Now we're onto the second round, which features four superb matchups: Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Thanks to the steepest parity the Eastern Conference has seen in some time, the Capitals had a 100-point season for the sixth straight 82-game campaign. The NHL is an exciting sport to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper . That, combined with St. Louis being one of the NHL's worst teams in 5-on-5 possession totals, puts a lot more pressure on Husso -- a rookie appearing in his first postseason -- at the toughest time of year. He has added 10 assists to his point total, but Rantanen has still fallen short of expectations to date in terms of output. That's where depth will come into focus, and the Oilers will want to be sure theirs is on point. Messier: Avalanche in seven 4 NHL Trade Deadline Sellers Looking to Bounce Back in 2023-24. Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. Back-to-back tilts against bottom feeders in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce value. What he's done this year has been insanely impressive. The second round against Calgary couldn't have started any worse with a quick 3-0 deficit for Edmonton in Game 1 and another 2-0 hole to start Game 2. will be coming full force. Keeping those three in check starts with good neutral-zone play, limiting their ability to gain speed and forcing play to the outside. Football Women's Basketball Games Home ESPN Fantasy App The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . Ferraro: Flames in seven Now they also have some strong depth, and the versatility to play the Islanders' style if needed. That's not great news for a Rangers team whose power-play prowess (fourth in the NHL) far outpaced its even-strength offense (18th). There were times when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin's crease but couldn't find the rebounds he'd leave. NHL predictions: Expert picks for both conference final series in Stanley Cup playoffs Our experts reveal their predictions for which two teams will be moving on to the Stanley Cup Final. Here's a player who requested a trade out of St. Louis and instead has thrived there this season. The Rangers had their share of breaks. How to watch There is no such problem for the Lightning. While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. How will the Rangers handle Nikita Kucherov? Any notion that the Avs' slide out of the regular season (losing six of their last seven games) was a premonition of poor playoff performance to come was unfounded. 12:50 PM. Weekes: Rangers in seven In today's Morning 3-on-3, we debate whether both are playoff locks -- and a threat if they make it. "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston can be a tough team to play against. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? Now, does that reflect a deficiency in Kuemper's game? Kristen Shilton: Lightning in six A limited if intense calendar, combined with the reality of losing players every round, and a simpler scoring system set . It doesn't help that in front of Bobrovsky, Florida got a little too comfortable late in the season as the Cardiac Cats. Player to watch: Crosby had 84 points this season, which was his best points-per-60 minutes average for a season with at least 68 games played since 2009-10. Colorado's will have less pressure to produce given their second unit is anchored by a guy named Nazem Kadri, who's coming off an 87-point regular season and is averaging a point per game in the playoffs. That said, they'd like more than one goal off 18 shot attempts in 11 games from a player who had 25 goals in the regular season. Sixteen teams entered the postseason tournament, but only four are left in the bracket, as the New York Rangers will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the East, and the Colorado Avalanche will square off against the Edmonton Oilers in the West. This series against Colorado could see each team's top talents canceling each other out. They went 12-8-3 after that. Obviously, the Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them. McCarron for choosing his league over the NFL. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; The first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs was a doozy, including five series going to Game 7 -- and two of those Game 7's . NHL odds, picks, and predictions for the Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23. Complete playoff coverage NHL . Keep an eye on those little things Brodin can do to put Minnesota over the top. Jarvis might not have the point total to make noise in the Calder Trophy race, but you'll know his name after this postseason. At every juncture where past Oilers' teams have misstepped, this group has stepped up. Record: 54-21-7 (115 points) Case for a Stanley Cup run: Toronto has got the talent in all three phases of the game.Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are one of the NHL's . Their lineup features solid two-way forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. While there is a lot of "new" happening in the NHL this season, as far as league predictions go for the upcoming 2021-22 season, there is a lot that will feel familiar. NHL playoff series odds: St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild Odds provided by BetMGM Blues +130 vs. Wild -150 Easily the most polarizing series in the Western Conference, both St. Louis and. Biggest flaw(s): Well, let's go with "potentially biggest." There's an argument to be made that Kucherov is the best power-play performer in the NHL, and he has lived up to that with seven points with the man advantage. Tampa hasn't had much downtime since the NHL's bubble tournament two years ago. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Tampa knows how to win. The All-Star Game and the Stadium Series will be on ABC, and ESPN will have the All-Star Skills Competition. Tortorella: Hurricanes in six But forwards Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie saw their offensive output drop during seasons impacted by injuries and illness. 102) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Ekholm has 268 points (62 goals, 206 assists) in 719 regular-season games with the Predators and 35 points (six goals, 29 . It'll be down to the wire, but I like Colorado. Bold prediction: Binnington ends up back in the starter's net, and carries St. Louis deep into the postseason. They're very ordinary on the back end without him. After Makar and Devon Toews, where do the rest of Colorado's defensemen fit? The Nashville Predators, at No. It starts in their own end and being engaged down low. They rallied to beat the Penguins after being down 3-1 in their first-round series. The team gets contributions from steady veterans (Jordan Staal), stellar young talents (Martin Necas) and other teams' castaways (the divisive but effective Tony DeAngelo). But the Rangers star has only had two signature games in the playoffs: a three-point night in Game 2 against the Penguins and an overtime power-play goal in Game 7 of that series. Wyshynski: Flames in seven. "I've kind of referred to us as cockroaches. Why? They have depth at forward and are getting excellent play from defensemen like Fox and Trouba. Lawrence-Riddell: Avalanche in six What makes Nashville dangerous (other than Roman Josi, Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg and Juuse Saros, of course) is the chip on its shoulder, the hunger to prove the team's critics wrong. Chandan: Blues in six In general, Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft has been leaning on the same eight forwards up front and limiting the use of his fourth-liners. Biggest flaw(s): Being a top-heavy offensive team is a good problem to have when the top of one's lineup is filled with players who have more than 35 goals. So it works in Nashville's favor to not just go into the postseason as a wild-card team, but to know there's an uphill battle ahead to make its time in the playoffs last. NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference. Artemi Panarin averaged 1.28 points per game. And of course, there's Boston's core. Weekes: Blues in seven Players, coaches, execs vote for NHL's top centers, NHL Power Rankings: Checking in on each team's 25-and-under core, Lineup picks, matchups, start or sit advice for Wednesday, McAvoy scores in OT, Bruins beat Flames for 8th win a row, Gaudreau scores in shootout, Wild beat Islanders 2-1, Geekie ends drought with 2 goals, Kraken beat Blues 5-3, Robinson scores 3 goals in Blue Jackets' 5-3 win over Sabres, 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason, Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket, Ranking NHL players who need a Stanley Cup, last two games of the season with a lower-body injury. But I have a lot of faith in Shesty," he said. If he's diminished, so are the Caps' Cup chances -- significantly. Kaplan: Avalanche in six Yet Carolina is not mentioned in the same breath as other Stanley Cup contenders. Here is how the Stanley Cup playoffs will play out, from the opening round through the last game of the Final. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Toronto has got the talent in all three phases of the game. Bold prediction: As happened to Tampa Bay in 2019, the seemingly unstoppable Panthers fall short with a baffling first-round exit. Team defense has become a part of the equation because that mentality is exhibited by the team's top players (including Matthews). McDonough: Avalanche in seven I think we're there with the Rangers. Ditto Brad Marchand. The 13th overall pick in 2020, Jarvis had 11 points in a nine-game stretch near the end of the season, running shotgun with Aho for a lot of it. Minnesota has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger. cal: Oilers in seven Mleczko: Hurricanes in seven The Oilers played a wide-open, goal-scoring bonanza of a five-game spread against Calgary versus the Avalanche's more bruising, defensive-conscious, six-game affair against St. Louis. But we doubt that's sustainable, and the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen. And that was against the two best offensive teams in the regular season. Kuemper's terrific regular season (37-12-4, .921 SV%, 2.54 GAA) suggests he's up to the task of what's ahead though -- even if his playoff resume to date isn't so dazzling. NHL trade grades: Kings make smart additions in Gavrikov, Korpisalo, NHL trade tracker: Latest deals, rumors and grades, Capitals send Eller to Avs for second-round pick, Kings deal Cup-winning G Quick to Blue Jackets, Rangers clear hurdles, get Kane from Blackhawks, Oilers bulk up defense, secure Predators' Ekholm, Leafs win Schenn sweepstakes, trade for veteran, Leafs deal Sandin to Capitals for Gustafsson, pick, Wild add depth, acquire Johansson from Capitals, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? Buccigross: Avalanche in seven The addition of Hampus Lindholm on the back end has really strengthened the B's blue line and gives them more options to mix and match pairings throughout the playoffs as needed. Some teams have improved, while others went into re-build mode. As Crosby said recently: "I think you try to enjoy it as much as you can and try to take it all in because you know that it's not going to last forever. But if there's a true flaw with the Oilers, it's once again found in the crease. Kucherov has 15 points in 11 games, including seven on the power play. Only four teams had a lower expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 than the Rangers this season: the Sabres, Kraken, Coyotes and Blackhawks. Will that be the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are looking to become the first team to win the Cup in three consecutive seasons since the New York Islanders won four straight from 1980 to 1983? He's both their last line of defense and their catalyst, as the Rangers feed off his performances when opponents tip the ice. Vitek Vanecek has been wildly inconsistent, while Ilya Samsonov has played to a sub-replacement level this season. They're the NHL's top-scoring team for a reason, having been consistently outstanding offensively since Game 1. All things being equal, Colorado boasts the deeper team. As Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said: Their problem offensively was not having elite goal-scorers. If Cale Makar is the flashy rising star leading Colorado's blue line, Duncan Keith is the veteran grandmaster stabilizing Edmonton's back end. Knight: Avalanche in seven Most valuable overall options for standard leagues; new podcast episodes. Biggest flaw(s): The fact that the Kings still managed to make the playoffs without Doughty is a testament to how well they played before his injury. Watching all of it from the crease is Vezina contender Jacob Markstrom. Daily Fantasy Picks; Projected Lineups; Player Rankings; . Case for a Stanley Cup run: What if a team had its best regular season in franchise history and no one noticed? There has also been more effort on the forecheck. The Avs' Norris Trophy finalist defenseman projects to draw Edmonton's toughest matchups, and as the Oilers proved against Calgary, its top line is tough to contain. More: Full playoff schedule Each player had some solid stretches late in the Calgary series, but those four have combined for only five goals thus far in the playoffs. Bold prediction: Coach Dean Evason bucks tradition by not naming a playoff starter in net, opting to alternate between Fleury and Talbot instead. The Oilers are more resilient than some observers previously thought. Are we focusing heavily on the best players in this series? Like, ever. Expect more great performances from him. Rush to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. This version of Toronto can contend with any team it will face in the playoffs -- but only if the Leafs actually show up as their best selves. Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Time: 10:00 p.m. DiPietro: Hurricanes in six He's a dynamic offensive talent who has 11 points in his past 15 playoff games. That's always been ingrained in the culture of every good team I've been on here. While offense can sometimes dry up the deeper we get into postseason play, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be the case here. Physicality gets ratcheted up in the playoffs, and Wilson has shown the ability in the past to turn a series with one big injurious hit. Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 15 points in 11 games. We're learned that fatigue hasn't yet been an issue for a team that's gone all the way in two straight postseasons -- perhaps because they followed truncated regular seasons? Things aren't trending well for Pittsburgh at the buzzer. But teams win with depth in the playoffs, and there's been some falloff here for the Flames. Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. The Lightning had some bumpier stretches in the season's second half. And coach Gerard Gallant is pushing the right buttons when it comes to line combinations. Center Anthony Cirelli has two points in 11 games but has provided what the Lightning need in the middle after Brayden Point's injury. And, as Nashville's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some must-see drama. We've also learned that two straight Stanley Cups haven't made the Bolts fat and happy; the hunger to win another, and the killer instinct to close out teams, remains for Tampa. The Rangers are playing with house money. Florida has three 30-plus goal scorers, six players with 50-plus points and a Hart Trophy contender in Jonathan Huberdeau, who can go toe-to-toe with any offensive threat in the league. Igor Shesterkin led the NHL in save percentage and goals saved above average, carrying the Rangers for the first two-thirds of the season as New York was near the bottom of the league in even-strength analytics. Seeing its dedication pay off with a playoff opportunity should be all the motivation Dallas needs to give each game its best. Meanwhile, MacKinnon will be leading the charge up front. Non-Playoff team from 2021 that will make 2022 Playoffs: Dallas Stars . John Tortorella: Panthers in seven New York Rangers. His .925 career playoff save percentage ties him for third all time (minimum 60 games) with Hall of Famer Dominik . Here are the current standings in the East, with the bottom four seeds lining up for the Play-In Tournament. We just didn't go away. Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. We've already discussed Kuemper. That's the question. Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. Game 6 was a good sign as Erik Haula and Curtis Lazar each scored their first of the playoffs, while Charlie Coyle got his second. Selected by Nashville in the fourth round (No. But that's the regular season. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, in his first season with the Lightning, and playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. Colorado is fortunate to have dynamic middle-six scorers such as Valeri Nichushkin and quiet contributors such as Artturi Lehkonen who can sneak up and burn opponents unexpectedly. Free agency is looming, and all eyes will be on Kadri as he chases that elusive championship. They are firing on all cylinders. Against Carolina, Shesterkin gave up two or fewer goals in six of the seven games in the series and won another Game 7, this time on the road. If New York wants this to be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Lightning can win those, too. Wischusen: Flames in seven Granted, Nashville's Ryan Johansen did (accidentally) injure Kuemper's eye in the first round, but the goalie recovered and Colorado swept the Predators in time for Kuemper to return in the second round against St. Louis. The answer should be clear early on against Edmonton. The Avalanche have an excellent power play (34.5%) but weaker penalty kill (73.1%). Those types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the unknowable season ahead. The Wild have that, big-time. Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. Shilton: Hurricanes in six There's a massive monkey on Marner's back, and seeing how he responds to that in the postseason this year is going to go a long way in determining just how good the Leafs can be. They'll need continued offense from Fox, who had 18 points in 14 games. The Blues averaged just 26 shots per game at Kuemper, while Colorado was in control averaging 37 shots the other way. A trade to move Miller out of Vancouver would be surprising considering he signed a fresh seven-year, $56-million contract ($8 million AAV) in September 2022 a deal that won't even kick in until next season. After a bumpy road through February and most of March, the Blues caught fire into April and have been unstoppable of late. Obviously not. It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. The Lightning have done it the past two seasons, under less-than-ideal pandemic-related circumstances to boot. 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for eight series, Cup, Conn Smythe winner NHL.com @NHLdotcom April 30, 2022 The Colorado. Levy: Avalanche in five Player to watch: Under different circumstances, 22-year-old defenseman Evan Bouchard might have been a Calder Trophy finalist with his 43 points in 81 games. Playoff teams that need to sign Nerlens Noel: 1. Ferraro: Avalanche in six Portland Trail Blazers. Biggest flaw(s): Power plays don't always come easy in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Wyshynski's NHL trade deadline tiers: From elite game-changers to bargain beauties, NHL trade deadline guides for all 32 teams: Players, picks in play, cap space, team status. Bolden: Avalanche in six That's been the disconnect before, and those demons won't be overcome until Toronto has success when it matters most. We know Josi is a Norris Trophy-caliber defender, but the rest of Nashville's blue line doesn't exhibit nearly the same consistency. But it's also true that the Lightning haven't faced a goalie like Shesterkin, who is playing out of his gourd right now. Unlike the other two teams on this list, the Portland Trail Blazers are currently on the outside looking in. We just keep on trying to find our game and playing for each other," said forward Chris Kreider. The team also had strong seasons from veterans Trevor Moore, Alex Iafallo, Adrian Kempe and Alex Edler, a resurgent campaign from Jonathan Quick and an outstanding season from Drew Doughty before he went out with a wrist injury. The first-round pick is conditional on the Kings making the playoffs and would become two second-round picks (2023 and 2024) if they do not . . by Fantasy Hockey Staff @NHLFantasy. Case for a Stanley Cup run: This is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0. In the East, it'll be a battle of the goaltenders with the excellent matchup between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin. Goalie Frederik Andersen had a dominant regular season, finishing third in goals saved above average (38.7). He backstopped the Kings to the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, posting an incredible .946 save percentage to win that initial championship. John Buccigross examines the historical run the Tampa Bay Lightning have had over the past two seasons. Orchestrating all of it is coach Rod Brind'Amour, for whom the players would skate through a wall. McDonough: Hurricanes in seven reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. Lessons from Round 1 The Oilers will have to settle for Bouchard logging 19:46 in average ice time and being part of a successful pairing with Duncan Keith, which is not something Edmonton fans would have predicted before the season. by NHL Public Relations @PR_NHL April 29, 2022 NEW YORK - The National Hockey League today announced the dates, starting times and national television coverage for the 2022 Stanley Cup. Their head-to-head matchup will be a primary talking point in the lead-up to Game 1. And yet, here we are. Tarasenko had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues' 2019 run. Philadelphia Flyers (MP) Atlantic Division 1. Brian Boucher: Panthers in six DiPietro: Avalanche in seven NHL playoff fantasy competition is its own brand of compact, focused fun. Not exactly the best offensive company to keep. How do the Avs slow down the McDavid-Draisaitl-Kane line? Leah Hextall: Panthers in seven Alas, he's ineligible, having played more than six games in his first two NHL seasons. NHL Playoff Predictions 2022 Matchups EASTERN CONFERENCE Playoff Round 1 #1 seed Florida Panthers vs #8 seed Washington Capitals Florida wins (4-1) #2 seed Carolina Hurricanes vs #7 seed Boston Bruins Carolina wins (4-2) Metropolitan Division Match-up #2 New York Rangers vs #3 Pittsburgh Penguins New York wins (4-2) Atlantic Division Match-up Buccigross: Flames in six USA TODAY Sports' NHL staffers make their predictions for the second round: Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Jimmy Hascup: Avalanche in six. Because as good as McDavid has been, Draisaitl might be better (and he's playing hurt, too). Player to watch: McAvoy. No disrespect intended to Sebastian Aho, but the Rangers didn't have to face an elite offensive player like Kucherov in their series against the Hurricanes. NHL Events 2022-23; ESPN, Turner Schedules; . Tortorella: Flames in six The Lightning have great depth down the middle of the ice with Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos and Anthony Cirelli, electric scoring potential in Nikita Kucherov and an excellent defenseman who leads by example in Victor Hedman. He heads to New York with 1,225 points in 1,161 regular-season games. Chandan: Flames in six Kaplan: Hurricanes in seven What sort of postseason magic can Kadri create to cap this career season? Jump to a team: The image above displays the 2023 NHL Playoff bracket and will be updated after each week. Can Georgia pull off a repeat? Coach Darryl Sutter has this team primed to bring the Cup back to Canada for the first time since 1993. Subscribe to ESPN+ They aren't going to wilt if the Rangers control the tempo. The 2022 college football season doesn't kick off until August 27, but it's never too soon to look at possible College Football Playoff matchups. Tampa Bay is better 5-on-5. 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