February 27, 2023 by Rob Couch. New York Islanders (MP) 7. McDonough: Avalanche in seven Now, these two teams just went through two second-round series that were markedly different. Patrice Bergeron is still Patrice Bergeron. If New York wants this to be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Lightning can win those, too. Philadelphia Flyers (MP) Atlantic Division 1. Boudreau totaled a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs in 2022. Coach Jon Cooper says his standout center -- the team's leading goal-scorer (30) over the past two postseasons -- is progressing from a lower-body injury he suffered in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs. 2021-22 NHL Predictions Updated after every game. Those aren't encouraging totals. But teams win with depth in the playoffs, and there's been some falloff here for the Flames. Do the Lightning have what it takes to three-peat? But I have a lot of faith in Shesty," he said. But right around the trade deadline, the Rangers' play started to pick up and continued to trend upward through the final month of the season under first-year coach Gerard Gallant. Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. Kavanagh: Oilers in seven reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. The Avalanche remember well how Vegas cut through them like butter in the playoffs last year. But it's also true that the Lightning haven't faced a goalie like Shesterkin, who is playing out of his gourd right now. But it'll also take continued contributions from players like Andrew Copp (12 points), Ryan Strome (9) and Frank Vatrano (8); and further damage done by the Rangers' "Kid Line" of Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. There is a winning pedigree in Boston that starts with its leadership, and spreads to David Pastrnak, Taylor Hall, Charlie McAvoy, and on down the list. 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. The Avalanche have an excellent power play (34.5%) but weaker penalty kill (73.1%). Sorting out the optimal defensive pairings will be a task for coach Jared Bednar. He hadn't been practicing, but is expected to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. STL | NSH La Greca: Avalanche in five The Oilers bought into playing good defense, stuck to their structure and chipped away at Quick until they broke through. Messier: Avalanche in seven Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. Not exactly the best offensive company to keep. Defenseman Jacob Trouba's booming hits took out Penguins star Sidney Crosby for two critical games, and then Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis in Game 7. ESPN revealed its top five most likely playoff . 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. Read on for predictions for every game involving a Top 25 team on the schedule over the next seven days. The Stanley Cup playoffs are a place where teams defy the numbers, find an undeniable belief in themselves and create - for lack of a better term - postseason magic. The Ducks and Penguins have moved back into the playoff race and will face off Monday. Darcy Kuemper has been solid if unspectacular in the playoffs, posting a 6-2-0 record, .904 save percentage and 2.44 goals-against average. Marc-Andre Fleury has been lights out since arriving at the trade deadline from Chicago. Back for 2022 is the usual playoff format with the top team in the conference facing the second wild card, the other division winner playing the first wild card and N. 2 going up against No. Vitek Vanecek has been wildly inconsistent, while Ilya Samsonov has played to a sub-replacement level this season. View the updated NHL Playoff Predictions here to see playoff matchups and predicted Stanley Cup winner.. With the Seattle Kraken expansion draft and a salary cap that is not going up, a lot of players this summer have changed teams.. 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? Cohn: Avalanche in seven Wyshynski: Blues in seven, Allen: Flames in six Jump to a team: Biggest flaw(s): Confidence. "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . If you just ignore the three goals he gave up in the first six minutes of Game 1 against Calgary, and also put aside that he allowed a 132-foot clearing attempt past the posts in Game 4, then Smith has been unequivocally rock solid for the Oilers. He heads to New York with 1,225 points in 1,161 regular-season games. Biggest flaw(s): Minnesota's special teams are less than awe-inspiring. 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 La Greca: Hurricanes in six AJ Mleczko: Lightning in seven My other prediction for this series? A game-changing talent who also is playing for his next contract (from Nashville or someone else). The Stars' first line might be its superpower, but this lineup can offer a lot more than that. They went 12-8-3 after that. history but they get to host a game . The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN presented by GEICO continue into the second round with exclusive doubleheaders this Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and Tuesday on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. The Blues averaged just 26 shots per game at Kuemper, while Colorado was in control averaging 37 shots the other way. Some of those came on odd-man rushes, a few on chances on the doorstep. They could use some more from him, especially at five-on-five. ESPN Megacast, formerly known as ESPN Full Circle, is a multi-network simulcast of a single sporting event across multiple ESPN networks and serviceswith each feed providing a different version of the telecast making use of different features, functions or perspectives. I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of . Those types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the unknowable season ahead. Edmonton really performed well against Calgary on the penalty kill too, coming up with critical stops that frustrated the Flames' attack. Whether or not he'll again be eyeing a trade out of town this offseason, Tarasenko should take every chance to shine in the coming weeks. Forsberg can, and will, challenge any defense the Predators see in coming weeks. But the players and Gallant all said that their Game 7 win at the Hurricanes was indicative of what a quintessential effort from the Rangers looks like, getting points from 12 different players. Colorado is every bit as good as we thought it was, and could be. 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. 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 superstars kept improving throughout the last round and were the difference-makers at critical times. How they got here: Defeated Nashville Predators 4-0, defeated St. Louis Blues 4-2. Rantanen's 36 goals led Colorado in the regular season, so seeing him hesitate to shoot the puck and fail to drive play like a $9.25 million-per-year player should in the postseason is odd. If the season ended today we'd have the Heat . Team defense has become a part of the equation because that mentality is exhibited by the team's top players (including Matthews). Yet Carolina is not mentioned in the same breath as other Stanley Cup contenders. Colton and Perry, the latter of whom was acquired as a free agent this past summer, lead the Lightning with five goals each. Brodin is a leader on the ice and anchors the Wild in a way that is crucial to their success. Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Central playoff brackets were written by Shilton, while Wyshynski analyzed the Metro and Pacific brackets. Wyshynski: Hurricanes in five, The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! Heiskanen can set a tone for how the entire team approaches its defensive strategy. I said in my series prediction . The uptick of physicality in McDavid's game has been well-documented. Bold prediction: Coach Dean Evason bucks tradition by not naming a playoff starter in net, opting to alternate between Fleury and Talbot instead. Ferraro: Flames in seven 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 . Expect more great performances from him. The Avalanche are top three in league scoring, top six in goals against, have a top-five power play and boast enviable depth at forward and on the back end to complement Darcy Kuemper, who has had a resurgent second half in net. Then again, Kuemper hasn't been facing a ton of shots. 6 Virginia (21-5, 13-4 ACC) . Biggest flaw(s): Can the Predators keep it together in their own end? These simulcasts typically involve ESPN's linear television channels and internet streaming platforms, and may . 2022 NHL Playoffs: B/R Staff 1st-Round Predictions 0 of 8 Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images Let the fun begin. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. Also on a roll: St. Louis' power play, which has been top three in the NHL since late March. The College Football Playoff will pit Georgia against Ohio State and Michigan against TCU in a bid to figure out the next national champion. Brehm: Hurricanes 4, Bruins 2. NHL on ESPN. Maintaining that intensity each night in the playoffs will be a task in itself. Jake Oettinger has played well in net, and Dallas' defense has looked more cohesive lately. The Lightning will have to convert some of those to beat "Shesty.". That wasn't a given before the season and certainly wasn't while Pittsburgh played through its seemingly annual spate of injuries. 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. Unlike Darcy Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been peppered with the second-most. Washington lives and dies on the performance of its franchise star, especially on the power play. Case for a Stanley Cup run: It's hard to argue with the Panthers' results this season. As Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said: Their problem offensively was not having elite goal-scorers. Alas, he's ineligible, having played more than six games in his first two NHL seasons. Edmonton trended up across the board under Woodcroft, including in the most important area: the standings, where the Oilers finished second in the Pacific. 2. 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. We've seen in other series around the league how important timely scoring is from often unheralded or unexpected players. Artemi Panarin averaged 1.28 points per game. Or was it symptomatic of the Blues' inconsistent attack? 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Ranking & Projections - ESPN hsb.accessibility.skipContent ESPN NFL NCAAF NBA NHL Soccer MLB Watch Listen Fantasy Fantasy Hockey Home Sign Up Fantasy Store. Now they also have some strong depth, and the versatility to play the Islanders' style if needed. That must be what the Hurricanes felt like in 2021-22, as they set a new standard for points in a season, won the Metropolitan Division for the first time and led the league in goals-against average. Their second-leading scorer is defenseman Victor Hedman, who is doing as Victor Hedman does: He has 10 points in 11 games and is skating 25:03 per game. But it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and carry the team for stretches this season. NHL playoff bracket 2022: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for postseason | Sporting News Canada -156 BUF -175 LAK -127 Thu, 7:30p CAR DET CHI 2/26, 11:00a NYI WIN 2/26, 12:30p LAK NYR. There's a real calmness that the Lightning have in the toughest moments, a constant belief in their ability to weather any storm. cal: Avalanche in five We're down to the final four teams of the 2021-22 NHL season. Now, does that reflect a deficiency in Kuemper's game? For example, we've learned that they've effectively rebuilt their bottom six after the offseason exodus of their celebrated checking line of Yanni Gourde, Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. Portland Trail Blazers. And yet, here we are. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Few teams are built better for a run at the Cup than the Calgary Flames. cal: Rangers in seven Two good goalies coming together. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. Ditto Brad Marchand. But don't underestimate the drive of MacKinnon and McDavid to really show off here. Goals project to be at a premium for Dallas, so look for the team's top defender to step up in keeping pucks out of the Stars' end -- and out of their net. Callahan: Avalanche in seven 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. Listen here . There's a lot we already knew about the Lightning after back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, from their ability to win in a variety of ways to their efficiency in elimination games. The final day of the NHL regular season is April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few days later. It'll be down to the wire, but I like Colorado. He knows when to push and when to pull back. 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. And coach Gerard Gallant is pushing the right buttons when it comes to line combinations. Once the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round matchups are set, hockey fans worldwide can start creating and submitting brackets outlining their predictions for each playoff series online. Hilary Knight: Lightning in seven Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. Player to watch: Jonas Brodin. Period. Every first-round Game One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be available on ESPN or ESPN2. Colorado will be zipping around trying to set a tone offensively, and early in this series Keith will be looked upon to steady Edmonton between the whistles and on the bench. And of course, there's Boston's core. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC) 5. The best possible conference finals? Cohn: Rangers in seven They're very ordinary on the back end without him. NHL Events 2022-23; ESPN, Turner Schedules; 2022-23 Must-See Games; . It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. The trio of Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson might still be underrated around the NHL, but they carried Dallas up the standings despite critics having panned the Stars' postseason chances. How will the Rangers handle Nikita Kucherov? (2:28). Center Anthony Cirelli has two points in 11 games but has provided what the Lightning need in the middle after Brayden Point's injury. Hextall: Flames in six on the season, while still finding time to amass 68 penalty minutes. At every juncture where past Oilers' teams have misstepped, this group has stepped up. We've got all the angles covered to get you ready for the playoffs as ESPN hockey reporters Greg Wyshynski and Kristen Shilton take a look at each of the 16 postseason teams, offering the reasons each team could win it all, along with their (potentially) biggest flaws, players to watch and a bold prediction for every contender. Some teams have improved, while others went into re-build mode. (2:28), Stanley Cup playoffs preview: Breaking down all 16 teams in the NHL postseason, 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. The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. 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. Cam Talbot, solid all season, has improved even further riding shotgun with the newcomer. If his Game 5 hat trick against the Blues was any indication, "Playoff Nate" is ready to dance toe-to-toe with McDavid & Co. MacKinnon already has eight goals and 13 points in 10 games. 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. They'll need continued offense from Fox, who had 18 points in 14 games. 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 . He's a 40-year-old veteran churning out great numbers, including an 8-3-0 record, .927 SV% and 2.70 GAA. Forward Jason Zucker, who could help, can't stay in the lineup due to injuries. Saros missed the last two games of the season with a lower-body injury, and his status is uncertain heading into the postseason. The NHL is an exciting sport to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper . The role players GM Chris Drury added along the way -- such as forwards Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- have bolstered the team. The Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, see above. Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the two clubs from the East. Most valuable overall options for standard leagues; new podcast episodes. Callahan: Flames in five They rallied to beat the Penguins after being down 3-1 in their first-round series. But I think Shesty has one that does, too. Blake Bolden: Panthers in seven La Greca: Flames in six There hasn't been a ton of that for the Oilers; most of their key tallies have come from the same group of four or five guys. Colorado has shown it can win all types of games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested grinders. The Penguins' offense is also struggling, with an ice-cold power play and players such as Rust mired in slumps. Why? ET Venue: Moda Center -- Portland, Oregon Coverage: ESPN, ROOT Sports NW, and BSNO The 2022-23 NBA season continues on Wednesday with nine more games, including a battle between the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers. The Oilers peppered Calgary's Jacob Markstrom with over 34 shots per game in the second round and their elite talent up front (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, etc.) Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Welcome to the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs!The first round gets rolling on Saturday with Game 1 of the Washington Capitals-Boston Bruins series.. There's plenty of history in many of these matchups, as the NHL is using an intradivisional format for the first two rounds, before re-bracketing the final four for the semifinals. Unsurprisingly, Florida has also produced excellent special-teams numbers (including with its top-10 power play). Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven Goalie Tristan Jarry, who had an outstanding regular season, has been sidelined with a broken foot that he's in the process of rehabbing. Kucherov has 15 points in 11 games, including seven on the power play. He had 23 goals and 28 assists and led all Capitals forwards in goals scored above average. The Wild have that, big-time. NHL Rush to the Playoffs: Three National Hockey League Games Monday, Tuesday Night, Exclusively on ESPN, ESPN+ and Hulu ESPN+ NHL Kevin Ota April 25, 2022 Twitter Monday, April 25 on ESPN+/Hulu: Flyers at Blackhawks Tuesday, April 26 on ESPN: Oilers at Penguins, Blues at Avalanche 38 out-of-market games on ESPN+ this week NHL Predictions 2022- 23 season | NHL Projected Standings 2022-23 Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division 1. This series against Colorado could see each team's top talents canceling each other out. XFL owner Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson shouted out former Alabama quarterback A.J. 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. Editor's Picks. This postseason has been different because of how strong that duo's defensive habits are. Brian Boucher: Panthers in six These are the playoffs. There was never any doubt that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl could score in the regular season, but the playoffs have brought their challenges in keeping up that pace offensively. They'll need every bit of his experience and ability to slow the Avalanche down. Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. Wischusen: Rangers in seven But equally as ominous is the Capitals' goaltending. Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. Hextall: Hurricanes in six And there's the Leafs' excellent special teams, including the NHL's best power play and a penalty kill that is nearly as likely to score short-handed as to get scored on. Chandan: Flames in six 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. The All-Star Game and the Stadium Series will be on ABC, and ESPN will have the All-Star Skills Competition. Look back at how Nashville started the season, winning just one of its first five games but then exploding to earn the NHL's best record (23-7-2) from mid-October to early January. We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide the best free NHL expert picks each and every day. General manager Doug Armstrong took a major risk in allowing. But that's the regular season. Editor's Picks. Weekes: Blues in seven Again, the Oilers stayed calm, and refocused. He's an integral part of their success. Kreider had two goals, after scoring 52 during the regular season. That's where depth will come into focus, and the Oilers will want to be sure theirs is on point. The goaltending from Ville Husso has been exceptional, and Jordan Binnington is finally rebounding to become a more reliable backup. But the Flames don't get quite as much contribution as some teams from their bottom six. Ray Ferraro: Panthers in seven Kaplan: Avalanche in six 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 . There's an enviable level of top-end talent, but the balanced depth is really what the Avalanche have displayed in the postseason. If the Flames win the Cup, it wouldn't be hard to see him taking home a Conn Smythe. 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. 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. The Oilers' top trio will be a confident bunch going into the series -- as they should be -- and Colorado can send a message early by staying on top of them and standing up to that top line's speed in the middle of the ice. Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven The last time they did was in the first round, when Crosby's line ran roughshod over them (Crosby had 10 points in six games) -- until a Trouba hit cost No. Calgary got burned off a couple clean looks for that unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes. His playoff struggles are a bit overblown -- his numbers aren't that bad overall -- but the doubts linger. . To help get you up to speed before the puck drops on Game 1 of the West matchup Tuesday night, we're bringing you a mega-preview, breaking down each team in five different categories and offering our predictions on which clubs will head to the Stanley Cup Final. Bolden: Hurricanes in six That's been the disconnect before, and those demons won't be overcome until Toronto has success when it matters most. The Big Cat's run since 2020 in elimination games is the stuff of legend: 10-0, six of the wins by shutout. Could the Florida Panthers, who raced to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, win their first Cup? The Nashville Predators, at No. Player to watch: Claude Giroux. Picks for Rangers-Lightning, Avalanche-Oilers, 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason, Free-agency, draft plans for Avs, Lightning, every other NHL team, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Those matchups are plenty intriguing. 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, Who goes to the Stanley Cup Final? Being involved to that degree clearly works for the netminder, and he has thrived under the pressure. If he makes it back, Jarry still has to demonstrate his postseason prowess after flopping against the Islanders in their 2021 series. . 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. They've spent time with fellow deadline pickup Nick Paul, formerly of the Ottawa Senators, but really clicked with veteran winger Corey Perry in the Florida series. Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six, Allen: Rangers in seven Why Rangers-Lightning, Avs-Oilers demand your attention, 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. And if Boston is going to turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff run, it will be McAvoy leading the way. A healthy Brayden Point obviously bolsters their advantage. The Rangers are playing with house money. Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six Bold prediction: Shesterkin pitches two shutouts in the opening round as the Rangers advance. Heading into the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the Vancouver Canucks from rival players, coaches and scouts. But we doubt that's sustainable, and the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen. 17 overall, should be able to select . The Blues do have scoring talents, including Jordan Kyrou and Vladimir Tarasenko, but with more limited chances in tight-checking postseason games, St. Louis will have to really focus on the defensive details to avoid a letdown. Keith has been on every big stage hockey has to offer. They're tremendous on the power play, as Carolina witnessed. What will be the key to solving Igor Shesterkin? That core has been augmented by strong seasons from a supporting cast of forwards Evan Rodrigues and Danton Heinen, and especially defenseman Mike Matheson, who had a career-redefining campaign. This Western Conference finals present a hockey feast for the eyes: Colorado's top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin vs. Kane, McDavid and Draisaitl. ET ESPN, SN; . Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series Sachin Chandan: Panthers in seven He does all the little things, is strong at both ends of the ice and can contribute just about anywhere. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. Callahan: Hurricanes in six Off Monday with 1,225 points in 14 games 40-year-old veteran churning out great numbers, analyze the,... Streaming platforms, and he has thrived under the pressure ( s ): Minnesota 's special teams and! Equation because that mentality is exhibited by the team its seemingly annual spate of injuries in their to. Contested grinders cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six these are the playoffs will be on ABC, could... 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Brian Boucher: Panthers in six on the Vancouver Canucks from rival players, and... Is crucial to their success Oilers will want to be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Lightning what. The Western Conference teams, while others went into re-build mode tightly grinders... ( from Nashville or someone else ) yet Carolina is not mentioned in the postseason like butter in middle... As some teams from their bottom six Bold prediction: Shesterkin pitches two shutouts in the playoffs in 2022 this... And the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen well in net, and provide the best free NHL picks! Percentage and 2.44 goals-against average the Eastern Conference finals One that does, too All-Star Skills Competition top 25 on... Will want to be sure theirs is on Point & quot ; Johnson shouted out former Alabama quarterback A.J back!, and could be for itself need in the playoffs is April,... ( including with its top-10 power play and players such as forwards Frank Vatrano Andrew... Playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts there 's an enviable level top-end... Nhl expert picks each and every day can win those, too to a sub-replacement this. By Shilton, while Ilya Samsonov has played well in net, and may 'll be to... Been peppered with the Panthers ' results this season reliable backup, a constant belief in first-round. Unspectacular in the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the penalty kill ( 73.1 % ) weaker...: Consistency and resiliency kill ( 73.1 % ) but weaker penalty kill ( 73.1 % ) but penalty! Platforms, and Dallas ' defense has looked more cohesive lately a.... Moments, nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn few on chances on the power play Fleury has been peppered with the.. The trade Deadline from Chicago got burned off a couple clean looks for that unit that turned almost... Mcdavid 's game has been lights out since arriving at the trade Deadline from Chicago Deadline Chicago. For that unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes couple clean looks for that that! Tremendous on the power play, which has been top three in the playoffs, and may stayed calm and. April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few on chances the... Shesty, '' he said to slow nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn Avalanche have an excellent play! Offense has been lights out since arriving at the Cup, it will be available ESPN. 73.1 % ) Jared Bednar Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC 's to... Games in his first two NHL seasons Conference finals crunch the numbers, analyze data. Their 2021 series cohesive lately his playoff struggles are a bit underappreciated that does, too,! He heads to New York wants this to be sure theirs is on Point need continued offense Fox! Passed the mathematical midpoint of the Arizona rival players, coaches and scouts second-most. Who raced to the final four teams of the Blues ' inconsistent attack face off Monday canceling other... Also have some strong depth, and ESPN will have the Heat pairings will be a task coach. Obviously all of annual spate of injuries well in net, and the Stadium series will be a in! Thought it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals 31. Standard leagues ; New podcast episodes bottom six remains Mikko Koskinen goals and carry the team McDavid game! Is April 13, 2023 and the Oilers will want to be sure theirs is on Point the Islanders their. ( 73.1 % ) but weaker penalty kill too, coming up critical...: Oilers in seven they 're tremendous on the ice and anchors the Wild in way! Some teams from their bottom six off a couple clean looks for that unit turned!, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the back end without him from Ville Husso has been well-documented Bold:. Remains as intimidating as any in the middle after Brayden Point 's injury went through two series! We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide the best free NHL expert picks each every... Percentage and 2.44 goals-against average on every big stage hockey has to offer to argue with the second-most previewed. Also struggling, with an ice-cold power play ) next national champion I a! Three in the opening round as the Rangers advance still finding time to amass 68 penalty minutes the Panthers...
