace ceiling in this game through MacKinnon, Necas and their forward speed.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Avalanche.
Forecheck Signal: Avalanche through speed and re-attack pressure.
Blue Line Signal: Blues slight structural edge without Makar, but Colorado still has enough mobility.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Nichushkin returning gives Colorado more second-line finishing and net-front detail.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Avalanche

Transition Edge
Avalanche

Defensive Stability
Even

Goaltending Edge
Even

Game Control Projection
St. Louis has already shown they can handle this matchup, but Colorado now looks deeper up front and still owns the best route to controlling the pace if MacKinnon and the restored forward group get the game moving.

Dallas Stars vs Calgary Flames

Faceoff: 02:00 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
Tyler Myers

Goalies
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

Scratched
Cameron Hughes
Alexander Petrovic
Kyle Capobianco

Injured
Nathan Bastian (hand)
Michael Bunting (lower body)
Radek Faksa (lower body)
Roope Hintz (lower body)
Tyler Seguin (ACL)
Sam Steel (undisclosed)

IHM Lineup Note:
Dallas still looks deeper, more balanced and more dangerous than Calgary overall, especially with Robertson, Johnston, Rantanen and Heiskanen driving the top half of the lineup. Myers returning as the extra defenseman gives them added flexibility again.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Stars can play with pace or structure depending on the matchup flow.
Forecheck Signal: Strong layered pressure from the top nine.
Blue Line Signal: Stars.
Goalie Stability Signal: Stars.
X-Factor Signal: Johnston and Rantanen together keep stretching defensive assignments in ways Calgary will struggle to absorb.

Flames - Projected lineup

Forwards
Blake Coleman - Mikael Backlund - Matt Coronato
Joel Farabee - Morgan Frost - Matvei Gridin
Aydar Suniev - Ryan Strome - Martin Pospisil
Yegor Sharangovich - Connor Zary - Adam Klapka

Defense
Kevin Bahl - Zach Whitecloud
Yan Kuznetsov - Zayne Parekh
Olli Maatta - Hunter Brzustewicz

Goalies
Devin Cooley
Dustin Wolf

Scratched
Ryan Lomberg
John Beecher
Tyson Gross
Brayden Pachal
Victor Olofsson

Injured
Jake Bean (undisclosed)
Samuel Honzek (upper body)
Jonathan Huberdeau (hip surgery)
Joel Hanley (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Calgary gets a new look with Suniev debuting, which adds intrigue but not necessarily stability. The Flames still need Backlund, Coleman, Coronato and Wolf or Cooley to keep the matchup in a manageable range.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Flames would rather keep this more controlled than Dallas allows.
Forecheck Signal: Competitive but lighter than Dallas overall.
Blue Line Signal: Stars clear edge.
Goalie Stability Signal: Stars slight edge.
X-Factor Signal: Suniev’s debut is a wild card, but Dallas still has the stronger known offensive structure by a wide margin.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Stars

Transition Edge
Stars

Defensive Stability
Stars

Goaltending Edge
Stars slight edge

Game Control Projection
Calgary can compete through work rate and goaltending, but Dallas owns the stronger attack map, deeper blue line and much cleaner overall route to controlling the game.

Minnesota Wild vs Seattle Kraken

Faceoff: 02:00 CET

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
Robby Fabbri
Nico Sturm
Jeff Petry

Injured
None

IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota still brings one of the cleaner top-six and top-four combinations in the conference. Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, Boldy, Hughes and Faber give the Wild a strong mix of skill, support and control.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Wild can play fast, but with much cleaner structure than Seattle.
Forecheck Signal: Wild through layered pressure and retrieval support.
Blue Line Signal: Wild.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Brink returning helps the lower-half scoring support and gives Minnesota a deeper offensive look.

Kraken - Projected lineup

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

Defense
Vince Dunn - Cale Fleury
Ryker Evans - Adam Larsson
Ryan Lindgren - Brandon Montour

Goalies
Joey Daccord
Matt Murray

Scratched
Josh Mahura
Jamie Oleksiak
Ben Meyers

Injured
Shane Wright (upper body)
Philipp Grubauer (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Seattle’s forward group still has enough speed and skill to create problems, but the loss of Grubauer and the blue-line shuffle put more pressure on Daccord and the top four to absorb sustained Wild pressure.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Kraken can play with tempo, but not as cleanly as Minnesota.
Forecheck Signal: Active but less repeatable than the Wild’s.
Blue Line Signal: Wild clear edge.
Goalie Stability Signal: Wild slight edge.
X-Factor Signal: McCann and Beniers need to tilt the game early before Minnesota’s structure settles in.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Wild

Transition Edge
Wild

Defensive Stability
Wild

Goaltending Edge
Wild slight edge

Game Control Projection
Seattle has enough pace to threaten in waves, but Minnesota still carries the stronger top-end structure and should control more of the game if their top six establishes possession early.

Utah Mammoth vs Edmonton Oilers

Faceoff: 03:30 CET

Mammoth - Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vanecek

Scratched
Nick DeSimone
Kevin Rooney
Dmitri Simashev

Injured
Barrett Hayton (upper body)
Jack McBain (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Utah still looks structurally balanced despite a few missing forwards, with Keller, Cooley, Peterka, Sergachev and Weegar driving the most important minutes. This is a team that can punish Edmonton if the game turns into a loose transition exchange.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Mammoth can match Edmonton’s pace better than most teams.
Forecheck Signal: Strong enough to disrupt Edmonton’s depth lines.
Blue Line Signal: Mammoth slight edge in overall balance tonight.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Cooley’s speed and Keller’s puck skill can stress Edmonton’s defensive layers if McDavid does not control play.

Oilers - Projected lineup

Forwards
Vasily Podkolzin - Connor McDavid - Matt Savoie
Jack Roslovic - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Kasperi Kapanen
Colton Dach - Jason Dickinson - Trent Frederic
Max Jones - Adam Henrique - Curtis Lazar

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

Goalies
Tristan Jarry
Connor Ingram

Scratched
Spencer Stastney
Josh Samanski

Injured
Leon Draisaitl (lower body)
Zach Hyman (undisclosed)
Mattias Janmark (shoulder)

IHM Lineup Note:
Edmonton gets Dach back, which helps the center depth and lower-six shape, but the Oilers still look thinner than normal without Draisaitl and Hyman. McDavid remains the one player most capable of tilting the whole game by himself.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Oilers want a fast game through McDavid entries.
Forecheck Signal: More dangerous off speed than sustained pressure.
Blue Line Signal: Even.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: McDavid versus Utah’s balanced top four is the defining tactical battle.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Even

Transition Edge
Oilers slight edge with McDavid factor

Defensive Stability
Mammoth

Goaltending Edge
Even

Game Control Projection
Edmonton still has the most explosive player in the matchup, but Utah looks more balanced and structurally cleaner overall, which makes this a dangerous spot for the Oilers if they fail to control the pace.

Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Ducks - Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso

Scratched
Olen Zellweger

Injured
Jansen Harkins (hand surgery)
Ross Johnston (lower body)
Radko Gudas (lower body)
Cutter Gauthier (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim gets Mintyukov and Vatrano back, which improves both the transition profile and the scoring pressure. The Ducks still have enough skill to make this game open if Nashville allows too much neutral-zone speed.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Ducks can play faster than Nashville prefers.
Forecheck Signal: More active with Vatrano back in.
Blue Line Signal: More balanced now that Mintyukov returns.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Carlsson and Terry need to turn Anaheim’s speed into clean offensive-zone possession.

Predators - Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Justus Annunen
Juuse Saros

Scratched
Jordan Oesterle
Ozzy Wiesblatt

Injured
Nicolas Hague (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Nashville still has more veteran scoring intelligence through O’Reilly, Forsberg, Stamkos, Marchessault and Josi. The Predators should feel comfortable if the game gets more tactical and less speed-driven.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Predators prefer medium pace.
Forecheck Signal: Controlled and efficient.
Blue Line Signal: Predators slight edge through Josi’s influence.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Josi’s puck control remains the cleanest counter to Anaheim’s young speed game.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Even

Transition Edge
Ducks slight edge

Defensive Stability
Predators

Goaltending Edge
Even

Game Control Projection
Anaheim can make this game faster and more uncomfortable, but Nashville still owns the more veteran tactical profile and should be better positioned if the pace becomes more measured.

Vancouver Canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights

Faceoff: 04:00 CET

Canucks - Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Nikita Tolopilo
Jiri Patera

Scratched
Ty Mueller
P.O. Joseph

Injured
Kevin Lankinen (upper body)
Evander Kane (undisclosed)
Filip Chytil (facial fracture)
Thatcher Demko (hip surgery)
Derek Forbort (undisclosed)

IHM Lineup Note:
Vancouver is still fighting through instability in goal and a moving lineup card, but Pettersson, Rossi, Boeser and Hronek are enough to generate offense if they can keep the game from turning into a long defensive shift pattern.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Canucks need pace to stay dangerous.
Forecheck Signal: More opportunistic than sustained.
Blue Line Signal: Golden Knights edge.
Goalie Stability Signal: Golden Knights clear edge.
X-Factor Signal: Lankinen being out changes the whole comfort level of the matchup for Vancouver.

Golden Knights - Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Carter Hart
Adin Hill

Scratched
Akira Schmid
Kaedan Korczak
Reilly Smith

Injured
Alexander Holtz (upper body)
William Karlsson (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Vegas still looks deeper, calmer and more complete than Vancouver, especially with Hart now getting the crease and Marner-Stone-Eichel-Hertl all in the top offensive structure. Saad drawing back in deepens the middle of the lineup.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Golden Knights can play with pace but do not need chaos to win.
Forecheck Signal: Strong layered pressure.
Blue Line Signal: Golden Knights.
Goalie Stability Signal: Golden Knights.
X-Factor Signal: Marner and Stone give Vegas a level of possession detail Vancouver may struggle to match over sixty minutes.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Golden Knights

Transition Edge
Golden Knights slight edge

Defensive Stability
Golden Knights

Goaltending Edge
Golden Knights

Game Control Projection
Vancouver still has enough skill to create stretches of offense, but Vegas owns the much deeper and more stable full-lineup profile, especially with the Canucks dealing with uncertainty in goal.

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, likely starting goalie and any major changes in the top six or top four. Those areas usually show the tactical identity of the matchup fastest.

Q4: Why can one missing defenseman change an entire game?

A single blue-line absence can affect zone exits, retrieval speed, gap control, penalty killing and offensive support. The effect often spreads through the entire structure.

Q5: How should readers interpret lineup uncertainty in goal?

Goalie uncertainty changes the whole risk profile of a game. Even when the skater groups stay the same, a weaker or less settled goalie situation can alter pace, confidence and deployment.

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 returning players important even if they are not stars?

Because lineup balance matters. A returning depth forward or defenseman can restore normal usage, improve line chemistry and reduce overloading elsewhere in the lineup.

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.

NHL Projected Lineups - Game Day April 6, 2026

Date: April 5, 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

Update: Additional matchups will be added as projected lineups are updated throughout the day.

New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals

Faceoff: 01:00 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
Matthew Robertson - Will Borgen
Drew Fortescue - Braden Schneider

Goalies
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick

Scratched
Vincent Iorio
Adam Edstrom
Taylor Raddysh
Dylan Garand

Injured
Matt Rempe (upper body)
Urho Vaakanainen (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
The Rangers still lean on a familiar structural spine through Shesterkin, Fox, Zibanejad, Trocheck and Miller. They are most effective when the game stays organized and their top skill players can attack off cleaner support rather than chase a broken pace.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Rangers prefer a controlled game with selective bursts.
Forecheck Signal: Balanced pressure, more positional than chaotic.
Blue Line Signal: Rangers slight edge through Fox and Gavrikov’s overall control.
Goalie Stability Signal: Rangers.
X-Factor Signal: Shesterkin gives New York the biggest pure stability piece in the matchup.

Capitals - Projected lineup

Forwards
Aliaksei Protas - Dylan Strome - Alex Ovechkin
Connor McMichael - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Tom Wilson
Anthony Beauvillier - Justin Sourdif - Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime - Hendrix Lapierre - Ethen Frank

Defense
Martin Fehervary - Rasmus Sandin
Jakub Chychrun - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Cole Hutson - Matt Roy

Goalies
Charlie Lindgren
Logan Thompson

Scratched
Ivan Miroshnichenko
David Kampf
Declan Chisholm
Dylan McIlrath
Timothy Liljegren

Injured
None

IHM Lineup Note:
Washington keeps a strong veteran identity with Ovechkin, Wilson, Dubois, Strome and Chychrun still driving the key minutes. The Capitals remain dangerous when they keep the puck moving north and make the game direct and physical.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Capitals can play medium pace with strong direct pressure.
Forecheck Signal: Capitals through heavier physical pressure and straight-line support.
Blue Line Signal: Capitals are solid, but New York has the cleaner overall top-pair profile.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even, with Lindgren starting and Shesterkin on the other side.
X-Factor Signal: Ovechkin’s finishing gravity still changes how the Rangers must defend the weak side.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Capitals slight edge

Transition Edge
Rangers

Defensive Stability
Rangers

Goaltending Edge
Rangers

Game Control Projection
Washington has enough veteran offense and direct pressure to make this uncomfortable, but New York still owns the cleaner structural path if Shesterkin and Fox settle the game into a more disciplined rhythm.

Montreal Canadiens vs New Jersey Devils

Faceoff: 01:00 CET

Canadiens - Projected lineup

Forwards
Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovsky
Alex Newhook - Oliver Kapanen - Ivan Demidov
Zachary Bolduc - Jake Evans - Josh Anderson
Joe Veleno - Phillip Danault - Brendan Gallagher

Defense
Mike Matheson - Noah Dobson
Jayden Struble - Lane Hutson
Kaiden Guhle - Arber Xhekaj

Goalies
Jacob Fowler
Jakub Dobes

Scratched
Samuel Montembeault
Adam Engstrom

Injured
Kirby Dach (upper body)
Alexandre Texier (lower body)
Alexander Carrier (upper body)
Patrik Laine (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Montreal still carries a dangerous mix of speed, creativity and puck-moving support through Suzuki, Caufield, Demidov, Hutson and Dobson. Fowler likely starting adds intrigue, but the skater structure in front of him is strong enough to keep the Canadiens competitive.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Canadiens can play with tempo if the top six gets touches early.
Forecheck Signal: Active and skill-driven rather than heavy.
Blue Line Signal: Canadiens have real offensive movement through Hutson, Matheson and Dobson.
Goalie Stability Signal: Slight edge Devils if experience matters, but this is close.
X-Factor Signal: Demidov continues to give Montreal a live offensive swing factor every night.

Devils - Projected lineup

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

Defense
Jonas Siegenthaler - Dougie Hamilton
Luke Hughes - Johnathan Kovacevic
Brenden Dillon - Simon Nemec

Goalies
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen

Scratched
Dennis Cholowski
Evgenii Dadonov
Maksim Tsyplakov

Injured
Arseny Gritsyuk (upper body)
Stefan Noesen (knee)
Zack MacEwen (ACL)
Brett Pesce (lower body)

IHM Lineup Note:
New Jersey still has the stronger pure top-six offensive engine, with Hughes, Bratt, Meier, Hischier and Hamilton giving the Devils multiple routes to tilt play. The concern remains whether the lower-half structure holds consistently enough on a back-to-back road spot.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Devils.
Forecheck Signal: Devils through quicker pressure and transition entries.
Blue Line Signal: Devils slight edge on overall upside, especially offensively.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Jack Hughes remains the fastest single driver of game flow in this matchup.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Devils slight edge

Transition Edge
Devils

Defensive Stability
Even

Goaltending Edge
Even

Game Control Projection
Montreal has enough skill and puck-moving support to make this dangerous again, but New Jersey still carries the better pure offensive ceiling and the cleaner route to controlling the game if Hughes and Hamilton dictate the tempo.

Colorado Avalanche vs St. Louis Blues

Faceoff: 03:30 CET

Avalanche - Projected lineup

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

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

Goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Scratched
Zakhar Bardakov

Injured
Cale Makar (upper body)
Nicolas Roy (upper body)

IHM Lineup Note:
Colorado still has massive top-end speed and skill through MacKinnon, Necas, Lehkonen, Landeskog and Nichushkin, even without Makar. The overall transition ceiling is slightly lower than full strength, but the Avalanche remain explosive enough to overwhelm teams quickly.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Avalanche.
Forecheck Signal: Colorado through speed, repeat entries and pressure off retrievals.
Blue Line Signal: Even to slight Blues edge structurally without Makar, but Colorado still carries enough mobility.
Goalie Stability Signal: Avalanche slight edge.
X-Factor Signal: MacKinnon remains the dominant pace driver and hardest player in the matchup to contain through the middle.

Blues - Projected lineup

Forwards
Dylan Holloway - Robert Thomas - Jimmy Snuggerud
Jonathan Drouin - Dalibor Dvorsky - Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours - Pius Suter - Jonatan Berggren
Alexey Toropchenko - Jack Finley - Pavel Buchnevich

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

Goalies
Joel Hofer
Jordan Binnington

Scratched
Justin Holl
Nathan Walker
Matthew Kessel
Oskar Sundqvist
Otto Stenberg

Injured
None

IHM Lineup Note:
St. Louis gets useful reinforcements back with Toropchenko and Buchnevich returning, which deepens the lineup and improves puck support. The Blues still need Robert Thomas and Kyrou to keep the game from becoming a pure Colorado speed contest.

IHM Tactical Signals:
Pace Signal: Blues want to keep it more controlled than Colorado does.
Forecheck Signal: Blues can pressure effectively if they force heavier sequences along the walls.
Blue Line Signal: Blues have decent structure but less overall dynamic threat than Colorado’s forward-driven pace.
Goalie Stability Signal: Even.
X-Factor Signal: Thomas is the one Blue who can most directly slow Colorado down by owning the puck through the middle.

IHM Match Pressure Index

Offensive Pressure
Avalanche

Transition Edge
Avalanche

Defensive Stability
Even

Goaltending Edge
Avalanche slight edge

Game Control Projection
St. Louis is deeper than it looked a few days ago, but Colorado still owns the cleaner top-end route to tempo, transition and sustained offensive pressure, especially if MacKinnon gets the game moving early.

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, confirmed goalie and the first special-teams look. Those areas usually show the team’s tactical identity fastest.

Q4: Why can one missing defenseman change an entire game?

A single blue-line absence can affect 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 back-to-back situation in lineup analysis?

Back-to-backs can affect goalie usage, bench energy, pace tolerance and deployment choices, especially in the bottom six and on the third pair.

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 special-teams and first units so important in lineup analysis?

Because high-leverage players on the first unit often reveal who the coaching staff trusts most to decide close games. That usually shapes game flow as much as even-strength lines.

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.