They're the NHL's top-scoring team for a reason, having been consistently outstanding offensively since Game 1. Bold prediction: The Penguins go out in the first round, but goaltending isn't the reason. 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. 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). Could the Florida Panthers, who raced to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, win their first Cup? La Greca: Avalanche in five Case for a Stanley Cup run: This is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0. The Bruins' top blueliner hasn't garnered the same attention as some of the league's flashiest defenders this season, but he has been excellent in his own right. 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. Kuemper came through in that series when the Avalanche needed it, but there wasn't a lot of rhythm to his game. The Capitals have a veteran group that can play physical hockey and defend well at 5-on-5. 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. 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. Biggest flaw(s): The playoffs couldn't arrive at a worse time for Pittsburgh. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been, and continues to be, Tampa's MVP. 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. 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. Cam Talbot, solid all season, has improved even further riding shotgun with the newcomer. Metro: CAR | NYR Game 3: Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals 1 p.m. And coach Gerard Gallant is pushing the right buttons when it comes to line combinations. Shilton: Flames in six I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of . If Andersen can't go, netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov. The Avalanche have an excellent power play (34.5%) but weaker penalty kill (73.1%). The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Complete playoff coverage . Weekes: Flames in seven 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. Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. If he makes it back, Jarry still has to demonstrate his postseason prowess after flopping against the Islanders in their 2021 series. Messier: Oilers in six ", Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. Those aren't encouraging totals. We don't roll out the term "juggernaut" for just anyone around here. Bold prediction: Coach Dean Evason bucks tradition by not naming a playoff starter in net, opting to alternate between Fleury and Talbot instead. If the Flames win the Cup, it wouldn't be hard to see him taking home a Conn Smythe. Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. The Lightning will have to convert some of those to beat "Shesty.". Messier: Avalanche in seven We've graded all 32 teams -- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. Also on a roll: St. Louis' power play, which has been top three in the NHL since late March. Mleczko: Flames in six Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive duos. Another matchup against the Dallas Stars, who are a mess right now and Domi just recently torched, could be another interesting game for him. Everyone knows anything can happen once the playoffs begin. But he's expected to miss a few games in the first round due to a lower-body injury. But even he was upstaged this postseason by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie. Bolden: Avalanche in six 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. 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 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. 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. Unfortunately, Alex Ovechkin cornered the market on "he can still do that at his age, wow!" At 29-31, they . We're down to the final four teams of the 2021-22 NHL season. Calgary got burned off a couple clean looks for that unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes. The Blues averaged just 26 shots per game at Kuemper, while Colorado was in control averaging 37 shots the other way. Those 5-on-5 opportunities can be -- and almost always are -- limited in the playoffs. 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. In fact, even as he has gotten better as the playoffs have continued -- playing through jitters in the first round that included two games he didn't complete in Pittsburgh -- he has yet to pitch a shutout. They went 12-8-3 after that. ESPN revealed its top five most likely playoff . Wischusen: Rangers in seven Obviously, the Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them. 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 . 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. The first round might actually be the hardest for Tampa, knowing how hungry the Leafs are to overcome their checkered playoff past. Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. 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. He does all the little things, is strong at both ends of the ice and can contribute just about anywhere. Arda cal: Lightning in six Tampa hasn't had much downtime since the NHL's bubble tournament two years ago. 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. Center Steven Stamkos (eight points) and defenseman Ryan McDonagh have been there in big moments. Hagel took a puck off one of his feet in Game 2 against the Panthers, though he appeared in Games 3 and 4. DiPietro: Flames in six "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. What Keith does best is bring consistency to Edmonton's defensive effort. That unit shows no signs of slowing, either, and that should give Dallas a confidence boost going into the first round. The goaltending from Ville Husso has been exceptional, and Jordan Binnington is finally rebounding to become a more reliable backup. 2021-22 NHL Predictions Updated after every game. That's the question. With a healthy Ovechkin, they can be in any series. What sort of postseason magic can Kadri create to cap this career season? The conference final round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs is upon us. But equally as ominous is the Capitals' goaltending. He was fourth on the team in goals scored above average. That's always been ingrained in the culture of every good team I've been on here. Bold prediction: Boston uses its shutdown capabilities to bounce a high-octane offensive opponent in the first round. They rallied to beat the Penguins after being down 3-1 in their first-round series. Marc-Andre Fleury has been lights out since arriving at the trade deadline from Chicago. Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. 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. 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. 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. Bold prediction: Binnington ends up back in the starter's net, and carries St. Louis deep into the postseason. How they choose to defend Kucherov's line is going to be a key for the series. Those types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the unknowable season ahead. 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. 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. He had just two points in the Pens' six-game series loss to the Islanders last playoffs. as well as out-of-market games. Boucher: Hurricanes in six Weekes: Blues in seven 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. 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. But the catalyst for their first playoff berth since 2018 wasn't the kids, but rather the established veterans. PIT | BOS 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. All things being equal, Colorado boasts the deeper team. Kaplan: Flames in six 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. There's more to the team than just a dominant goalie, however. We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide the best free NHL expert picks each and every day. ESPN will air the entirety of the Metropolitan and Pacific divisions on alternating days, beginning Wednesday, May 18. Keep an eye on those little things Brodin can do to put Minnesota over the top. 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. Minnesota has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger. At Pickswise we have expert NHL picks for every game of the 2021/22 season. The NHL playoffs get underway Monday, with all four games on ESPN networks. Bold prediction: Toronto shocks the world and wins multiple playoff rounds. 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. Colorado is notably multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different ways. Boucher: Flames in six Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. The team also had strong seasons from veterans Trevor Moore, Alex Iafallo, Adrian Kempe and Alex Edler, a resurgent campaign from Jonathan Quick and an outstanding season from Drew Doughty before he went out with a wrist injury. Pittsburgh Penguins 4. NHL Predictions 2022- 23 season | NHL Projected Standings 2022-23 Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division 1. Jake Oettinger has played well in net, and Dallas' defense has looked more cohesive lately. He battled back and won a Game 7. Carolina Hurricanes 3. Being involved to that degree clearly works for the netminder, and he has thrived under the pressure. NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference. Biggest flaw(s): Being a top-heavy offensive team is a good problem to have when the top of one's lineup is filled with players who have more than 35 goals. reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. While Dallas has every reason to feel good about its top point-getters, in a tight playoff series the secondary scoring often puts teams over the top. 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. New York Rangers 2. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. But it's also true that the Lightning haven't faced a goalie like Shesterkin, who is playing out of his gourd right now. Editor's Picks. Subscribe to ESPN+ Columbus Blue Jackets (WC) 5. Some nights, the Bruins look impenetrable; the next, they're floundering in their own end. General manager Doug Armstrong took a major risk in allowing. While the 29-year-old is still producing at a steady clip with 54 points in 59 games (he tallied a career-high 99 points last season . Make Your Picks. The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Regular Season Game; North Carolina (17-11, 9-8 ACC) vs. No. There is no such problem for the Lightning. Mleczko: Hurricanes in seven What we've learned about this team so far in the postseason. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston can be a tough team to play against. There has also been more effort on the forecheck. New Jersey Devils (MP) 6. Case for a Stanley Cup run: History has a funny habit of repeating itself. FiveThirtyEight's 2021-22 NHL forecast predicts the winner of each hockey game and calculates each team's chances of advancing to the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Not exactly the best offensive company to keep. "I've kind of referred to us as cockroaches. It doesn't help that in front of Bobrovsky, Florida got a little too comfortable late in the season as the Cardiac Cats. It starts in their own end and being engaged down low. The next highest scorer, Zach Hyman, had 54 points. Jarvis might not have the point total to make noise in the Calder Trophy race, but you'll know his name after this postseason. Hilary Knight: Lightning in seven Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . 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. How much trust should he place in Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard? 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. This series against Colorado could see each team's top talents canceling each other out. The Penguins' offense is also struggling, with an ice-cold power play and players such as Rust mired in slumps. Biggest flaw(s): Minnesota's special teams are less than awe-inspiring. 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. Some of those came on odd-man rushes, a few on chances on the doorstep. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. Jump to a team: 12:50 PM. If he's diminished, so are the Caps' Cup chances -- significantly. Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 15 points in 11 games. Things aren't trending well for Pittsburgh at the buzzer. 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Few teams are built better for a run at the Cup than the Calgary Flames. 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. Unlike the other two teams on this list, the Portland Trail Blazers are currently on the outside looking in. John Tortorella: Panthers in seven Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have underperformed much of the season, and the Stars don't get much scoring help from their defensemen (John Klingberg leads Dallas blueliners with six goals). 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. Bolden: Hurricanes in six My other prediction for this series? Campbell-Pascall: Flames in six Look for that to change in the Lightning's second 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. Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. Period. Shilton: Avalanche in seven That can't happen again. 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? 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. Every first-round Game One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be available on ESPN or ESPN2. The Lightning goalie will have to be better than his best to get Tampa over the hump and back into postseason cruise control. 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