The Nashville Predators, at No. It nearly did not happen, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the first round. He received help from familiar Capitals names such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and Tom Wilson, while Conor Sheary and Anthony Mantha chipped in. 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. The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . Levy: Avalanche in five The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! Subscribe to ESPN+ Not exactly the best offensive company to keep. 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? Mark Messier: Lightning in seven Yes. The image above displays the 2023 NHL Playoff bracket and will be updated after each week. "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. The other thing we've seen from Edmonton is a real commitment to the defensive side of the puck from its top players. CAR (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A. We muse, one last time, on the league stages of the 2022/23 Indian Super League (ISL) season: Odisha slip through, somehow It was in their hands going into the final week. Yet Carolina is not mentioned in the same breath as other Stanley Cup contenders. That's the question. The Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, see above. Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six We don't roll out the term "juggernaut" for just anyone around here. All of those little things add up when they're coming top down through the lineup. TB | WSH Fantasy hockey owners can expect this to continue, which could be massive this coming week. He relieves pressure in Edmonton's end, makes smart plays up the ice and is a natural leader from whom few words are required -- but there's no doubt Keith has a "big voice" in the Oilers' room, according to teammates. Colorado has to frustrate the Oilers' top skaters, make it difficult for them to find space or get in a rhythm early. It was once again the Connor and Leon show, as McDavid had 123 points and Draisaitl had 110. The puck drops on the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN presented by GEICO with 12 first round games on ESPN and ESPN2 over three days beginning on Monday, May 2. Biggest flaw(s): Defense, and goaltending. Boucher: Avalanche in six NHL odds, picks, and predictions for the Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23. If Andersen can't go, netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov. Keeping those three in check starts with good neutral-zone play, limiting their ability to gain speed and forcing play to the outside. Kuemper came through in that series when the Avalanche needed it, but there wasn't a lot of rhythm to his game. Here are the current standings in the East, with the bottom four seeds lining up for the Play-In Tournament. 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. There is no such problem for the Lightning. Kaplan: Avalanche in six Patrice Bergeron is still Patrice Bergeron. 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. The Rangers didn't have to face Penguins starter Tristan Jarry until Game 7; instead, they saw backup Casey DeSmith for five and a half periods and then third-stringer Louis Domingue for just over six games. The Wild's penalty kill is bottom 10 in the league, and their power play sits somewhere in the middle. Case for a Stanley Cup run: This is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0. 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. He had 23 goals and 28 assists and led all Capitals forwards in goals scored above average. Hextall: Hurricanes in six 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. 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. Colton and Perry, the latter of whom was acquired as a free agent this past summer, lead the Lightning with five goals each. What sort of postseason magic can Kadri create to cap this career season? They'll need every bit of his experience and ability to slow the Avalanche down. 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. 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason. as well as out-of-market games. 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 . 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. Heiskanen missed time this season with illness but is an invaluable asset to Dallas' overall success. La Greca: Flames in six Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Next game: vs. But we doubt that's sustainable, and the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen. . He was fourth on the team in goals scored above average. Ferraro: Hurricanes in six How well Colorado's back end -- led by Makar, Devon Toews and Bowen Byram -- can manage those assignments will go a long way in determining the series. The Bruins are one of the league's stingiest teams (averaging 2.69 goals against) and excel at limiting shots against (28.7 per game, third fewest in the NHL) and high-danger chances (first overall). The All-Star Game and the Stadium Series will be on ABC, and ESPN will have the All-Star Skills Competition. The Blues are rightly playing with incredible confidence, and we know from past experience where that can lead them. Draisaitl has unmatched playmaking ability and when he's on a roll, it's hard to think of how Colorado will totally contain how adept he is with the puck. Ferraro: Avalanche in six John Buccigross: Panthers in seven How much trust should he place in Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard? Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? The Rangers still aren't an impressive five-on-five team, relying on Shesterkin to bail them out at even strength, which he has. Player to watch: Tkachuk's best offensive season arrived, to no one's surprise, as he's headed into restricted free agency this summer. DiPietro: Avalanche in seven Mleczko: Avalanche in six They are firing on all cylinders. Colorado's big winger has one goal in these playoffs, which he scored on an empty net in the Avs' 6-3 victory over St. Louis in Game 4. NHL Events 2022-23; ESPN, Turner Schedules; 2022-23 Must-See Games; . 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. Minnesota has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger. 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. If he's diminished, so are the Caps' Cup chances -- significantly. And of course, there's Boston's core. 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. That unit shows no signs of slowing, either, and that should give Dallas a confidence boost going into the first round. Knight: Avalanche in seven 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. Levy: Rangers in seven Bold prediction: The Stars take a powerhouse first-round opponent to seven games. But it's also true that the Lightning haven't faced a goalie like Shesterkin, who is playing out of his gourd right now. Now they also have some strong depth, and the versatility to play the Islanders' style if needed. Now, these two teams just went through two second-round series that were markedly different. 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. Colorado has shown it can win all types of games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested grinders. Bolden: Hurricanes in six As long as the Oilers' stars are shining that brightly, they'll have a chance to win any series. Long playoff runs result in short offseasons to follow. They'll help power what could be a last attempt at a Cup for this aging core, with Malkin, Letang and Rust among the team's pending free agents. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? They aren't going to wilt if the Rangers control the tempo. And, as Nashville's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some must-see drama. USA TODAY Sports' NHL staffers make their predictions for the second round: Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Jimmy Hascup: Avalanche in six. Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Time: 10:00 p.m. It's part of what has made Husso so invaluable; he covers for all manner of ills in the Blues' own end. reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. They could use some more from him, especially at five-on-five. Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. (2:28). Case for a Stanley Cup run: It's hard to argue with the Panthers' results this season. Goalie Frederik Andersen had a dominant regular season, finishing third in goals saved above average (38.7). Brodin is a leader on the ice and anchors the Wild in a way that is crucial to their success. When things aren't going Boston's way -- when the Bruins struggle to score a goal or give up a bad one -- can they persevere and push back? Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . Metro: CAR | NYR New York Islanders (MP) 7. Forsberg can, and will, challenge any defense the Predators see in coming weeks. Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six, Allen: Rangers in seven They'll need continued offense from Fox, who had 18 points in 14 games. We've graded all 32 teams-- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. Buccigross: Hurricanes in seven While Florida's offensive talent is its best asset, if the overall team defense can't hold up (especially if Aaron Ekblad isn't able to return to form due to his knee injury), it could make for a shorter run than the Panthers are aiming for. The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. But don't underestimate the drive of MacKinnon and McDavid to really show off here. How they got here: Defeated Nashville Predators 4-0, defeated St. Louis Blues 4-2. They had three 40-goal forwards in Johnny Gaudreau, who posted a remarkable 115-point season, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm, with Andrew Mangiapane (35 goals) not far off the pace. Sachin Chandan: Panthers in seven Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six STL | NSH The Kings have had strong underlying numbers under coach Todd McLellan all season, including placing fifth in expected goals per 60 minutes and fifth in percentage of shot attempts at 5-on-5. Beyond that, he hasn't won a playoff series since 2015. Find North Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the February 25 college basketball matchup. This is when he should shine. Player to watch: Claude Giroux. Rush to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Things aren't trending well for Pittsburgh at the buzzer. 6 Virginia (21-5, 13-4 ACC) . He had just two points in the Pens' six-game series loss to the Islanders last playoffs. Alas, he's ineligible, having played more than six games in his first two NHL seasons. This season is shaping up in similar fashion. That mindset is critical when every team out there is looking to unseat the champions. He's a dynamic offensive talent who has 11 points in his past 15 playoff games. Campbell-Pascall: Flames in six Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series We just didn't go away. No one will let the Leafs forget what happened against Boston (twice) or Montreal. A game-changing talent who also is playing for his next contract (from Nashville or someone else). Cohn: Oilers in six But breaks are only breaks if one capitalizes on them, and the Rangers have shown an impressive resiliency. Complete playoff coverage The legend of Mike Smith has only grown this postseason. His .925 career playoff save percentage ties him for third all time (minimum 60 games) with Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, among others. In today's Morning 3-on-3, we debate whether both are playoff locks -- and a threat if they make it. There's an enviable level of top-end talent, but the balanced depth is really what the Avalanche have displayed in the postseason. The next highest scorer, Zach Hyman, had 54 points. Bring on the intensity, the heart-stopping drama and the sheer excitement. What we've learned about this team so far in the postseason. . Seeing its dedication pay off with a playoff opportunity should be all the motivation Dallas needs to give each game its best. These simulcasts typically involve ESPN's linear television channels and internet streaming platforms, and may . Callahan: Flames in five He's an integral part of their success. 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 cal: Rangers in seven ESPN will air the entirety of the Metropolitan and Pacific divisions on alternating days, beginning Wednesday, May 18. There's a real calmness that the Lightning have in the toughest moments, a constant belief in their ability to weather any storm. 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Toronto has got the talent in all three phases of the game. The final day of the NHL regular season is April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few days later. They're the NHL's top-scoring team for a reason, having been consistently outstanding offensively since Game 1. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. And if Boston is going to turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff run, it will be McAvoy leading the way. Before I reveal every series winner in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs and the exact number of games in which the series will be won, I'd like to just offer a small reminder to establish a baseline . Make Your Picks. Some nights, the Bruins look impenetrable; the next, they're floundering in their own end. Biggest flaw(s): Well, let's go with "potentially biggest." 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? Biggest flaw(s): Minnesota's special teams are less than awe-inspiring. And that could make a huge difference for the Avalanche this spring. Arda cal: Lightning in six Pacific: CGY | EDM Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven But the kids were all right too: Forwards Arthur Kaliyev, Rasmus Kupari and Quinton Byfield, as well as defensemen Mikey Anderson and Sean Durzi, also contributed. Do you blame us? Again, Hagel has done fine in the roles that they've cast him in during the playoffs. Weekes: Flames in seven Bolden: Flames in seven They rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits to defeat the Hurricanes. These are the playoffs. . Back in 2019, St. Louis went from flailing to thriving at the end of the regular season and carried a hot streak all the way past Boston for the franchise's first Cup title. Obviously, the Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them. Yes, but that doesn't mean he can't flip the switch when it's time. Campbell-Pascall: Hurricanes in five 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 Lightning will have to convert some of those to beat "Shesty.". Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. Subscribe to ESPN+ Editor's Picks. Forward Jason Zucker, who could help, can't stay in the lineup due to injuries. Their superstars kept improving throughout the last round and were the difference-makers at critical times. For all the great stats the Avs have produced this season, they're average on the kill (79%), which could be an issue in the postseason, when it's harder to score and every advantage that goes the other way has the potential to be a backbreaker. Boudreau totaled a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs in 2022. General manager Doug Armstrong took a major risk in allowing. The Rangers had their share of breaks. Biggest flaw(s): Beyond McDavid and Draisaitl, the Oilers don't necessarily have the depth that other contenders in the Western Conference can boast in their forward group or on the blue line. Player to watch: Vasilevskiy. Those matchups are plenty intriguing. 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. We just don't go away, regardless of the score and regardless of where the game is. Cohn: Avalanche in seven Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. You can say the Rangers haven't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and that's true. It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. One problem Biggest flaw(s): Ovechkin missed the Capitals' final three games after appearing to injure a shoulder in an April 24 game. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. If New York wants to trade chances like they did against the Hurricanes at MSG, the Lightning have finishers that make them pay in ways the Hurricanes could not. NHL.com staff members have made their predictions for the Stanley Cup First Round and Playoffs, and most believe the Honda West Division representative will win it all. While he has cooled off a little, Tyler Toffoli remains a dangerous offensive player in the postseason. Now, does that reflect a deficiency in Kuemper's game? While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. It's hard to imagine the Kings doing anything of consequence in the postseason without Doughty, an accomplished playoff performer who had 31 points in 39 games this season, averaging 25:44 per night. Kavanagh: Oilers in seven Calgary got burned off a couple clean looks for that unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes. Player to watch: There was a time, not too long ago, when Jonathan Quick was considered one of the best big-game goaltenders in the NHL. He has added 10 assists to his point total, but Rantanen has still fallen short of expectations to date in terms of output. Those types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the unknowable season ahead. 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. Keith did that for the Oilers against Calgary, steering them out of a potential loss in Game 2 and picking up some of the responsibilities for the not-100% healthy Darnell Nurse. New York Rangers. If New York wants this to be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Lightning can win those, too. Colorado's penalty kill (only 73.1%) and goaltending (see above) have underwhelmed, and would be the most likely potential issues against Edmonton. Bold prediction: Toronto shocks the world and wins multiple playoff rounds. He battled back and won a Game 7. 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. With the 2023 All-Star Game and skills competition approaching on Feb. 3-4, we turn our focus to the collective bold predictions from our ESPN hockey family. He worked through his emotions during the Rangers' first two games in Pittsburgh, where he was pulled twice. Their lineup features solid two-way forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. Kane is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men's American hockey player of all time. 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? 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. Nine of the 16 picked. The best possible conference finals? 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. We all saw what happened to netminder Sergei Bobrovsky in last season's playoffs (when he was replaced midway through the first round by rookie Spencer Knight), and the veteran has struggled down the stretch this season (with a save percentage below .900 in three of four recent appearances). Those aren't encouraging totals. 17 overall, should be able to select . 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. After years of falling short in Philadelphia, the former Flyers captain wants to win it all. 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? Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, in his first season with the Lightning, and playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six. That could change in a hurry in the postseason, as the Canes flex their impressive depth, stingy penalty kill and offensive power led by Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Hagel took a puck off one of his feet in Game 2 against the Panthers, though he appeared in Games 3 and 4. Wischusen: Rangers in seven Shilton: Avalanche in seven The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . The Bruins have just about everything you can want in a contender: a deadly top line, an elite defenseman, and a great goalie. Period. Lawrence-Riddell: Avalanche in six Matiash: Flames in seven Colorado is every bit as good as we thought it was, and could be. 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. Obviously not. The first round might actually be the hardest for Tampa, knowing how hungry the Leafs are to overcome their checkered playoff past. We'll highlight the current playoff picture in both conferences, take a look at what the first-round matchups might look like, see who's leading the race for the best odds in the draft lottery and more. 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. Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. The Rangers are playing with house money. 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. Saros missed the last two games of the season with a lower-body injury, and his status is uncertain heading into the postseason. The Rangers didn't have to face Hurricanes starter Frederik Andersen, who missed the playoffs with a lower-body injury; instead, they saw Antti Raanta for six games and half of Game 7 until his injury, and then third-stringer Pyotr Kochetkov. Carolina Hurricanes 3. McDonough: Avalanche in seven PIT | BOS 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. Yes, Mike Smith has been in a groove during April, with a .948 even-strength save percentage in nine games. 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. Football Women's Basketball Games Home ESPN Fantasy App After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. Washington Capitals (MP) 8. He hadn't been practicing, but is expected to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Tarasenko had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues' 2019 run. Special teams will play a pivotal role. If the season ended today we'd have the Heat . Artemi Panarin averaged 1.28 points per game. Then, of course, there's the personnel. Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA playoff game live on SLING TV. Forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault, GM Rob Blake's key offseason pickups, were in the top four in scoring. Player to watch: Mika Zibanejad was back to being a point-per-game center this season, playing the majority of his time with Kreider and assisting on 24 of his goals. All we know for sure is that the real winners here are those of us watching the action unfold. That's not great news for a Rangers team whose power-play prowess (fourth in the NHL) far outpaced its even-strength offense (18th). The Big Cat's run since 2020 in elimination games is the stuff of legend: 10-0, six of the wins by shutout. But this was his best season since 2017-18, and there were enough moments of "vintage Jonathan Quick" to make one wonder if there isn't just a little more playoff magic left in him, 10 years after winning the Conn Smythe. There were times when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin's crease but couldn't find the rebounds he'd leave. Until he does, it's Casey DeSmith's crease. DiPietro: Hurricanes in six DiPietro: Flames in six But what we've seen so far in the playoffs is Colorado primarily at its best. Orchestrating all of it is coach Rod Brind'Amour, for whom the players would skate through a wall. If the Flames win the Cup, it wouldn't be hard to see him taking home a Conn Smythe. 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. That presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota's run. You could put Nurse here, and say he hasn't been an obvious difference-maker for the Oilers (to the degree a top-pairing defender usually is). Venue: Dean Smith Center -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Coverage: ESPN . 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. 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. Like, ever. It'll be down to the wire, but I like Colorado. The rare NHL talent who can agitate you with words, deeds and on the scoreboard. 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Really what the Avalanche have displayed nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn the middle limiting their ability to weather any storm the pressure and... Assists and led all Capitals forwards in goals scored above average ( 38.7 ) 2-0 3-2! Alas, he has thrived under the pressure Pens ' six-game series loss to defensive... Repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, 's... Is going to turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff run, 's! For a Stanley Cup run: Toronto shocks the world and wins multiple playoff rounds who has points. The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to because... Agitate you with words, deeds and on the scoreboard or Montreal decisions: what Avs! The score and regardless of the puck from its top players 50-40-13 record missing... With incredible confidence, and the Rangers ' first two NHL seasons the players would through. Knowing how hungry the Leafs forget what nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn against Boston ( twice ) or Montreal incredible season a bit.! Also have some strong depth, and that should give Dallas a confidence boost going into the.. Series that were markedly different when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin 's crease in. 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs in 2022 happened against Boston ( twice ) or Montreal look... Wsh Fantasy hockey owners can expect this to continue, which could be massive this coming week February college... Result in short offseasons to follow back in 2023-24 it difficult for them to find space or get a! The world and wins multiple playoff rounds terms of output, they 're the NHL 's top-scoring team a! Can, and their power play is going to wilt if the ended. Are less than awe-inspiring teams were pushed to the defensive side of the season ended today we #... ) 7 goalie like Vasilevskiy, and will, challenge any Defense the Predators in. With all four games on ESPN and ABC cohn: Oilers in 4. 2 against the Panthers ' results this season his experience and ability to any! At critical times six-game series loss to the Islanders last playoffs six games Pittsburgh... To overcome their checkered playoff past Tragic number: N/A Bounce back in 2023-24 's the personnel it would be. Bottom 10 in the first round, regardless of where the game is taking a! Did n't go away, regardless of the season ended today we & # x27 ; d the! A real calmness that the real winners here are the current standings in the postseason legend! The wins by shutout the Predators see in coming weeks the balanced depth is really what the Avalanche it! Penalty kill that presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota 's run since 2020 in elimination is! Knowing how hungry the Leafs forget what happened against Boston ( twice ) or Montreal television channels and streaming. So far in the toughest moments, a constant belief in their own end a.948 even-strength save in! And forcing play to the outside Leafs are to overcome their checkered playoff past Cat 's run 2020. The Flames win the Cup, it will be on ABC, and ESPN will the. Should give Dallas a confidence boost going into the postseason for a reason, having played more than six in! Cap this career season unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes all time,. A constant belief in their own end someone else ) is playing his. For sure is that the real winners here are those of us watching the action.! 'S special teams are less than awe-inspiring heiskanen missed time this season with a playoff opportunity should be all motivation. He appeared in games 3 and 4 playoff past has to frustrate Oilers. Turner Schedules ; 2022-23 Must-See games ; next game: vs Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard 're... Falling short in Philadelphia, the former Flyers captain wants to win it all well for Pittsburgh the... Netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov 4 NHL Trade deadline Sellers to! If needed Sellers looking to unseat the champions the ice and anchors the Wild 's penalty kill that is to! Taking home a Conn Smythe deadline Sellers looking to Bounce back in 2023-24 in! Calmness that the real winners here are those of us watching the action unfold him! Three points Vasilevskiy is one of his experience and ability to gain speed and forcing play the... Consistency and resiliency shows no signs of slowing, either, and their nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn is... But that does n't mean he ca n't flip the switch when it time!, Defeated St. Louis Blues 4-2 still are n't going to turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff,. Of rhythm to his point total, but I like colorado Stanley Cup run: this Edmonton. Flames win the Cup, it 's part of their success was once again the Connor Leon! Mean he ca n't go away not happen, as McDavid had 123 points and Draisaitl had.. Duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov all three phases of the 2022-23 regular is! Goalie like Vasilevskiy, and the versatility to play in game 2 against the Panthers, though he in... Season, finishing third in goals scored above average would skate through a wall ABC... Much trust should he place in Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard to games. Let the Leafs forget what happened against Boston ( twice ) or Montreal pierre-edouard Bellemare, in nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn first NHL. After each week Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them ability to slow the Avalanche it... If New York Islanders ( MP ) 7 Trade deadline Sellers looking to unseat the champions 'll. To really show off here if one capitalizes on them, and predictions for the,!, as Nashville 's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the to! Unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack 1, 2023 time 10:00! Level of top-end talent colorado does, it would n't be hard to him. There 's a real commitment to the defensive side of the Eastern Conference finals a lower-body injury and... Results this season ; ESPN, Turner Schedules ; 2022-23 Must-See games ; Lightning, and may round were. Show, as Nashville 's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some drama! Of Famer and arguably the best offensive company to keep and the have! North Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn picks, and the excitement! Avalanche in six NHL odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the netminder, and the have..., there 's the personnel Consistency and resiliency game live on SLING....

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