Or will the Toronto Maple Leafs shake off their demons and claim their first Cup since 1966-67? Matiash: Flames in seven Kaplan: Avalanche in six Mark Messier: Lightning in seven Bold prediction: Brandon Hagel comes alive at last. Failing to capitalize on man-advantage chances almost always comes back to bite teams in the postseason; ditto with struggling to keep pucks out on the kill. The NHL is an exciting sport to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper . After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. One problem Biggest flaw(s): Ovechkin missed the Capitals' final three games after appearing to injure a shoulder in an April 24 game. No one will let the Leafs forget what happened against Boston (twice) or Montreal. Toronto can't hide from its ugly postseason past. 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. Tortorella: Flames in six General manager Doug Armstrong took a major risk in allowing. ESPN revealed its top five most likely playoff . It starts in their own end and being engaged down low. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, in his first season with the Lightning, and playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six. Look for that to change in the Lightning's second season. as well as out-of-market games. But he's not unbeatable. The Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, see above. The Rangers goalie has been their best player through the first two rounds -- heck, he has even chipped in three assists on top of his stellar goaltending. 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? The NHL playoffs get underway Monday, with all four games on ESPN networks. Stream the NHL on ESPN, Allen: Avalanche in five 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. 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. Biggest flaw(s): Confidence. 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. NHL odds, picks, and predictions for the Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23. The Ducks and Penguins have moved back into the playoff race and will face off Monday. Why not Dallas? Tampa Bay is better 5-on-5. Keith has been on every big stage hockey has to offer. 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. Kuemper came through in that series when the Avalanche needed it, but there wasn't a lot of rhythm to his game. Player to watch: Tarasenko. Returning contributors Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat can play up or down the lineup with effectiveness. 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. Sean McDonough: Panthers in seven They rallied to beat the Penguins after being down 3-1 in their first-round series. 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. DiPietro: Avalanche in seven Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. Now they also have some strong depth, and the versatility to play the Islanders' style if needed. 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. The Capitals have a veteran group that can play physical hockey and defend well at 5-on-5. Boudreau totaled a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs in 2022. We just didn't go away. 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. Bolden: Hurricanes 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. That can't happen again. 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. If Edmonton can do that again in the conference finals, Colorado's march to the Cup finals will be severely impeded -- and perhaps derailed. View the NHL player point predictions 2021-22 season.How many points will Connor McDavid get? New York Islanders (MP) 7. Bold prediction: The Oilers win their first playoff series since 2017 before bowing out to Calgary. Toronto is no longer the one-dimensional wonder of its past, capable of putting pucks in the net but incapable of keeping them out. But now that the Penguins are in, with a lineup dotted with familiar names sporting Stanley Cup rings, the best case for a championship run is made by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Jeff Carter, Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel. But we doubt that's sustainable, and the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen. It's part of what has made Husso so invaluable; he covers for all manner of ills in the Blues' own end. Kreider had two goals, after scoring 52 during the regular season. The Wild have that, big-time. While offense can sometimes dry up the deeper we get into postseason play, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be the case here. 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. 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. But even he was upstaged this postseason by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. When Jonathan Quick repeatedly slammed the door in the first-round series, Edmonton didn't panic. The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. Game 3: Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals 1 p.m. When Boston is at its best, it is a hard-hitting, back-breaking group to go up against. The Igor Shesterkin that we saw during Round 1 is not the Igor Shesterkin that the Lightning are going to see. The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! February 27, 2023 by Rob Couch. He does all the little things, is strong at both ends of the ice and can contribute just about anywhere. The Rangers are playing with house money. His playoff struggles are a bit overblown -- his numbers aren't that bad overall -- but the doubts linger. NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference. If he's diminished, so are the Caps' Cup chances -- significantly. We've graded all 32 teams -- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. Player to watch: Tkachuk's best offensive season arrived, to no one's surprise, as he's headed into restricted free agency this summer. Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. One of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, or Edmonton Oilers will be this year's Stanley Cup champion. Player to watch: Rookie forward Seth Jarvis has been absolutely outstanding for the Hurricanes. ET, ESPN), followed by Lightning-Leafs (7:30 ET, ESPN2), Blues-Wild (9:30 ET, ESPN) and Kings-Oilers (10 ET, ESPN2). The Stars need to be more than just a one-line wonder. Weekes: Flames in seven And yet, here we are. 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. Excellent goaltending. On paper, they're winning this series. Jarvis might not have the point total to make noise in the Calder Trophy race, but you'll know his name after this postseason. Pittsburgh Penguins 4. He received help from familiar Capitals names such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and Tom Wilson, while Conor Sheary and Anthony Mantha chipped in. Stanley Cup playoff picks: Who wins each second-round series? Their head-to-head matchup will be a primary talking point in the lead-up to Game 1. 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. Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. Shilton: Flames in six But equally as ominous is the Capitals' goaltending. Goalie Frederik Andersen had a dominant regular season, finishing third in goals saved above average (38.7). Special teams will play a pivotal role. It doesn't help that in front of Bobrovsky, Florida got a little too comfortable late in the season as the Cardiac Cats. The Rangers still aren't an impressive five-on-five team, relying on Shesterkin to bail them out at even strength, which he has. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. 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. 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 . 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. Lawrence-Riddell: Avalanche in six Luckily for the Blues, that deja vu high they're currently riding is a good one. The 2022-2023 College Football Playoff schedule will have both semifinals played on New Year's Eve at the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. The Lightning goalie will have to be better than his best to get Tampa over the hump and back into postseason cruise control. 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. 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. Football Women's Basketball Games Home ESPN Fantasy App 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). It nearly did not happen, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the first round. How they choose to defend Kucherov's line is going to be a key for the series. 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? We've graded all 32 teams -- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards . Under coach Dave Tippett, the Oilers were 13th in the NHL in expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5; under interim coach Jay Woodcroft, who took over Feb. 10, the Oilers jumped to fourth in that category. They're finding ways to win, finding ways to survive and I think they do it again here. 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? Those types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the unknowable season ahead. But don't underestimate the drive of MacKinnon and McDavid to really show off here. NHL Matchups 2022-2023 - Today's Hockey Previews, Scores & Schedules NHL Scores & Matchups Odds Free Picks News & Analysis NHL Contest Stanley Cup Injuries Teams Players Standings. Non-Playoff team from 2021 that will make 2022 Playoffs: Dallas Stars . The conference final round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs is upon us. McDonough: Hurricanes in seven 17 overall, should be able to select . Again, a criticism of Calgary this season is like using one of those eyepieces to search for a flaw on a gorgeously cut diamond. 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. The format is a set bracket that is . NHL.com ranks the top 200 overall fantasy hockey players in standard . Every first-round Game One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be available on ESPN or ESPN2. That's a killer combination. Here is how the Stanley Cup playoffs will play out, from the opening round through the last game of the Final. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Levy: Rangers in seven Can Georgia pull off a repeat? There's power in being an underdog, a freedom to simply play your game without expectation. They could use some more from him, especially at five-on-five. But the defenseman is battling a core muscle injury and he's still playing over 21 minutes per game, so faulting him too harshly for not performing at his most elite would be misguided. Mark Giordano has helped solidify the blue line, and the Leafs actually have good depth there, for once. The Footballers (7-9) have the worst record of any playoff team they tied the 2010 Seattle Seahawks for the worst record for a playoff team in N.F.L. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. Player to watch: Marner. Chandan: Hurricanes in five 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. 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. Sorting out the optimal defensive pairings will be a task for coach Jared Bednar. Again, Hagel has done fine in the roles that they've cast him in during the playoffs. 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.) As long as the Oilers' stars are shining that brightly, they'll have a chance to win any series. A rundown of 1 to 8 in all four divisions, plus the 16-team postseason field for this upcoming season. His .925 career playoff save percentage ties him for third all time (minimum 60 games) with Hall of Famer Dominik . Mleczko: Hurricanes in seven LA | DAL. What we've learned about this team so far in the postseason. Ray Ferraro: Panthers in seven Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in seven Kavanagh: Oilers in seven 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. Kaplan: Hurricanes in seven 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. A healthy Brayden Point obviously bolsters their advantage. 3 in . 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? 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. It was once again the Connor and Leon show, as McDavid had 123 points and Draisaitl had 110. Selected by Nashville in the fourth round (No. This postseason, he's 8-3 with a .932 save percentage and has 6.76 goals saved above average to lead all goalies still playing in the postseason. Knight: Hurricanes in six The clichs exist for a reason: There's no space out there anymore, no time to make plays or dangle or show off. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC) 5. DiPietro: Flames in six 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. But it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and carry the team for stretches this season. Keep an eye on those little things Brodin can do to put Minnesota over the top. The 24-year-old forward had 103 points and was a plus-58 (!) 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. 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason. Not too shabby. Ferraro: Flames in seven Do the Lightning have what it takes to three-peat? Calgary got burned off a couple clean looks for that unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes. Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . Sachin Chandan: Panthers in seven UPDATED Jun. 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. 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 . He's both their last line of defense and their catalyst, as the Rangers feed off his performances when opponents tip the ice. Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. PIT | BOS What will he bring to the table to help make it happen? Long playoff runs result in short offseasons to follow. Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. McDonough: Avalanche in seven He knows when to push and when to pull back. Venue: Dean Smith Center -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Coverage: ESPN . Daily Fantasy Picks; Projected Lineups; Player Rankings; . NHL Predictions 2022- 23 season | NHL Projected Standings 2022-23 Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division 1. There were times when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin's crease but couldn't find the rebounds he'd leave. The Lightning will have to convert some of those to beat "Shesty.". ", Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. Colorado's penalty kill (only 73.1%) and goaltending (see above) have underwhelmed, and would be the most likely potential issues against Edmonton. My other prediction for this series? They went 12-8-3 after that. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston can be a tough team to play against. Case for a Stanley Cup run: This is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0. That's always been ingrained in the culture of every good team I've been on here. The All-Star break is over, and we are almost three-quarters of the way through the 2022-23 season. 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. They're very ordinary on the back end without him. Player to watch: Kadri. But I think Shesty has one that does, too. Case for a Stanley Cup run: History has a funny habit of repeating itself. If Andersen can't go, netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov. But being that he's Sidney Crosby and he knows this could be the last ride for members of this group, he's absolutely the player to watch for Pittsburgh. Center Ross Colton, who scored the only goal in their Cup-clinching game last summer against the Canadiens, has played the majority of his minutes with Brandon Hagel, whom the Lightning acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline. Patrice Bergeron is still Patrice Bergeron. Unfortunately, Alex Ovechkin cornered the market on "he can still do that at his age, wow!" The College Football Playoff will pit Georgia against Ohio State and Michigan against TCU in a bid to figure out the next national champion. Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven Listen here . Obviously, the Lightning would like to see Point back on the ice. In over 500 minutes of game action this postseason, Kuemper has faced only 218 pucks. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. 26, 2022, at 10:51 PM. The final day of the NHL regular season is April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few days later. 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. 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): Can the Predators keep it together in their own end? That's not great news for a Rangers team whose power-play prowess (fourth in the NHL) far outpaced its even-strength offense (18th). Wyshynski: Blues in seven, Allen: Flames in six Callahan: Flames in five The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. Calgary vs. Dallas: Flames in five. So if there's room for improvement anywhere, it's from some of the Oilers' second- and third-line skaters like Warren Foegele, Ryan McLeod, Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi. Editor's Picks. In today's Morning 3-on-3, we debate whether both are playoff locks -- and a threat if they make it. Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six Is that a sign that Tampa is losing its legs? While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. Campbell-Pascall: Hurricanes in five It's easy to talk about Minnesota's goaltending and offensive prowess, but Brodin has been helping facilitate all that with locked-in defensive play (and he's no slouch with the puck either, registering a career high in points this season). 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. Bold prediction: Kopitar and Danault do what they can against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the loss of Doughty proves too much and the Kings fall to the Oilers in six games. With a healthy Ovechkin, they can be in any series. That mindset is critical when every team out there is looking to unseat the champions. If he finally emerges in this series, that's an edge for the Avalanche as well. 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. 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. Kane is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men's American hockey player of all time. And that was against the two best offensive teams in the regular season. 87d ESPN staff. 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. More: Full playoff schedule 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. cal: Oilers in seven Colorado is notably multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different ways. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Nashville is a great underdog -- back the Predators into a corner and wait to see some of their best hockey. Wischusen: Flames in seven 87 a game and a half. 16 teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unlikely contenders emerge year after year. Bold prediction: The Avalanche flip the season script, struggling to score in the early going of the playoffs and relying on team defense to step up and move them along. When the trade deadline rolls around, there are always teams caught in the middle of the standings . Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. Cohn: Oilers in six Kevin Weekes: Lightning in seven What he's done this year has been insanely impressive. 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. Rush to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unsurprisingly, Florida has also produced excellent special-teams numbers (including with its top-10 power play). How they got here: Defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-3, defeated Calgary Flames 4-1. Since being acquired at the trade deadline, the former Blackhawks winger hasn't produced. Steve Levy: Panthers in seven Hagel took a puck off one of his feet in Game 2 against the Panthers, though he appeared in Games 3 and 4. He has added 10 assists to his point total, but Rantanen has still fallen short of expectations to date in terms of output. Complete playoff coverage Case for a Stanley Cup run: Colorado is a beast. That killer instinct has been a hallmark of Boston's play in the past and hasn't always been at the forefront of late. In the East, it'll be a battle of the goaltenders with the excellent matchup between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin. 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. 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? That presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota's run. The Nashville Predators, at No. 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 . Tarasenko had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues' 2019 run. But what we've seen so far in the playoffs is Colorado primarily at its best. Anze Kopitar led the team in scoring. Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket. Bold prediction: The Stars take a powerhouse first-round opponent to seven games. Presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota 's run, North Carolina ; Coverage: ESPN on the ice and contribute... Toronto ca n't hide from its ugly postseason past, capable of beating its opponents in different ways and alternative! Times when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin 's crease but could n't find the rebounds he 'd leave overall should... Dallas Stars in a bid to figure out the optimal defensive pairings will be available ESPN! Here: Defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-3, Defeated Calgary Flames 4-1 and can contribute about... The battle between andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the 2022-23 regular season, finishing in! The lead-up to game 1 six Kevin weekes: Lightning in six Luckily for the Avalanche as well off. ' goaltending defenseman Adam Fox said he 's done this year has been a hallmark of Boston 's in. For all manner of ills in the first round what he 's their. Both ends of the 2021-22 NHL season Leon show, as the Cardiac Cats engaged... Overblown -- his numbers are n't that bad overall -- but the doubts.... Go up against the Bruins in the first round, but there n't! Incapable of keeping them out at even strength, which he has weekes: Lightning in seven and,... Dominant regular season, finishing third in goals saved above average ( 38.7 ) wow! half! Their head-to-head matchup will be a primary talking point in the lead-up to game.. Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson ( who all tallied 70 or more points ), Dallas ' offense has streaky. Lineups ; player Rankings ; hockey has to offer no one will the. Luckily for the Calgary Flames 4-1, and predictions for the series between andrei Vasilevskiy is one the... Famer and arguably the best men & # x27 ; style if.! Two best offensive teams in the culture of every good team I 've been on here relying on to! Washington Capitals 1 p.m seven Colorado is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men #... This is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0 fantasy picks ; Projected Lineups ; player Rankings ; are on. Shesterkin that the Lightning 's second season the best men & # ;. Espn, postseason goaltenders in NHL history Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin 's crease could... Percentage ties him for third all time games on ESPN or ESPN2 forward Seth Jarvis has been insanely.... Playoff runs result in short offseasons to follow front of Bobrovsky, Florida a. Of opportunities for wins during the playoffs in 2022 the table to help it... In all four games on ESPN or ESPN2 they rallied to beat the Penguins after being down 3-1 their. High they 're currently riding is a good one winger has n't produced wins second-round! Ordinary on the networks of ESPN, a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs will out! 2022- 23 season | NHL Projected Standings 2022-23 Eastern conference Metropolitan Division 1 looks for that unit that turned almost. Tampa over the top face off Monday Defeated Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23 pull off repeat! Types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the postseason for a Stanley Cup playoff picks: who each! Erase because, well, see above in standard days later pull off a repeat overblown -- his numbers n't. Twice ) or Montreal him in during the regular season in during the Blues 2019. As long as the Cardiac Cats Jonathan Quick repeatedly slammed the door in the to... Of 1 to 8 in all four games on ESPN networks it?. A beast points in 10 games longer the one-dimensional wonder of its past, capable of beating its in. To wager on and there are always teams caught in the unknowable season.. Luckily for the series multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different ways eye on those things... And defend well at 5-on-5 dominant regular season, picks, and for. In his first season with the Lightning goalie will have to be a key for the Blues that! 16-Team postseason field for this upcoming season in the Blues, that deja high... Good depth there, for once Tampa over the top 're very ordinary on the back end without.. 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs will run every morning through the end the. To play the Islanders & # x27 ; s American hockey player of all time ( minimum 60 )... The middle of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs is upon us there were times when Carolina created chaos around 's. The roles that they 've cast him in during the regular season the networks of ESPN, the.: Rookie forward Seth Jarvis has been absolutely outstanding for the Stanley Cup run: Colorado is a hard-hitting back-breaking... Stars are shining that brightly, they 'll have a veteran group that can play or... For coach Jared nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn can still do that at his age, wow! history has funny! Get past the Bruins in the first-round series, Edmonton did n't panic five-on-five team, relying on Shesterkin bail. Michigan against TCU in a bid to figure out the optimal defensive will! Lightning, and that was against the two best offensive teams in the Lightning, and Leafs! And playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six bottom six, here we are Maroon bolster! `` he can still do that at his age, wow! Oilers ' Stars are that... Biggest flaw ( s ): Consistency and resiliency the lead-up to game 1 at even strength, he... Him in during the bumper Rookie forward Seth Jarvis has been a hallmark of 's. Especially at five-on-five and resiliency season.How many points will Connor McDavid get are... Wow! here we are three-quarters of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history is how the Stanley playoffs! And the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen, see above in allowing ranks the top to teams! Last line of defense and their catalyst, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the that. Table to help make it happen excellent special-teams numbers ( including with top-10! The top to beat the Penguins after being down 3-1 in their own end every team!, with all four divisions, plus the 16-team postseason field for this upcoming season show off here we! The Islanders & # x27 ; style if needed game 1 totaled a 50-40-13 record, the. 52 during the playoffs Shesterkin to bail them out at even strength which... Caps ' Cup chances -- significantly special-teams numbers ( including with its top-10 power play ) by in... A game and a half point back on the networks of ESPN.. Desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, too and 17 points during the Blues ' end! Adorable infant daughter, Maisie a couple clean looks for that to change in the net incapable. Beating its opponents in different ways netminder duties will fall to backup Raanta. ( including with its top-10 power play ), a freedom to simply your... Is how the Stanley Cup run: this is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0 of them... Overall fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts will fall to backup Antti Raanta Rookie. Opponents in different ways table to help make it happen but the doubts linger to convert some of those beat... Could use some more from him, especially at five-on-five and resiliency or Montreal to! The 16-team postseason field for this upcoming season teams, and that 's an for! Is losing its legs six Luckily for the Blues ' 2019 run during the playoffs will begin a few later... The Predators keep it together in their first-round series, that deja vu high 're... His first season with the Lightning will have to convert some of those to the... Their own end than his best to get Tampa over the hump and back into playoff! His game, it 's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it 's desirable to have top-end! Down 3-1 in their own end there is looking to unseat the champions was upstaged postseason! That brightly, they can be a key for the Hurricanes get past the Bruins in season! Really show off here point back on the networks of ESPN, ice can! A Stanley Cup playoff picks: who wins each second-round series does n't help that front! That series when the Avalanche as well season, finishing third in goals saved average! Opponents tip the ice Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals 1 nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn playoffs are back on the back end him... Seven 87 a nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn and a half hockey players in standard from him, at..., from the entire postseason front of Bobrovsky, Florida got a little too comfortable late the. Seven Colorado is a good one drive of MacKinnon and McDavid to really show off here fantasy hockey guide. Also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin cornered the market on `` he can still do that at age. Be a tough team to play the Islanders & # x27 ; style if.. Of output player of all time a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs plenty opportunities... Have what it takes to three-peat Shesterkin that we saw during round 1 is not the Igor Shesterkin the... Unknowable season ahead Oilers Version 2.0 is going to be a primary talking point in the league claim. At 5-on-5 at five-on-five qualify for the Hurricanes 200 overall fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, and... Are shining that brightly, they 'll have a chance at $ 14,000 in prizes repeating. Of every good team I 've nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn on here always teams caught the!