NHL projected lineups and starting goalies for Nov. 5: Canucks, Jets, Oilers and other matchups set

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Vancouver fans can expect a busy slate on Nov. 5 as the NHL publishes projected lineups and starting goalie notes for multiple matchups. The update, posted by NHL.com, includes expected skaters and pairings for each club, along with reported scratches, injuries, and specific goaltending expectations that frame which players are set to play in tonight’s games.

In the 7 p.m. ET Hurricanes game, Carolina’s projected forward group is William Carrier with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, followed by Nikolaj Ehlers between Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, Jordan Martinook with Mark Jankowski and Seth Jarvis, and Eric Robinson alongside Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nicolas Deslauriers. On defense, Jacob Slavin partners with Jalen Chatfield, while Àndré Miller and Sean Walker are paired, and Shayne Gostisbehere with Juuso Valimaki. The Hurricanes have Mike Reilly listed as scratched, with Jordan Staal (calf) and Taylor Hall (upper body) injured. NHL.com also notes the Hurricanes did not hold a morning skate, and that Hall, who has missed the past nine games, is “hopeful” to return per coach Rod Brind’Amour.

In the same 7 p.m. ET window, the New York Islanders’ projected top line has Simon Holmstrom centering Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri. Emil Heineman is projected with Brayden Schenn and Victor Eklund, and Ondrej Palat is set to play between Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Duclair. The bottom-six includes Kyle MacLean with Casey Cizikas and Mitchell Chaffee, while Logan Stanley and Matthew Schaefer are the projected defensive tandem. NHL.com lists Ben Hutton as scratched and multiple injuries affecting lineup availability, including Mathew Barzal (knee), Alexander Romanov (torn right ACL), Ryan Pulock (upper body), Matias Maccelli (lower body) and Cal Ritchie (lower body).

Also at 7 p.m. ET in the NHL.com projections, the Vancouver Canucks are listed with Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser as the top line, with Liam Ohgren between Marco Rossi and Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Drew O’Connor is projected with Jacob Quillan and Linus Karlsson, and Paul Cotter centers Max Sasson with Brendan Gallagher on the wing. Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson are listed on the Canucks’ defense alongside Zeev Buium and Guillaume Brisebois, while Jamie Oleksiak pairs with Victor Mancini. Leevi Merilainen is expected to be in net. Scratches include Luke Schenn and Arshdeep Bains, with injuries listed for Filip Chytil (shoulder), Thatcher Demko (hip) and Tom Willander (lower body).

The Winnipeg Jets are also projected for a 7 p.m. ET game, with Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi as the first line. The second line pairs Cole Perfetti with Brayden Yager and Dawson Mercer, while Alex Iafallo is projected between Adam Lowry and Viggo Bjørck. The Jets’ fourth-line look features Cole Koepke with Morgan Barron and Tyrel Bauer, and defensively Dylan Samberg is paired with Neal Pionk, with Haydn Fleury and Dylan DeMelo as the other regular pair. Mario Ferraro is projected with Elias Salomonsson, and Merilainen is again expected to start in goal. NHL.com lists scratches including Clay Stevenson, Nino Niederreiter and Isak Rosén, and injuries including Josh Morrissey (upper body) and Nick Bjugstad (undisclosed). The team also notes Willander was a late scratch due to a lower-body injury, Merilainen is expected to start, and Jets coach Scott Arniel plans to play Tyrel Bauer at forward for the entire game after Bauer’s role changes from earlier in the week.

At 8 p.m. ET, the Edmonton Oilers are projected to use the same skaters as their previous game, based on the NHL.com preview. Their offense is set with Connor McDavid flanked by Vasily Podkolzin and Leon Draisaitl, while Colton Dach plays with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kasperi Kapanen. NHL.com projects Alex Formenton between Jason Dickinson and Mathieu Joseph, and Max Jones with Owen Michaels and Filip Hallander. On defense, Mattias Ekholm is paired with Evan Bouchard, and Ryan Shea with Connor Murphy. Shakir Mukhamadullin is paired with Jake Walman. The projections list scratches including Ty Emberson, Trent Frederic and Isaac Howard, and injuries for Frederik Andersen (undisclosed), Zach Hyman (neck), Tristan Jarry (illness), Mattias Janmark (undisclosed), Alec Regula (undisclosed) and Matthew Savoie (undisclosed). With Jarry out, NHL.com says Levi is expected to dress as the backup after sitting out the past six games with an undisclosed injury.

Further east in the NHL.com list, the Boston Bruins’ projected lineup for a 7 p.m. ET game has J.J. Peterka with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak, followed by Marat Khusnutdinov with Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie. Casey Mittelstadt is set to center Elias Lindholm and James Hagens, while Tanner Jeannot plays with Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic. The Bruins’ defense includes Hampus Lindholm with Charlie McAvoy, and Nikita Zadorov with William Borgen, plus Frederic Brunet with Mason Lohrei. Michael DiPietro is listed as the projected goalie, with Matthew Poitras (upper body) injured and Connor Clifton and Jonathan Aspirot scratched.

At 7 p.m. ET on NHL.com’s schedule, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ projected lineup has Tommy Novak with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell, with Egor Chinakhov between Ben Kindel and Evgeni Malkin. Ville Koivunen is projected with Hendrix Lapierre and Justin Brazeau, and Connor Dewar plays between Blake Lizotte and Nick Robertson. Defensively, Samuel Girard pairs with Erik Karlsson, and Spencer Stastney is set alongside Kaedan Korczak; Declan Carlile is projected with Kris Letang. The Penguins list several injuries, including Ryan Graves (knee), Trevor van Riemsdyk (lower body), Bryan Rust (lower body) and Elmer Soderblom (upper body), and NHL.com adds that Poitras practiced Wednesday but could be out after sustaining a broken nose on an elbow to the face from Vegas Golden Knights forward Braeden Bowman in a 3-2 shootout win Monday.

The New Jersey Devils are projected for a 7 p.m. ET game with Arseny Gritsyuk as the first-line left, Jack Hughes at center and Jesper Bratt on the wing. Timo Meier, Nico Hischier and Luke Evangelista are projected as another line trio, while Anthony Mantha plays with Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce are listed on defense, with Jonas Siegenthaler paired to Dougie Hamilton and Declan Chisholm with Johnathan Kovacevic. Connor Hellebuyck is the listed goalie. NHL.com notes Brenden Dillon is scratched, and that defenseman Tyler Parayko is expected to return to the lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury.

On the later slate, NHL.com lists a 9:30 p.m. ET matchup with Nashville’s projected lineup featuring Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly at center with Mavrik Bourque, and Filip Forsberg with Shane Wright and Nils Hoglander. The defense is set with Roman Josi and Adam Wilsby, and Brady Skjei with Nick Perbix, and Daemon Hunt with Jayden Struble. Nashville lists Nicolas Hague and Ilya Lyubushkin as scratched, with William Trudeau (upper body) and Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) injured, while Marchessault is described as participating in an optional skate but not expected to play after missing the previous game due to a lower-body injury.

For the Colorado Avalanche at 9:30 p.m. ET, NHL.com projects Artturi Lehkonen with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas as the top line, with Gabriel Landeskog between Nazem Kadri and Nicolas Roy, and Jaden Schwartz alongside Brock Nelson and T.J. Hughes. The fourth line is listed as Parker Kelly with Fedor Svechkov and Logan O’Connor, with Devon Toews and Cale Makar on defense and Brett Kulak pairing with Noah Juulsen. Mackenzie Blackwood is listed as the goalie, while injuries include Zachary L’Heureux (upper body) and Josh Manson (lower body).

The NHL.com “projected lineups, starting goalies” update is designed for readiness ahead of puck drop and should be treated as a forecast until official rosters are confirmed. For tonight’s Vancouver-area focus, the Canucks’ projected starter is Leevi Merilainen, and the Jets’ projected starter is also Merilainen, while Edmonton’s backup plan is outlined by NHL.com as Levi dressing with Jarry out and the projected skater groups matching the prior game.