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. 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 . The format is a set bracket that is . He backstopped the Kings to the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, posting an incredible .946 save percentage to win that initial championship. On paper, the Rangers were out in the first round. 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. 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. The Avalanche remember well how Vegas cut through them like butter in the playoffs last year. Here is how the Stanley Cup playoffs will play out, from the opening round through the last game of the Final. A rundown of 1 to 8 in all four divisions, plus the 16-team postseason field for this upcoming season. Knight: Flames in six Ferraro: Avalanche in six 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. AJ Mleczko: Lightning in seven Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Central playoff brackets were written by Shilton, while Wyshynski analyzed the Metro and Pacific brackets. TWDC 2022-23 NHL Game Schedule: Date, Time (ET), Teams, Network/Platform Tue, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m., Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers, ESPN, ESPN+ Tue, Oct. 11, 10 p.m., Vegas Golden. The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. What will be the key to solving Igor Shesterkin? 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. The Oilers bought into playing good defense, stuck to their structure and chipped away at Quick until they broke through. They could use some more from him, especially at five-on-five. Stream the NHL on ESPN, Allen: Avalanche in five Calgary got burned off a couple clean looks for that unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes. ", Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. Kaplan: Hurricanes in seven Bold prediction: The Stars take a powerhouse first-round opponent to seven games. Kreider had two goals, after scoring 52 during the regular season. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? Orchestrating all of it is coach Rod Brind'Amour, for whom the players would skate through a wall. One of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, or Edmonton Oilers will be this year's Stanley Cup champion. In net, Jack Campbell appears back on his game following a midseason downturn and rib injury. They were 27th in goals-against per 60 at 5-on-5 under Tippett; under Woodcroft, they were ninth. This season is shaping up in similar fashion. 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. Biggest flaw(s): Can the Predators keep it together in their own end? And Kane already had a pair of hat tricks in the playoffs. Matiash: Flames in seven 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. But the Flames don't get quite as much contribution as some teams from their bottom six. That's where depth will come into focus, and the Oilers will want to be sure theirs is on point. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston can be a tough team to play against. There was never any doubt that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl could score in the regular season, but the playoffs have brought their challenges in keeping up that pace offensively. These are the playoffs. He was fourth on the team in goals scored above average. Rantanen's 36 goals led Colorado in the regular season, so seeing him hesitate to shoot the puck and fail to drive play like a $9.25 million-per-year player should in the postseason is odd. 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? The 13th overall pick in 2020, Jarvis had 11 points in a nine-game stretch near the end of the season, running shotgun with Aho for a lot of it. Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. All that winning is great at the time, but it cuts into recovery. Messier: Oilers in six But if there's a true flaw with the Oilers, it's once again found in the crease. Stream the NHL on ESPN. His .925 career playoff save percentage ties him for third all time (minimum 60 games) with Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, among others. Player to watch: Jonas Brodin. The matchups and storylines are set as the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs get underway this week, with the last team standing hoisting the cherished chalice sometime in late June. Could the Florida Panthers, who raced to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, win their first Cup? We just keep on trying to find our game and playing for each other," said forward Chris Kreider. Special teams will play a pivotal role. On paper, they're winning this series. And, as Nashville's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some must-see drama. Did he skid at the end of this season? Wyshynski's NHL trade deadline tiers: From elite game-changers to bargain beauties, NHL trade deadline guides for all 32 teams: Players, picks in play, cap space, team status. The Nashville Predators, at No. In over 500 minutes of game action this postseason, Kuemper has faced only 218 pucks. New Jersey Devils (MP) 6. This series projects to trend more toward what Edmonton just experienced, with the potential for larger momentum swings and opportunity to generate offense. But it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and carry the team for stretches this season. Wyshynski: Flames in seven. 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. 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. XFL owner Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson shouted out former Alabama quarterback A.J. Might the Colorado Avalanche, the top seed in the West and an underachiever the past two postseasons, break through? Then, of course, there's the personnel. Player to watch: Tarasenko. Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. Seeing its dedication pay off with a playoff opportunity should be all the motivation Dallas needs to give each game its best. Chandan: Blues in six Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Next game: vs. The Blues are rightly playing with incredible confidence, and we know from past experience where that can lead them. 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. Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide - Favorites, sleepers and busts Presented By > ESPN Search Fantasy Men's Basketball Hockey Baseball Sign up and play for free! 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. John Buccigross examines the historical run the Tampa Bay Lightning have had over the past two seasons. Shilton: Flames in six Shilton: Hurricanes in six Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six 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 rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits to defeat the Hurricanes. Some teams have improved, while others went into re-build mode. Patrice Bergeron is still Patrice Bergeron. Callahan: Avalanche in seven While offense can sometimes dry up the deeper we get into postseason play, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be the case here. Tarasenko had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues' 2019 run. No one will let the Leafs forget what happened against Boston (twice) or Montreal. The Oilers are more resilient than some observers previously thought. That formula doesn't generally work in the postseason. Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six Those 5-on-5 opportunities can be -- and almost always are -- limited in the playoffs. Those matchups are plenty intriguing. There is a winning pedigree in Boston that starts with its leadership, and spreads to David Pastrnak, Taylor Hall, Charlie McAvoy, and on down the list. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Tampa knows how to win. Can Georgia pull off a repeat? How much trust should he place in Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard? 4 NHL Trade Deadline Sellers Looking to Bounce Back in 2023-24. The Big Cat's run since 2020 in elimination games is the stuff of legend: 10-0, six of the wins by shutout. Tampa Bay is better 5-on-5. After years of falling short in Philadelphia, the former Flyers captain wants to win it all. 102) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Ekholm has 268 points (62 goals, 206 assists) in 719 regular-season games with the Predators and 35 points (six goals, 29 . New York Rangers 2. Mark Giordano has helped solidify the blue line, and the Leafs actually have good depth there, for once. Every first-round Game One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be available on ESPN or ESPN2. NHL on ESPN. 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. Arda cal: Lightning in six Kucherov has 15 points in 11 games, including seven on the power play. 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. 2. Your Home For Free NHL Expert Picks For The 2022/23 Season. The 2022 college football season doesn't kick off until August 27, but it's never too soon to look at possible College Football Playoff matchups. 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). Cohn: Avalanche in seven I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of . 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. Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in seven Case for a Stanley Cup run: History has a funny habit of repeating itself. Edmonton trended up across the board under Woodcroft, including in the most important area: the standings, where the Oilers finished second in the Pacific. Because he picked this opportunity. Unlikely contenders emerge year after year. Here's a player who requested a trade out of St. Louis and instead has thrived there this season. Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . Unlike Darcy Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been peppered with the second-most. 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. Player to watch: Tkachuk's best offensive season arrived, to no one's surprise, as he's headed into restricted free agency this summer. Sean McDonough: Panthers in seven 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. A game-changing talent who also is playing for his next contract (from Nashville or someone else). If the season ended today we'd have the Heat . There's power in being an underdog, a freedom to simply play your game without expectation. 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 Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six, Allen: Rangers in seven John Tortorella: Panthers in seven Callahan: Flames in five But he's not unbeatable. 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. Venue: Dean Smith Center -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Coverage: ESPN . Central: COL | MIN They'll need every bit of his experience and ability to slow the Avalanche down. Since being acquired at the trade deadline, the former Blackhawks winger hasn't produced. Colorado has to frustrate the Oilers' top skaters, make it difficult for them to find space or get in a rhythm early. Back-to-back tilts against bottom feeders in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce value. Some nights, the Bruins look impenetrable; the next, they're floundering in their own end. We just didn't go away. There is no such problem for the Lightning. Jake Oettinger has played well in net, and Dallas' defense has looked more cohesive lately. If New York wants this to be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Lightning can win those, too. 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. history but they get to host a game . Their second-leading scorer is defenseman Victor Hedman, who is doing as Victor Hedman does: He has 10 points in 11 games and is skating 25:03 per game. Jonathan Quick's best saves of 2022-23 season (1:58) . Hextall: Hurricanes in six (2:28). What will he bring to the table to help make it happen? Again, a criticism of Calgary this season is like using one of those eyepieces to search for a flaw on a gorgeously cut diamond. 2022 NHL Playoffs: B/R Staff 1st-Round Predictions 0 of 8 Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images Let the fun begin. The 2022-2023 College Football Playoff schedule will have both semifinals played on New Year's Eve at the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. He's a 40-year-old veteran churning out great numbers, including an 8-3-0 record, .927 SV% and 2.70 GAA. The uptick of physicality in McDavid's game has been well-documented. There has also been more effort on the forecheck. Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. 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. But the players and Gallant all said that their Game 7 win at the Hurricanes was indicative of what a quintessential effort from the Rangers looks like, getting points from 12 different players. After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. 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. The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. It breeds confidence, and that's having a huge impact on the Oilers' success in this postseason. Sachin Chandan: Panthers in seven Stanley Cup playoff picks: Who wins each second-round series? 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 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: The Stars made the playoffs in large part because of their top line. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? Fantasy hockey owners can expect this to continue, which could be massive this coming week. Their head-to-head matchup will be a primary talking point in the lead-up to Game 1. Subscribe to ESPN+ Messier: Avalanche in seven Tortorella: Hurricanes in six The Stars are the only team in the playoffs with a negative goal differential. NHL.com ranks the top 200 overall fantasy hockey players in standard . ET, ESPN), followed by Lightning-Leafs (7:30 ET, ESPN2), Blues-Wild (9:30 ET, ESPN) and Kings-Oilers (10 ET, ESPN2). The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! Hosts Linda Cohn and Emily Kaplan bring their hockey expertise and passion for the sport, discussing the latest news around the league as well as interviewing the biggest names both on and off the ice. Against Carolina, Shesterkin gave up two or fewer goals in six of the seven games in the series and won another Game 7, this time on the road. The 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. 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. Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket. Let's key on Mikko Rantanen. Edmonton's trio has combined for 26 goals and 67 points in 12 games. Player to watch: Forsberg. There's more to the team than just a dominant goalie, however. Now they also have some strong depth, and the versatility to play the Islanders' style if needed. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. 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. One problem Biggest flaw(s): Ovechkin missed the Capitals' final three games after appearing to injure a shoulder in an April 24 game. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. Lawrence-Riddell: Flames in seven 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. How will the Rangers handle Nikita Kucherov? But he's expected to miss a few games in the first round due to a lower-body injury. 87 a game and a half. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. MacKinnon's contributions will be massive for the Avs. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, in his first season with the Lightning, and playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six. But I have a lot of faith in Shesty," he said. 6 Virginia (21-5, 13-4 ACC) . Bold prediction: The Penguins go out in the first round, but goaltending isn't the reason. When Jonathan Quick repeatedly slammed the door in the first-round series, Edmonton didn't panic. Matiash: Avalanche in six NHL predictions: Expert picks for both conference final series in Stanley Cup playoffs Our experts reveal their predictions for which two teams will be moving on to the Stanley Cup Final. Wyshynski: Hurricanes in five, The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . Mike Smith has been great for Edmonton in the playoffs, without question, but we haven't seen the best of Kuemper yet. Bold prediction: The Oilers win their first playoff series since 2017 before bowing out to Calgary. Heiskanen can set a tone for how the entire team approaches its defensive strategy. Kavanagh: Oilers in seven (2:28), Stanley Cup playoffs preview: Breaking down all 16 teams in the NHL postseason, Wyshynski's NHL trade deadline tiers: From elite game-changers to bargain beauties, NHL trade deadline guides for all 32 teams: Players, picks in play, cap space, team status. It's time for our experts to go on the record with their predictions on which four teams will make it one step closer to the Stanley Cup Final, which is returning to ABC this season. Before the NBA resumes play on Thursday night, it is time to answer some big questions. Series is on point where that can lead them slow the Avalanche well. Work in the playoffs place in Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard already a. Each second-round series Quick until they broke through scoring 52 during the Blues 2019... 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