Today’s NHL Lineups: Start/Sit Calls, PP1 Looks and Goalie Confidence

Today’s projected lineups and confirmed starters give fantasy managers a clear window into who to trust and where the hidden upside sits. With playoff intensity driving minutes and deployment, your edge comes from reacting quickly to starting goalie confirmations, power-play auditions, and injury fallout. Let’s walk through the key games and what they mean for your lineups right now.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The Tampa Bay Lightning are rolling with Andrei Vasilevskiy in a crucial playoff matchup against the Montreal Canadiens, but they’re likely without Victor Hedman and are debuting Declan Carlile. That combination reshapes Tampa’s blue line, opening the door for new power-play usage and changing the defensive environment in front of Vasilevskiy.

Montreal is expected to stick with its Game 1 configuration, keeping Cole Caufield locked into a top-line scoring role. That sets up a high-leverage matchup: an elite goalie facing a concentrated source of offense, which is exactly the kind of spot where volume and talent can still break through.

The Boston Bruins are again turning to Jeremy Swayman against the Buffalo Sabres, with Boston largely running back its Game 1 lineup. Stability in both lines and goaltending makes Boston one of the more predictable fantasy environments today, especially for managers leaning on David Pastrnak and the top power-play unit.

Out West, the Vegas Golden Knights, already leading their series, are starting Carter Hart against the Arizona Mammoth. With Vegas in control of the series, Hart’s workload and confidence are trending in the right direction, while Arizona’s blue line, led by Mikhail Sergachev, is being asked to push offense while surviving a dangerous opponent.

Injuries are the final big variable. Hedman’s doubtful status for Tampa Bay not only removes a stabilizing force at even strength, it also forces a re-think of who runs the power play. That’s where Carlile’s debut becomes more than just a curiosity; it’s a potential audition for a bigger role both now and in future fantasy seasons.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, today is about targeting concentrated offense and PP1 exposure. For Montreal, Cole Caufield remains a must-start as a top-line winger and focal point of their attack. Even in a tough matchup with Vasilevskiy, high-usage scorers are rarely bench candidates in points-only leagues.

On the Boston side, David Pastrnak is firmly in the automatic-start tier. The more important question is whether you lean into secondary Bruins pieces. With Swayman confirmed and Boston not chasing the game on most nights, their top unit tends to get its chances without chaotic line juggling. That stability is a plus for any fringe Bruins skaters you’re considering.

For Vegas, Carter Hart’s presence in net and a series lead suggest the Golden Knights can afford to play to their strengths rather than overextend. That’s good news for their primary scorers, who should see consistent deployment and favorable offensive-zone usage. Conversely, Arizona’s Mikhail Sergachev is a classic high-upside play: top-pair minutes with offensive responsibility, but in a tougher matchup where plus-minus risk exists if your league counts it.

The most intriguing points-only wrinkle is on Tampa’s blue line. With Hedman doubtful, there’s a vacuum on the power play. If Declan Carlile sees any PP1 or PP2 looks, he becomes a speculative points-only stash in deeper formats, especially if Tampa leans on a shot-heavy setup from the back end.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, the goalie confirmations are massive. Vasilevskiy, Swayman, and Hart are all green lights for volume categories like saves and wins, but the context differs. Vasilevskiy may face more high-danger chances with Hedman out, which can boost saves but also increase ratios risk. If your matchup is tight in save percentage or goals-against, weigh your opponent’s goalie starts before locking him in—but in most formats he remains an automatic play.

Swayman’s environment is arguably the cleanest: Boston tends to suppress chances, giving him a strong floor in ratios with a solid win probability. If you’re protecting leads in GAA and SV%, Swayman is the safest of today’s confirmed starters.

Hart’s situation with Vegas is slightly different. With the Golden Knights leading the series, they may play a more controlled, lower-event style, which can cap raw save totals but help his ratios and win odds. If you’re chasing counting stats like saves, he’s a bit less appealing than Vasilevskiy; if you’re protecting ratios and hunting wins, he’s a strong play.

On the skater side, Sergachev’s role for Arizona makes him valuable in hits, blocks, and shots even if the matchup is rough. Hedman’s absence also tends to increase the physical burden on Tampa’s remaining defensemen, so anyone stepping into those minutes—Carlile included—could quietly rack up peripherals even if the points don’t immediately follow.

Dynasty / Keeper

Today’s lineups also offer a glimpse into future value, especially on the Tampa blue line. Declan Carlile making his playoff debut in a high-pressure spot is exactly the kind of signal dynasty managers should track. If he earns trust quickly—particularly if he sees any power-play time—his long-term outlook shifts from fringe depth to potential multi-category contributor.

Victor Hedman’s injury status doesn’t change his dynasty value much, but it does highlight that Tampa will eventually need succession plans on the back end. Monitoring who steps into his minutes now can give you a head start on future breakout candidates.

In net, all three confirmed starters—Vasilevskiy, Swayman, and Hart—are relevant in longer-term formats. Vasilevskiy remains an elite anchor when healthy, while Swayman’s continued trust in big games solidifies his trajectory as a long-term number one. Hart’s opportunity with a strong Vegas team is important for his dynasty stock; strong playoff performances can lock in organizational confidence and future workload.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Andrei Vasilevskiy – Add/Start (all leagues): Locked-in starter for a high-end team in a crucial game; you’re playing him almost regardless of matchup.
Jeremy Swayman – Add/Start (all leagues): Confirmed starter in a structured Boston environment that supports strong ratios and win potential.
Carter Hart – Start / Short-term stream: Starting for a Vegas team leading its series; strong short-term play for wins and solid percentages.
Declan Carlile – Watchlist (deep & dynasty): Playoff debut on Tampa’s blue line with a path to more minutes and possible PP looks while Hedman is out.
Victor Hedman – Hold (all but shallowest leagues): Doubtful now, but his ceiling is too high to cut; monitor closely for a quick return.
Mikhail Sergachev – Deep-league add/hold: Heavy minutes and offensive responsibility for Arizona, with strong multi-category upside despite matchup risk.
Cole Caufield – Automatic start: Top-line, primary scoring option for Montreal; volume and role make him a must-play even against an elite goalie.
David Pastrnak – Automatic start: Boston’s offensive engine with prime PP1 usage; you’re never sitting him in meaningful matchups.

Fantasy Takeaways

Start Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jeremy Swayman, and Carter Hart in virtually all formats today, adjusting only if you’re extremely protective of ratios.
With Victor Hedman doubtful, monitor Tampa’s blue-line deployment closely—any PP1 time for Declan Carlile or another defender is an immediate deep-league opportunity.
In points-only leagues, lean into concentrated offense: Cole Caufield and David Pastrnak are automatic starts regardless of matchup difficulty.
Multi-cat managers should value Sergachev and Tampa’s replacement defenders for hits, blocks, and shots even if their plus-minus risk is elevated.
Dynasty players should add Carlile to their watchlists; playoff trust from Tampa’s coaching staff is a strong signal for future responsibility.

Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.