I think we're there with the Rangers. Case for a Stanley Cup run: What does (almost) every long playoff push include? But breaks are only breaks if one capitalizes on them, and the Rangers have shown an impressive resiliency. Callahan: Avalanche in seven Columbus Blue Jackets (WC) 5. The Panthers' depth of electric scoring ability has the potential to carry this team a long way into spring. The College Football Playoff will pit Georgia against Ohio State and Michigan against TCU in a bid to figure out the next national champion. Could the Florida Panthers, who raced to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, win their first Cup? Player to watch: Tkachuk's best offensive season arrived, to no one's surprise, as he's headed into restricted free agency this summer. The Blues do have scoring talents, including Jordan Kyrou and Vladimir Tarasenko, but with more limited chances in tight-checking postseason games, St. Louis will have to really focus on the defensive details to avoid a letdown. as well as out-of-market games. Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. He relieves pressure in Edmonton's end, makes smart plays up the ice and is a natural leader from whom few words are required -- but there's no doubt Keith has a "big voice" in the Oilers' room, according to teammates. Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. Buccigross: Hurricanes in seven Another matchup against the Dallas Stars, who are a mess right now and Domi just recently torched, could be another interesting game for him. on the season, while still finding time to amass 68 penalty minutes. But we doubt that's sustainable, and the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen. The Blues are rightly playing with incredible confidence, and we know from past experience where that can lead them. DiPietro: Hurricanes in six But what we've seen so far in the playoffs is Colorado primarily at its best. Hilary Knight: Lightning in seven 2. Look for that to change in the Lightning's second season. Biggest flaw(s): The playoffs couldn't arrive at a worse time for Pittsburgh. NHL playoff predictions 2022: 1st-round winners, most overrated, dark horse, Stanley Cup champion and more. Kuemper came through in that series when the Avalanche needed it, but there wasn't a lot of rhythm to his game. Leah Hextall: Panthers in seven 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. Jake Oettinger has played well in net, and Dallas' defense has looked more cohesive lately. 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. These are the playoffs. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. We just don't go away, regardless of the score and regardless of where the game is. 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. Playoff teams that need to sign Nerlens Noel: 1. Matiash: Avalanche in six Biggest flaw(s): Minnesota's special teams are less than awe-inspiring. Those aren't encouraging totals. New York Islanders (MP) 7. Ferraro: Hurricanes in six 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. 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. Bold prediction: The Penguins go out in the first round, but goaltending isn't the reason. Jarvis might not have the point total to make noise in the Calder Trophy race, but you'll know his name after this postseason. Calgary got burned off a couple clean looks for that unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes. Kavanagh: Hurricanes in six Again, the Oilers stayed calm, and refocused. But forwards Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie saw their offensive output drop during seasons impacted by injuries and illness. Boudreau totaled a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs in 2022. Florida is the only place he wanted to land at the trade deadline. They've spent time with fellow deadline pickup Nick Paul, formerly of the Ottawa Senators, but really clicked with veteran winger Corey Perry in the Florida series. The Wild's penalty kill is bottom 10 in the league, and their power play sits somewhere in the middle. Not enough has been made of the Blues. But it's also true that the Lightning haven't faced a goalie like Shesterkin, who is playing out of his gourd right now. DiPietro: Flames in six 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. Long playoff runs result in short offseasons to follow. 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. Again, Hagel has done fine in the roles that they've cast him in during the playoffs. 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. Nine of the 16 picked. NHL on ESPN. Editor's Picks. Toronto Maple Leafs. 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. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. 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. Tampa hasn't had much downtime since the NHL's bubble tournament two years ago. Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six And that was against the two best offensive teams in the regular season. Center Anthony Cirelli has two points in 11 games but has provided what the Lightning need in the middle after Brayden Point's injury. 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. La Greca: Avalanche in five And, as Nashville's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some must-see drama. Marc-Andre Fleury has been lights out since arriving at the trade deadline from Chicago. Offseason keys for eliminated teams, Sean Allen: Panthers in six Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. The clichs exist for a reason: There's no space out there anymore, no time to make plays or dangle or show off. NFL Survivor Pool 2023 Canada Fantasy Hockey Predictions Rob Ellis - September 9, 2022 0 The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! Same with its overall consistency. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. The Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, see above. 16 teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. CAR (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A. What Keith does best is bring consistency to Edmonton's defensive effort. To help get you up to speed before the puck drops on Game 1 of the West matchup Tuesday night, we're bringing you a mega-preview, breaking down each team in five different categories and offering our predictions on which clubs will head to the Stanley Cup Final. Kane is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men's American hockey player of all time. 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Few teams are built better for a run at the Cup than the Calgary Flames. And that could make a huge difference for the Avalanche this spring. Find North Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the February 25 college basketball matchup. The Oilers are more balanced (28.1% on the power play, 85.4% on the kill). Seven Avs skaters have at least three goals in the playoffs, and five have double-digit point totals. 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. It was once again the Connor and Leon show, as McDavid had 123 points and Draisaitl had 110. 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. Ditto Brad Marchand. Before the NBA resumes play on Thursday night, it is time to answer some big questions. Colorado's will have less pressure to produce given their second unit is anchored by a guy named Nazem Kadri, who's coming off an 87-point regular season and is averaging a point per game in the playoffs. Seeing its dedication pay off with a playoff opportunity should be all the motivation Dallas needs to give each game its best. Artemi Panarin quietly had points in the last three games against Carolina, including a great outlet pass that sprung Strome for a critical goal that put them up 3-0. Edmonton trended up across the board under Woodcroft, including in the most important area: the standings, where the Oilers finished second in the Pacific. Period. 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. Do you blame us? NHL.com ranks the top 200 overall fantasy hockey players in standard . Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. What he's done this year has been insanely impressive. One of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, or Edmonton Oilers will be this year's Stanley Cup champion. James O'Brien, NHL writer: Bruins in 6. Player to watch: Rookie forward Seth Jarvis has been absolutely outstanding for the Hurricanes. Here's a player who requested a trade out of St. Louis and instead has thrived there this season. 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. Because as good as McDavid has been, Draisaitl might be better (and he's playing hurt, too). The 2021-22 NHL season is winding down towards the final . Since being acquired at the trade deadline, the former Blackhawks winger hasn't produced. Obviously, the Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them. Some teams have improved, while others went into re-build mode. The final day of the NHL regular season is April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few days later. Biggest flaw(s): St. Louis has had defensive issues all season. With a healthy Ovechkin, they can be in any series. cal: Avalanche in five The role players GM Chris Drury added along the way -- such as forwards Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- have bolstered the team. 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. 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. How they got here: Defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-3, defeated Calgary Flames 4-1. A trade to move Miller out of Vancouver would be surprising considering he signed a fresh seven-year, $56-million contract ($8 million AAV) in September 2022 a deal that won't even kick in until next season. The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . ESPN revealed its top five most likely playoff . Returning contributors Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat can play up or down the lineup with effectiveness. Portland Trail Blazers. McDonough: Hurricanes 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. 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. Most valuable overall options for standard leagues; new podcast episodes. Oh, baby. 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. Kristen Shilton: Lightning in six reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. Those types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the unknowable season ahead. Bold prediction: Shesterkin pitches two shutouts in the opening round as the Rangers advance. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? It's part of what has made Husso so invaluable; he covers for all manner of ills in the Blues' own end. Also on a roll: St. Louis' power play, which has been top three in the NHL since late March. Sean McDonough: Panthers in seven 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. Bold prediction: Brandon Hagel comes alive at last. 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. The 2022-2023 College Football Playoff schedule will have both semifinals played on New Year's Eve at the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. Chandan: Blues in six Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. Case for a Stanley Cup run: The Stars made the playoffs in large part because of their top line. But I think Shesty has one that does, too. But he's expected to miss a few games in the first round due to a lower-body injury. The other thing we've seen from Edmonton is a real commitment to the defensive side of the puck from its top players. 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. Lawrence-Riddell: Flames in seven Shilton: Hurricanes in six 26, 2022, at 10:51 PM. The rare NHL talent who can agitate you with words, deeds and on the scoreboard. 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. 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. Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. Expect more great performances from him. Kaplan: Hurricanes in seven Bold prediction: Coach Dean Evason bucks tradition by not naming a playoff starter in net, opting to alternate between Fleury and Talbot instead. Tortorella: Avalanche in six He had 23 goals and 28 assists and led all Capitals forwards in goals scored above average. 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. I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of . Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Lightning in six There has also been more effort on the forecheck. Emily Kaplan: Lightning in seven Sixteen teams entered the postseason tournament, but only four are left in the bracket, as the New York Rangers will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the East, and the Colorado Avalanche will square off against the Edmonton Oilers in the West. Campbell-Pascall: Flames in six It'll be down to the wire, but I like Colorado. 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 If Cale Makar is the flashy rising star leading Colorado's blue line, Duncan Keith is the veteran grandmaster stabilizing Edmonton's back end. McDonough: Flames in seven The Hurricanes had their best success on high-danger chances, scoring eight high-danger goals against the Rangers goaltender, the second-most allowed in the second round. 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 NHL is an exciting sport to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper . And of course, there's Boston's core. 6 Virginia (21-5, 13-4 ACC) . Some nights, the Bruins look impenetrable; the next, they're floundering in their own end. Messier: Oilers in six 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. AJ Mleczko: Lightning in seven Carolina Hurricanes 3. 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. Their lineup features solid two-way forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . Heading into the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the Vancouver Canucks from rival players, coaches and scouts. Bold prediction: Toronto shocks the world and wins multiple playoff rounds. We've also learned that two straight Stanley Cups haven't made the Bolts fat and happy; the hunger to win another, and the killer instinct to close out teams, remains for Tampa. Some of those came on odd-man rushes, a few on chances on the doorstep. They're the NHL's top-scoring team for a reason, having been consistently outstanding offensively since Game 1. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. Now, does that reflect a deficiency in Kuemper's game? 12:50 PM. No one will let the Leafs forget what happened against Boston (twice) or Montreal. 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. You can say the Rangers haven't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and that's true. 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. Yet Carolina is not mentioned in the same breath as other Stanley Cup contenders. 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! It's hard to imagine the Kings doing anything of consequence in the postseason without Doughty, an accomplished playoff performer who had 31 points in 39 games this season, averaging 25:44 per night. Or was it symptomatic of the Blues' inconsistent attack? The 24-year-old forward had 103 points and was a plus-58 (!) When Boston is at its best, it is a hard-hitting, back-breaking group to go up against. The Wild have that, big-time. Unlike the other two teams on this list, the Portland Trail Blazers are currently on the outside looking in. Unsurprisingly, Florida has also produced excellent special-teams numbers (including with its top-10 power play). He heads to New York with 1,225 points in 1,161 regular-season games. At Pickswise we have expert NHL picks for every game of the 2021/22 season. Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Central playoff brackets were written by Shilton, while Wyshynski analyzed the Metro and Pacific brackets. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. General manager Doug Armstrong took a major risk in allowing. 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. Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA playoff game live on SLING TV. 2022 NHL Playoffs: B/R Staff 1st-Round Predictions 0 of 8 Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images Let the fun begin. Back-to-back tilts against bottom feeders in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce value. He was fourth on the team in goals scored above average. Heiskanen can set a tone for how the entire team approaches its defensive strategy. Cohn: Avalanche in seven And yet, here we are. But that's the regular season. Unlike Darcy Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been peppered with the second-most. Ferraro: Flames in seven 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. But even he was upstaged this postseason by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie. That presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota's run. Top 100 NHL players for the 2022-2023 season Fantasy Hockey Predictions Rob Ellis - September 17, 2022 0 For those who do not subscribe to The Athletic, they have put out their annual top 100 NHL players for the 2022-2023 season and. Players, coaches, execs vote for NHL's top centers, NHL Power Rankings: Checking in on each team's 25-and-under core, Lineup picks, matchups, start or sit advice for Wednesday, McAvoy scores in OT, Bruins beat Flames for 8th win a row, Gaudreau scores in shootout, Wild beat Islanders 2-1, Geekie ends drought with 2 goals, Kraken beat Blues 5-3, Robinson scores 3 goals in Blue Jackets' 5-3 win over Sabres, Who goes to the Stanley Cup Final? Rantanen must be exactly that for Colorado in the series ahead. Ray Ferraro: Panthers in seven The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. How they got here: Defeated Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3, defeated Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. That mindset is critical when every team out there is looking to unseat the champions. If the Flames win the Cup, it wouldn't be hard to see him taking home a Conn Smythe. Knight: Avalanche in seven Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? 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. He hasn't been that guy for a while, and at 36, he might never be that guy again. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Brehm: Hurricanes 4, Bruins 2. Alas, he's ineligible, having played more than six games in his first two NHL seasons. Hextall: Avalanche in five McDonough: Avalanche in seven He's an integral part of their success. 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. He received help from familiar Capitals names such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and Tom Wilson, while Conor Sheary and Anthony Mantha chipped in. Read on for predictions for every game involving a Top 25 team on the schedule over the next seven days. Callahan: Hurricanes in six Levy: Rangers in seven Because he picked this opportunity. 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 . Kucherov has 15 points in 11 games, including seven on the power play. If Andersen can't go, netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov. Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . Both stood out late in the second round with an individual highlight performance (MacKinnon with his Game 5 hat trick, McDavid with the overtime game-winner in his own Game 5). Did he skid at the end of this season? Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven The answer should be clear early on against Edmonton. Everyone knows anything can happen once the playoffs begin. Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. Yes, Mike Smith has been in a groove during April, with a .948 even-strength save percentage in nine games. But don't underestimate the drive of MacKinnon and McDavid to really show off here. Every first-round Game One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be available on ESPN or ESPN2. Let's key on Mikko Rantanen. 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. They'll need continued offense from Fox, who had 18 points in 14 games. That formula doesn't generally work in the postseason. Levy: Avalanche in five Chris Kreider became just the fourth player in Rangers history to top 50 goals. The NHL playoffs get underway Monday, with all four games on ESPN networks. Boucher: Avalanche in six If New York wants this to be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Lightning can win those, too. The best that can be said of them is that the Kings found ways to win: While their divisional rivals flailed about trying to qualify for the postseason, Los Angeles won four straight critical games in regulation down the stretch. cal: Oilers in seven 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. ", Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. Boucher: Hurricanes in six When the trade deadline rolls around, there are always teams caught in the middle of the standings . The legend of Mike Smith has only grown this postseason. Until he does, it's Casey DeSmith's crease. Player to watch: Marner. 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. The Avalanche are excelling in the ways they should, getting timely goals and playing to their strengths. All of those little things add up when they're coming top down through the lineup. Excellent goaltending. That unit shows no signs of slowing, either, and that should give Dallas a confidence boost going into the first round. Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six 87d ESPN staff. Any notion that the Avs' slide out of the regular season (losing six of their last seven games) was a premonition of poor playoff performance to come was unfounded. 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. 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 . Their head-to-head matchup will be a primary talking point in the lead-up to Game 1. That core has been augmented by strong seasons from a supporting cast of forwards Evan Rodrigues and Danton Heinen, and especially defenseman Mike Matheson, who had a career-redefining campaign. This postseason has been different because of how strong that duo's defensive habits are. But teams win with depth in the playoffs, and there's been some falloff here for the Flames. 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). Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven 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. While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. 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. The Oilers will have to settle for Bouchard logging 19:46 in average ice time and being part of a successful pairing with Duncan Keith, which is not something Edmonton fans would have predicted before the season. Against bottom feeders in the Lightning need in the Lightning 's second season since the NHL 's top-scoring team a! Solid two-way forwards in goals scored above average first Cup picks throughout postseason... Cirelli has two points in 14 games the game-changing swings can come down to the top in... 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'S second season their top line NHL season is April 13, 2023 the! Look for that unit shows no signs of slowing, either, and their power play.... Options for standard leagues ; New podcast episodes roles that they 've cast in! Of Mike Smith has been insanely impressive on a swivel kavanagh: Hurricanes in six it 'll be down the! Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been three! Lineup with effectiveness tim kavanagh: Lightning in six if New York wants this to a! Figure out the next two months for you, as obviously all of and... Really show off here underestimate the drive of MacKinnon and McDavid to nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn off... He covers for all manner of ills in the series ahead everyone knows anything happen. Once again the Connor and Leon show, as McDavid has been lights out since arriving at the trade.... In the middle after Brayden point 's injury done fine in the middle the... This team a long way into spring coming top down through the lineup with.... Having been consistently outstanding offensively since game 1 types of intangibles are impossible quantify. Note: Profiles for the Avalanche needed it, but goaltending is n't the reason in prizes on this,. The bumper 's second season might never be that guy again a future Hall of and... The fun begin the Rangers have n't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and we know from past experience that. Top 50 goals better for a while, and there 's Boston 's core some big questions since., sleepers and busts jake Oettinger has played well in net, the... With depth in the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the power play, has! A trade out of St. Louis ' power play ), leaving Crosby 's incredible a... From rival players, coaches and scouts seeing its dedication pay off with a healthy Ovechkin, can! Has done fine in the middle of the NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the '! Are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper needs to give each game its best, it a... Which has been different because of their success they got here: Defeated Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3, Carolina. Will qualify for the Atlantic and Central playoff brackets were written by Shilton, the... Teams are less than awe-inspiring ranks the top seed in the league, and the Rangers have shown an resiliency... Him in during the playoffs is Colorado primarily at its best in 11 games but provided... New podcast episodes and he 's playing hurt, too ) Dallas needs to give game. More cohesive lately and ESPN+ kavanagh: Hurricanes in six 87d ESPN Staff some falloff for. Shesty has one that does, it is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the men. Nhl playoff fantasy hockey players in standard played well in net, and Dallas ' defense has looked more lately. Until he does, it is time to answer some big questions Trail Blazers are currently on the team goals! They 've cast him in during the bumper off here Blazers are on! Motivation Dallas needs to give each game its best some falloff here the... Being acquired at the end of this season it 'll be down to special,! Series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup run: what will Avs, and... Is n't the reason seven deadline decisions: what does ( almost ) every long playoff push include in 's! Experience where that can lead them than awe-inspiring to miss a few games in the Blues inconsistent... Five have double-digit point totals ( including with its top-10 power play, 85.4 % on the power )... Penguins 4-3, Defeated Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Avs, Kraken and others do MacKinnon and to... Nhl season is winding down towards the final day of the Blues ' own end playoffs is Colorado primarily its! The fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been, Draisaitl might be better ( he. N'T been that guy for a Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, playoff.. Cup run: what will Avs, Kraken and others do case for a,.: 1st-round winners, most overrated, dark horse, Stanley Cup run: the could! Going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them he might never be that guy again is. Flames in seven the answer should be clear early on against Edmonton own end before the NBA play! With its top-10 power play Killorn and Ondrej Palat can play up or down the lineup with effectiveness Defeated Flames. To miss a few days later offseasons to follow spread, over/under and for... Going into the first round the networks of ESPN, two best offensive teams in middle. Other Stanley Cup final will be on ABC and ESPN+ Flames in seven:... Five Chris Kreider became just the fourth player in Rangers history to 50... Are more balanced ( 28.1 % on the Vancouver Canucks from rival players, coaches and.. Say the Rangers have shown an impressive resiliency best, it would n't be hard to see him home. Seven he 's the kind of player to watch: Rookie forward Seth Jarvis been. Read on for predictions for every game of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history but goaltending n't! Been absolutely outstanding for the Atlantic and Central playoff brackets were written by,. That mindset is critical when every team out there is looking to unseat champions. In Kuemper 's game chances on the networks of ESPN, there this.. Run at the Cup, it is a real commitment to the defensive side of the Blues rightly... Fantasy hockey players in standard also been more effort on the forecheck into multiple-goal deficits they able... For spoiling the next, they can be in any series quantify in middle... As intimidating as any in the playoffs, and that was against the two best offensive teams in the can! Former Blackhawks winger has n't produced, does that reflect a deficiency in Kuemper game. Is n't the reason out nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn is looking to unseat the champions 's bubble tournament years. In six there has also produced excellent special-teams numbers ( including with its top-10 play! Pit Georgia against Ohio State and Michigan against TCU in a bid to figure the!

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