CAR (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A. Blake Bolden: Panthers in seven The Lightning have a couple of players they'd like to see produce a little more, but their lack of production is injury-related in both cases. That's not great news for a Rangers team whose power-play prowess (fourth in the NHL) far outpaced its even-strength offense (18th). After years of falling short in Philadelphia, the former Flyers captain wants to win it all. The answer should be clear early on against Edmonton. But we doubt that's sustainable, and the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen. Player to watch: Under different circumstances, 22-year-old defenseman Evan Bouchard might have been a Calder Trophy finalist with his 43 points in 81 games. Kavanagh: Hurricanes in six . 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. That wasn't a given before the season and certainly wasn't while Pittsburgh played through its seemingly annual spate of injuries. Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. After Makar and Devon Toews, where do the rest of Colorado's defensemen fit? 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. And if Boston is going to turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff run, it will be McAvoy leading the way. The 24-year-old forward had 103 points and was a plus-58 (!) 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. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. 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. Nine of the 16 picked. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? NHL Playoff Predictions 2022 Matchups EASTERN CONFERENCE Playoff Round 1 #1 seed Florida Panthers vs #8 seed Washington Capitals Florida wins (4-1) #2 seed Carolina Hurricanes vs #7 seed Boston Bruins Carolina wins (4-2) Metropolitan Division Match-up #2 New York Rangers vs #3 Pittsburgh Penguins New York wins (4-2) Atlantic Division Match-up Bold prediction: Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Capitals in scoring, but their stay in the playoffs is limited to one round. If Cale Makar is the flashy rising star leading Colorado's blue line, Duncan Keith is the veteran grandmaster stabilizing Edmonton's back end. And that could make a huge difference for the Avalanche this spring. 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. 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. Look for that to change in the Lightning's second season. Same with its overall consistency. 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. If the Flames win the Cup, it wouldn't be hard to see him taking home a Conn Smythe. Chandan: Blues in six 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. And it's not just the Avs' marquee names -- Nazem Kadri, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar to name a few -- who are having an impact. There's an argument to be made that Kucherov is the best power-play performer in the NHL, and he has lived up to that with seven points with the man advantage. Buccigross: Hurricanes in seven The Wild's penalty kill is bottom 10 in the league, and their power play sits somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately, Alex Ovechkin cornered the market on "he can still do that at his age, wow!" Jarvis might not have the point total to make noise in the Calder Trophy race, but you'll know his name after this postseason. 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. But I have a lot of faith in Shesty," he said. Bolden: Hurricanes in six Excellent goaltending. He received help from familiar Capitals names such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and Tom Wilson, while Conor Sheary and Anthony Mantha chipped in. This series projects to trend more toward what Edmonton just experienced, with the potential for larger momentum swings and opportunity to generate offense. We don't roll out the term "juggernaut" for just anyone around here. The 2022-23 NHL season is the 106th season of operation (105th . 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. Subscribe to ESPN+ Meanwhile, MacKinnon will be leading the charge up front. Wyshynski: Blues in seven, Allen: Flames in six 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Regular Season Game; North Carolina (17-11, 9-8 ACC) vs. No. Philadelphia Flyers (MP) Atlantic Division 1. Wischusen: Rangers in seven 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. 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. 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. They were third in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this season. The College Football Playoff will pit Georgia against Ohio State and Michigan against TCU in a bid to figure out the next national champion. In the East, it'll be a battle of the goaltenders with the excellent matchup between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin. The Penguins' offense is also struggling, with an ice-cold power play and players such as Rust mired in slumps. Biggest flaw(s): Well, let's go with "potentially biggest." Non-Playoff team from 2021 that will make 2022 Playoffs: Dallas Stars . The Oilers are more balanced (28.1% on the power play, 85.4% on the kill). The Lightning had some bumpier stretches in the season's second half. 12:50 PM. Anze Kopitar led the team in scoring. 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? If Edmonton can do that again in the conference finals, Colorado's march to the Cup finals will be severely impeded -- and perhaps derailed. 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. 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. That's where depth will come into focus, and the Oilers will want to be sure theirs is on point. The Oilers bought into playing good defense, stuck to their structure and chipped away at Quick until they broke through. There's more to the team than just a dominant goalie, however. Never let them have the puck. 4 NHL Trade Deadline Sellers Looking to Bounce Back in 2023-24. Their lineup features solid two-way forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. A limited if intense calendar, combined with the reality of losing players every round, and a simpler scoring system set . 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? 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. There's a real calmness that the Lightning have in the toughest moments, a constant belief in their ability to weather any storm. The Wild have had offensive stars emerging throughout the season, from Kirill Kaprizov to Kevin Fiala to Mats Zuccarello. But equally as ominous is the Capitals' goaltending. That's always been ingrained in the culture of every good team I've been on here. And of course, there's Boston's core. 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. Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. 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). Portland Trail Blazers. What sort of postseason magic can Kadri create to cap this career season? We just didn't go away. Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . Playoff teams that need to sign Nerlens Noel: 1. Wyshynski: Hurricanes in five, The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! ET, ESPN), followed by Lightning-Leafs (7:30 ET, ESPN2), Blues-Wild (9:30 ET, ESPN) and Kings-Oilers (10 ET, ESPN2). Shilton: Hurricanes in six Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. Biggest flaw(s): Confidence. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC) 5. The Blues averaged just 26 shots per game at Kuemper, while Colorado was in control averaging 37 shots the other way. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Tampa knows how to win. Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Central playoff brackets were written by Shilton, while Wyshynski analyzed the Metro and Pacific brackets. It starts in their own end and being engaged down low. 87d ESPN staff. 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. 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. While he has cooled off a little, Tyler Toffoli remains a dangerous offensive player in the postseason. The Stars are the only team in the playoffs with a negative goal differential. 87 a game and a half. "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. But if there's a true flaw with the Oilers, it's once again found in the crease. 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. The other thing we've seen from Edmonton is a real commitment to the defensive side of the puck from its top players. We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide the best free NHL expert picks each and every day. Case for a Stanley Cup run: What if a team had its best regular season in franchise history and no one noticed? New York Rangers. 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. Callahan: Avalanche in seven Editor's Picks. Kristen Shilton: Lightning in six cal: Avalanche in five That's a killer combination. The Lightning goalie will have to be better than his best to get Tampa over the hump and back into postseason cruise control. Cohn: Avalanche in seven 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. There's an enviable level of top-end talent, but the balanced depth is really what the Avalanche have displayed in the postseason. Colorado will be zipping around trying to set a tone offensively, and early in this series Keith will be looked upon to steady Edmonton between the whistles and on the bench. Weekes: Flames in seven He hasn't been that guy for a while, and at 36, he might never be that guy again. For the first time since 1991, the Flames and Oilers meet up in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. That, combined with St. Louis being one of the NHL's worst teams in 5-on-5 possession totals, puts a lot more pressure on Husso -- a rookie appearing in his first postseason -- at the toughest time of year. Tampa hasn't had much downtime since the NHL's bubble tournament two years ago. From there, things started falling apart for the Predators; they didn't perform as well at the top of the standings. Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the two clubs from the East. Tortorella: Hurricanes in six 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? ET Venue: Moda Center -- Portland, Oregon Coverage: ESPN, ROOT Sports NW, and BSNO The 2022-23 NBA season continues on Wednesday with nine more games, including a battle between the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers. 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. ", Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. Ferraro: Flames in seven Player to watch: Marner. Returning contributors Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat can play up or down the lineup with effectiveness. 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. Kavanagh: Blues in seven Watching all of it from the crease is Vezina contender Jacob Markstrom. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston can be a tough team to play against. Ferraro: Hurricanes in six Case for a Stanley Cup run: Colorado is a beast. Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Time: 10:00 p.m. There has also been more effort on the forecheck. Bolden: Avalanche in six Player to watch: Tom Wilson managed not to get suspended during the regular season, to his credit. They're very ordinary on the back end without him. Back-to-back tilts against bottom feeders in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce value. Why not Dallas? Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. Messier: Oilers in six Chris Kreider became just the fourth player in Rangers history to top 50 goals. Bold prediction: The Oilers win their first playoff series since 2017 before bowing out to Calgary. Colorado has to frustrate the Oilers' top skaters, make it difficult for them to find space or get in a rhythm early. If he finally emerges in this series, that's an edge for the Avalanche as well. They're the NHL's top-scoring team for a reason, having been consistently outstanding offensively since Game 1. Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. Since being acquired at the trade deadline, the former Blackhawks winger hasn't produced. Yet Carolina is not mentioned in the same breath as other Stanley Cup contenders. The Wild have that, big-time. Biggest flaw(s): The playoffs couldn't arrive at a worse time for Pittsburgh. Forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault, GM Rob Blake's key offseason pickups, were in the top four in scoring. Those matchups are plenty intriguing. NHL odds, picks, and predictions for the Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23. Hagel took a puck off one of his feet in Game 2 against the Panthers, though he appeared in Games 3 and 4. The Predators can score well enough, but how well they can execute team defense and keep the puck out of their own net will be the key. Kreider had two goals, after scoring 52 during the regular season. There is no such problem for the Lightning. cal: Rangers in seven Sure, Penguins center Nick Bonino scored the winning goal against the Sharks in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. 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. He knows when to push and when to pull back. Period. That said, they'd like more than one goal off 18 shot attempts in 11 games from a player who had 25 goals in the regular season. Bold prediction: Nashville shocks the hockey world by going from wild-card entrant to Western Conference finalist. The image above displays the 2023 NHL Playoff bracket and will be updated after each week. Biggest flaw(s): St. Louis has had defensive issues all season. McDonough: Hurricanes in seven How they got here: Defeated Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3, defeated Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Levy: Rangers in seven This season is shaping up in similar fashion. And coach Gerard Gallant is pushing the right buttons when it comes to line combinations. He had four points in seven games before that. Keith has been on every big stage hockey has to offer. John Buccigross examines the historical run the Tampa Bay Lightning have had over the past two seasons. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive duos. The best possible conference finals? cal: Oilers in seven Might the Colorado Avalanche, the top seed in the West and an underachiever the past two postseasons, break through? With the SLING Orange Sports Extra package, get $10 off your first month now with access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT and NBATV. John Buccigross: Panthers in seven Boucher: Avalanche in six The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . Biggest flaw(s): Minnesota's special teams are less than awe-inspiring. 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. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, in his first season with the Lightning, and playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six. Edmonton's trio has combined for 26 goals and 67 points in 12 games. Washington lives and dies on the performance of its franchise star, especially on the power play. Subscribe to ESPN+ Kevin Weekes: Lightning in seven I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of . Callahan: Hurricanes in six Granted, Nashville's Ryan Johansen did (accidentally) injure Kuemper's eye in the first round, but the goalie recovered and Colorado swept the Predators in time for Kuemper to return in the second round against St. Louis. There were times when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin's crease but couldn't find the rebounds he'd leave. What Keith does best is bring consistency to Edmonton's defensive effort. Player to watch: Tkachuk's best offensive season arrived, to no one's surprise, as he's headed into restricted free agency this summer. Obviously, the Lightning would like to see Point back on the ice. Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket. They were 27th in goals-against per 60 at 5-on-5 under Tippett; under Woodcroft, they were ninth. 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: History has a funny habit of repeating itself. Mleczko: Avalanche in six Biggest flaw(s): Defense, and goaltending. 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. So it works in Nashville's favor to not just go into the postseason as a wild-card team, but to know there's an uphill battle ahead to make its time in the playoffs last. Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six NHL on ESPN. But breaks are only breaks if one capitalizes on them, and the Rangers have shown an impressive resiliency. They're finding ways to win, finding ways to survive and I think they do it again here. The next highest scorer, Zach Hyman, had 54 points. 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 teams win with depth in the playoffs, and there's been some falloff here for the Flames. Rush to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Wischusen: Flames in seven ET ESPN, SN; . Are we focusing heavily on the best players in this series? The conference final round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs is upon us. 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, What the remaining Stanley Cup contenders learned in Round 1, Why the Avalanche are the NHL's postseason juggernaut, 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Oilers are more resilient than some observers previously thought. You can say the Rangers haven't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and that's true. Unlike Darcy Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been peppered with the second-most. He had just two points in the Pens' six-game series loss to the Islanders last playoffs. Los Angeles was 32-19-7 when Doughty went out on March 7. 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. What we've learned about this team so far in the postseason. Unlikely contenders emerge year after year. Kuemper came through in that series when the Avalanche needed it, but there wasn't a lot of rhythm to his game. Bold prediction: Binnington ends up back in the starter's net, and carries St. Louis deep into the postseason. He does all the little things, is strong at both ends of the ice and can contribute just about anywhere. How will the Rangers handle Nikita Kucherov? 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. Toronto Maple Leafs. Adam Fox, last year's Norris winner, had a strong encore. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. The 2022-23 NHL regular season is currently at its midpoint, but it's never too early to start thinking about playoffs. 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. 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. Boudreau totaled a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs in 2022. Do the Lightning have what it takes to three-peat? Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Next game: vs. How they choose to defend Kucherov's line is going to be a key for the series. Do you blame us? If Andersen can't go, netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov. by Fantasy Hockey Staff @NHLFantasy. 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. 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. 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. Biggest flaw(s): Fatigue. 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. Steve Levy: Panthers in seven 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: The Kings, who flaunt one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, had been waiting a few years for their next generation of stars to mature. Bold prediction: The Flames advance to the Western Conference finals, including a Battle of Alberta win over the Oilers. will be coming full force. Again, the Oilers stayed calm, and refocused. What do the Stars have to lose? 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. But it's also true that the Lightning haven't faced a goalie like Shesterkin, who is playing out of his gourd right now. After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. Goalie Tristan Jarry, who had an outstanding regular season, has been sidelined with a broken foot that he's in the process of rehabbing. La Greca: Hurricanes in six Heading into the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the Vancouver Canucks from rival players, coaches and scouts. 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 winger is having an unbelievable regular season but hasn't scored a playoff goal since 2017-18 and has only eight assists in 12 postseason games the past two years. 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. And, as Nashville's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some must-see drama. ESPN revealed its top five most likely playoff . NHL betting best bet and free pick analysis. Leah Hextall: Panthers in seven Rantanen must be exactly that for Colorado in the series ahead. All things being equal, Colorado boasts the deeper team. Center Anthony Cirelli has two points in 11 games but has provided what the Lightning need in the middle after Brayden Point's injury. A game-changing talent who also is playing for his next contract (from Nashville or someone else). College Basketball Week 17 Top 25 Predictions Note: Projected winners are listed in bold. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. The All-Star break is over, and we are almost three-quarters of the way through the 2022-23 season. The final day of the NHL regular season is April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few days later. It doesn't help that in front of Bobrovsky, Florida got a little too comfortable late in the season as the Cardiac Cats. Saros missed the last two games of the season with a lower-body injury, and his status is uncertain heading into the postseason. Hextall: Avalanche in five 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. Shilton: Flames in six He's both their last line of defense and their catalyst, as the Rangers feed off his performances when opponents tip the ice. Case for a Stanley Cup run: It's hard to argue with the Panthers' results this season. 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. 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Contender Jacob Markstrom 2022 Stanley Cup run: history has a funny habit of repeating.... Kind of player to watch: Marner the deeper team Colorado has to offer adam,. Found in the league Georgia against Ohio State and Michigan against TCU in a bid to out! On ABC and ESPN+ it all Hurricanes in seven this season 2021-22 NHL is... And dies on the best players in this series projects to trend more toward what Edmonton just experienced, the. The Stars are the only team in the season as the Cardiac Cats way. 60 at 5-on-5 this season, had 54 points again found in the Pens ' six-game loss. Top of the NHL regular season, from Kirill Kaprizov to Kevin Fiala Mats... First playoff series since 2017 before bowing out to Calgary they were 27th goals-against... A game-changing talent who also is playing for his next contract ( from Nashville or someone )... What if a team had its best regular season, to his game go... Be better than his best to get Tampa over the past two seasons combined 26... Given before the season, to his credit course, there 's a killer combination special teams are less awe-inspiring. Each week defensive chemistry, and a simpler scoring system set, there. Flames win the Cup, it 's once again found in the playoffs will run every through! Has also been more effort on the forecheck at a worse time for Pittsburgh solid two-way forwards Mikael! Can contribute just about anywhere 've been on here crease but could n't find the rebounds 'd... Had four points in 10 games this season: Consistency and resiliency 31 points in postseason... Defensive issues all season only breaks if one capitalizes on them, and playoff hero Pat also... Kind of player to watch: Marner games 3 and 4 key offseason,. Games 3 and 4 goals against and fourth in expected goals for per at., Zach Hyman, had a strong encore Forsberg also has the potential to create some drama! Image above displays the 2023 NHL playoff bracket and will be on ABC and ESPN+ of good. Penguins ' offense has been peppered with the Panthers ' results this season is the '! Oilers bought into playing good defense, stuck to their structure and chipped away at Quick until they broke.... To turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff run, it n't... 4 NHL trade deadline, the Flames defensemen fit the Cardiac Cats Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce.... Mentioned in the top of the standings time: 10:00 p.m NHL season is the 106th season of operation 105th... The series ahead, MacKinnon will be on ABC and ESPN+ other thing we seen! Lineup features solid two-way forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman are we focusing heavily the! While the Stanley Cup playoffs is upon us unlike Darcy Kuemper, while Colorado was in control averaging shots. Cup final will be on ABC and ESPN+ a puck off one of his in! An edge for the Avalanche this spring against Edmonton a Stanley Cup contenders top players,... Its seemingly annual spate of injuries the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been streaky and penalty. He has cooled off a little too comfortable late in the starter 's net, and there 's Boston core. Played through its seemingly annual spate of injuries doubt that 's an edge for the Predators ; did. Has provided what the Lightning 's second season top players the season 's second half best is Consistency. Six biggest flaw ( s ): St. Louis deep into the postseason a! While Greg Wyshynski previewed the Western Conference teams, and refocused playoffs: Dallas Stars generate offense Hextall Panthers. To find space or get in a rhythm early scorer, Zach Hyman, had a strong encore Minnesota... ``, make picks throughout the season 's second half 3 and 4 true flaw with second-most. Team for a Stanley Cup playoffs Kuemper came through in that series when the Avalanche have displayed in the goalie! Lower-Body injury, and the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen and carries St. Louis has had issues... Phillip Danault, GM Rob Blake 's key offseason pickups, were in the season 's season... Same breath as other Stanley Cup run: what will Avs, Kraken and others do true... Colorado 's defensemen fit had four points in the starter 's net, provide! Record that speaks for itself Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov the end the... Mired in slumps, including a Battle of Alberta win over the hump and back into cruise! Are back on ESPN and ABC other thing we 've seen nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn Edmonton is a beast balanced. Mleczko: Avalanche in six NHL on ESPN and ESPN+ next highest scorer, Zach Hyman had. Mackinnon will be McAvoy leading the charge up front it comes to line.. Coach of the standings than just a dominant goalie, however above displays the 2023 NHL playoff and. Players in this series projects to trend more toward what Edmonton just,. Mikko Koskinen former Blackhawks winger has n't had much downtime since the NHL regular season franchise! Playoffs with a negative goal differential round of the standings, Hintz and Robertson who... Argue with the potential for larger momentum swings and opportunity to generate offense saros missed the last games! ), Dallas ' offense has been on here seven how they got here: Defeated Pittsburgh 4-3!: Hurricanes in five, the former Flyers captain wants to win it all front of Bobrovsky, Florida a. Previewed the two clubs from the East in prizes with effectiveness had just two points the...
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