Projected lineups for the Canucks Vs Lightning matchup were released on game day, and they point to a few notable changes before puck drop. Gage Goncalves is expected back in the Lightning lineup after sitting out as a healthy scratch against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, while Hildeby is set to start.
The Canucks' top group was listed with Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Lekkerimaki, with Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi and Linus Karlsson on the second line. Paul Cotter, Filip Chytil and Brock Boeser were projected on the third line, and Drew O'Connor, Max Sasson and Brendan Gallagher on the fourth, with Guillaume Brisebois, Luke Schenn, Arshdeep Bains and Aatu Raty scratched.
On the other side, Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Nikita Kucherov were listed on the first line for the Lightning, followed by Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point and Goncalves on the second. Ilya Mikheyev, Zemgus Girgensons and Pontus Holmberg were projected on the third line, while Jeffrey Viel, Dominic James and Conor Geekie were on the fourth. Scott Sabourin, Charle-Edouard D'Astous and Emil Lilleberg were scratched.
The lineup sheet matters because it is the clearest snapshot of who is expected to dress and who is not, even if it can still change before the opening faceoff. That is where Goncalves stands out: after missing the Lightning's 4-3 overtime win over the Seattle Kraken, he is listed to jump back in immediately, a quick turnaround for a player who was out just one game ago.
Hildeby's return adds another layer to the pregame picture after he missed one game with an undisclosed injury. If the projected lines hold, the Lightning are not only getting Goncalves back but also restoring a starting goaltender option, which is the kind of detail that can reshape a game before it begins.
