For the best answer to who is scratched for an NHL game, use NHL.com’s projected lineups as an early preview, check the team’s latest update for context, then confirm the submitted lineup in the game roster report or Game Center. A projection can change; a submitted lineup is the better source for who actually dressed.
Where to check NHL lineups and injury updates
- Start with NHL.com’s projected lineups. Open Projected lineups, starting goalies for today. The league-wide page lists projected combinations, goalies, scratches, injuries and status notes. Check its publication date and the specific game: the version published October 3, 2026, is a dated snapshot, not a guarantee that every entry remains current.
- Read the relevant team’s latest statement. NHL status coverage attributes updates to clubs and coaches; a team report can add context about a player’s practice or availability. For example, NHL.com’s October 1, 2026 Status Report described Ivan Provorov as week to week for the Blue Jackets. Preserve the source’s wording rather than inferring a diagnosis or a firm return date.
- Recheck near warmups. A “game-time decision” or a projected scratch is unresolved availability, and reports can change as game time approaches. Look for the newest timestamp and whether it refers to the game you are following.
- Confirm who dressed in the game roster report or Game Center. The club submits its eligible lineup after warmup. Once that report is available, use it rather than an earlier projection to identify confirmed scratches.
Projection, injury status and confirmed scratch mean different things
| Report or label | What it tells you | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Projected lineup | An advance forecast of combinations, goaltenders and likely scratches. | That the player is definitively in or out for the game. |
| “Game-time decision,” “day to day” or “week to week” | The availability language reported by a club, coach or NHL status report. | A confirmed scratch, medical diagnosis or exact return date. |
| Submitted game lineup / roster report | The eligible players submitted for that game; the later checkpoint for determining who dressed. | A public medical explanation for any player’s absence. |
The NHL’s 2024–25 Rule 5.1 says it is league policy for the visiting team’s manager or coach to submit a list of eligible players through the NHL Game Line-up Management application within five minutes after warmup concludes; the rule describes warmup as occurring 20 minutes before faceoff. See the NHL Official Rules, Section 2, Rule 5.1. The rule describes the lineup-submission process; it does not make an earlier projected lineup final.
Do not treat every injury note as injured reserve
An injury mention in a preview, or wording such as “day to day,” does not by itself mean that a player has been placed on injured reserve. The NHL and NHLPA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement sets formal conditions for injured reserve, including at least seven days of ineligibility after an injury, illness or disability for a player placed on the list. Keep the distinction clear: a status report describes reported availability, while IR is a roster designation.
How to use third-party injury trackers
A fantasy dashboard can be a convenient way to browse injuries by team, but use it as an index rather than the final authority on who will play. CBS Sports Fantasy Support says its NHL player injury report can be filtered by team and uses the NHL’s official injury report for statuses. That help page does not establish the timing or accuracy of every update, so verify consequential lineup decisions against the latest NHL or team report and, for a confirmed dress/scratch, the game roster report.
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What season-opening roster lists can—and cannot—tell you
A season-opening roster announcement is not a daily injury tracker. The NHL’s September 29, 2026 roster release was labeled “as of 10 a.m., Eastern time” and used the category “Injured and/or Non-Roster.” That dated snapshot can describe roster status at its stated time, but it does not confirm a player’s availability for a later game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Read injury updates without overstating them
- Attribute the update to the team, coach or NHL report that supplied it.
- Keep uncertain labels such as “game-time decision” intact; do not convert them into “will play” or “is scratched.”
- If a report names an injury category or body area but gives no diagnosis or return date, do not supply one yourself.
- Use the publication or update time and game date to judge whether a report is still relevant.
The sources above do not establish a universal NHL rule requiring detailed public medical disclosure. An injury report may therefore leave important questions unanswered; report only what the available source actually says.
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