Heiskanen can set a tone for how the entire team approaches its defensive strategy. The Capitals have a veteran group that can play physical hockey and defend well at 5-on-5. 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. 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 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six I think we're there with the Rangers. Biggest flaw(s): St. Louis has had defensive issues all season. There's more to the team than just a dominant goalie, however. Boucher: Hurricanes in six If the season ended today we'd have the Heat . What Keith does best is bring consistency to Edmonton's defensive effort. Boucher: Avalanche in six The answer should be clear early on against Edmonton. Might the Colorado Avalanche, the top seed in the West and an underachiever the past two postseasons, break through? That's a killer combination. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. When Kuemper was tested, he didn't always look sharp; St. Louis caught him in bad positioning and decidedly flat-footed on a few occasions. . Case for a Stanley Cup run: The Penguins crossed the finish line as a playoff team. Other than Nathan MacKinnon going off in Game 5 against St. Louis, and Cale Makar just being generally excellent at every turn, it's not as if Colorado has required its superstars to carry the day. How they got here: Defeated Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3, defeated Florida Panthers 4-0. Period. Player to watch: Marner. But it'll also take continued contributions from players like Andrew Copp (12 points), Ryan Strome (9) and Frank Vatrano (8); and further damage done by the Rangers' "Kid Line" of Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. Player to watch: Tom Wilson managed not to get suspended during the regular season, to his credit. The image above displays the 2023 NHL Playoff bracket and will be updated after each week. The Lightning will have to convert some of those to beat "Shesty.". While there is a lot of "new" happening in the NHL this season, as far as league predictions go for the upcoming 2021-22 season, there is a lot that will feel familiar. But the Flames don't get quite as much contribution as some teams from their bottom six. 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. Again, a criticism of Calgary this season is like using one of those eyepieces to search for a flaw on a gorgeously cut diamond. reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. Emily Kaplan: Lightning in seven Well, unless it's because of their opponents' goaltending. XFL owner Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson shouted out former Alabama quarterback A.J. Toronto is no longer the one-dimensional wonder of its past, capable of putting pucks in the net but incapable of keeping them out. We've already discussed Kuemper. That's been the disconnect before, and those demons won't be overcome until Toronto has success when it matters most. They were third in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this season. Goalie Tristan Jarry, who had an outstanding regular season, has been sidelined with a broken foot that he's in the process of rehabbing. The Bruins have just about everything you can want in a contender: a deadly top line, an elite defenseman, and a great goalie. 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). The Avalanche are excelling in the ways they should, getting timely goals and playing to their strengths. 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. Wyshynski: Flames in seven. There has also been more effort on the forecheck. These simulcasts typically involve ESPN's linear television channels and internet streaming platforms, and may . In the East, it'll be a battle of the goaltenders with the excellent matchup between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin. Their lineup features solid two-way forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. Unlike Darcy Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been peppered with the second-most. 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 trio of Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson might still be underrated around the NHL, but they carried Dallas up the standings despite critics having panned the Stars' postseason chances. For example, we've learned that they've effectively rebuilt their bottom six after the offseason exodus of their celebrated checking line of Yanni Gourde, Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. The Rangers are playing with house money. "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the two clubs from the East. He heads to New York with 1,225 points in 1,161 regular-season games. Messier: Oilers in six How do the Avs slow down the McDavid-Draisaitl-Kane line? They went 12-8-3 after that. He's an integral part of their success. After years of falling short in Philadelphia, the former Flyers captain wants to win it all. Sorting out the optimal defensive pairings will be a task for coach Jared Bednar. Matiash: Avalanche in six What do the Stars have to lose? But it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and carry the team for stretches this season. Washington lives and dies on the performance of its franchise star, especially on the power play. DiPietro: Flames in six Make Your Picks. McDonough: Avalanche in seven 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. 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. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! His .925 career playoff save percentage ties him for third all time (minimum 60 games) with Hall of Famer Dominik . We're down to the final four teams of the 2021-22 NHL season. February 27, 2023 by Rob Couch. Nine of the 16 picked. Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Central playoff brackets were written by Shilton, while Wyshynski analyzed the Metro and Pacific brackets. Again, Hagel has done fine in the roles that they've cast him in during the playoffs. 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? UPDATED Jun. And of course, there's Boston's core. Kaplan: Flames in six Hilary Knight: Lightning in seven 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. It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. Leah Hextall: Panthers in seven Before the NBA resumes play on Thursday night, it is time to answer some big questions. And yet, here we are. 12:50 PM. The Rangers had their share of breaks. NHL on ESPN. Kevin Weekes: Lightning in seven The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. NHL playoff predictions 2022: 1st-round winners, most overrated, dark horse, Stanley Cup champion and more. His .925 career playoff save percentage ties him for third all time (minimum 60 games) with Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, among others. FiveThirtyEight's 2021-22 NHL forecast predicts the winner of each hockey game and calculates each team's chances of advancing to the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. Bold prediction: Shesterkin pitches two shutouts in the opening round as the Rangers advance. Victoria Matiash: Panthers in seven Don La Greca: Panthers in seven 3 in . The uptick of physicality in McDavid's game has been well-documented. What sort of postseason magic can Kadri create to cap this career season? Kavanagh: Blues in seven Brian Boucher: Panthers in six Bold prediction: As happened to Tampa Bay in 2019, the seemingly unstoppable Panthers fall short with a baffling first-round exit. When Jonathan Quick repeatedly slammed the door in the first-round series, Edmonton didn't panic. Case for a Stanley Cup run: This is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0. Not too shabby. 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. 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. Levy: Avalanche in five Rantanen must be exactly that for Colorado in the series ahead. Adam Fox, last year's Norris winner, had a strong encore. Rick DiPietro: Panthers in seven We know Josi is a Norris Trophy-caliber defender, but the rest of Nashville's blue line doesn't exhibit nearly the same consistency. Only four teams had a lower expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 than the Rangers this season: the Sabres, Kraken, Coyotes and Blackhawks. The Igor Shesterkin that we saw during Round 1 is not the Igor Shesterkin that the Lightning are going to see. The NHL is an exciting sport to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper . Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. 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. 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. It doesn't help that in front of Bobrovsky, Florida got a little too comfortable late in the season as the Cardiac Cats. Cohn: Rangers in seven Do the Lightning have what it takes to three-peat? on the season, while still finding time to amass 68 penalty minutes. Like, ever. The best possible conference finals? This season is shaping up in similar fashion. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. Biggest flaw(s): The playoffs couldn't arrive at a worse time for Pittsburgh. Why? This is when he should shine. La Greca: Flames in six 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. 2022 NHL Playoffs: B/R Staff 1st-Round Predictions 0 of 8 Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images Let the fun begin. Unfortunately, Alex Ovechkin cornered the market on "he can still do that at his age, wow!" 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. How they got here: Defeated Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3, defeated Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. After Makar and Devon Toews, where do the rest of Colorado's defensemen fit? . Tortorella: Flames in six Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. The Lightning had some bumpier stretches in the season's second half. NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference. 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. The Stars need to be more than just a one-line wonder. DiPietro: Avalanche in seven Player to watch: Tkachuk's best offensive season arrived, to no one's surprise, as he's headed into restricted free agency this summer. 6 Virginia (21-5, 13-4 ACC) . Toronto Maple Leafs. But I think Shesty has one that does, too. The 2021-22 NHL season is winding down towards the final . 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Tampa knows how to win. 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. Player to watch: Jonas Brodin. If he's diminished, so are the Caps' Cup chances -- significantly. Find North Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the February 25 college basketball matchup. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. Portland Trail Blazers. 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. Here are the current standings in the East, with the bottom four seeds lining up for the Play-In Tournament. 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. In net, Jack Campbell appears back on his game following a midseason downturn and rib injury. Bold prediction: The Avalanche flip the season script, struggling to score in the early going of the playoffs and relying on team defense to step up and move them along. Florida is the only place he wanted to land at the trade deadline. Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six Minnesota has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger. Fantasy hockey owners can expect this to continue, which could be massive this coming week. 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. That presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota's run. 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. 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. While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. 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. Yes. 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. 16 teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Nashville Predators, at No. He received help from familiar Capitals names such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and Tom Wilson, while Conor Sheary and Anthony Mantha chipped in. Subscribe to ESPN+ John Tortorella: Panthers in seven Unlike the other two teams on this list, the Portland Trail Blazers are currently on the outside looking in. Colorado is fortunate to have dynamic middle-six scorers such as Valeri Nichushkin and quiet contributors such as Artturi Lehkonen who can sneak up and burn opponents unexpectedly. If Edmonton can do that again in the conference finals, Colorado's march to the Cup finals will be severely impeded -- and perhaps derailed. As Crosby said recently: "I think you try to enjoy it as much as you can and try to take it all in because you know that it's not going to last forever. Biggest flaw(s): Minnesota's special teams are less than awe-inspiring. Here is how the Stanley Cup playoffs will play out, from the opening round through the last game of the Final. The Oilers are more balanced (28.1% on the power play, 85.4% on the kill). That killer instinct has been a hallmark of Boston's play in the past and hasn't always been at the forefront of late. The Oilers are more resilient than some observers previously thought. 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 . Messier: Avalanche in seven Carolina Hurricanes 3. In over 500 minutes of game action this postseason, Kuemper has faced only 218 pucks. He knows when to push and when to pull back. Obviously, the Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them. Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. He hasn't been that guy for a while, and at 36, he might never be that guy again. 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. Player to watch: Forsberg. Defenseman Jacob Trouba's booming hits took out Penguins star Sidney Crosby for two critical games, and then Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis in Game 7. Now, these two teams just went through two second-round series that were markedly different. It nearly did not happen, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the first round. Being involved to that degree clearly works for the netminder, and he has thrived under the pressure. 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. And if Boston is going to turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff run, it will be McAvoy leading the way. Weekes: Blues in seven The last time they did was in the first round, when Crosby's line ran roughshod over them (Crosby had 10 points in six games) -- until a Trouba hit cost No. Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Lightning in six Brehm: Hurricanes 4, Bruins 2. The first round might actually be the hardest for Tampa, knowing how hungry the Leafs are to overcome their checkered playoff past. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. Same with its overall consistency. Stream the NHL on ESPN, Allen: Avalanche in five Hextall: Avalanche in five The Lightning have done it the past two seasons, under less-than-ideal pandemic-related circumstances to boot. Biggest flaw(s): Defense, and goaltending. One of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, or Edmonton Oilers will be this year's Stanley Cup champion. NHL playoff bracket 2022: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for postseason | Sporting News Canada -156 BUF -175 LAK -127 Thu, 7:30p CAR DET CHI 2/26, 11:00a NYI WIN 2/26, 12:30p LAK NYR. Kavanagh: Oilers in seven MacKinnon's contributions will be massive for the Avs. Pacific: CGY | EDM Player to watch: Claude Giroux. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. On paper, the Rangers were out in the first round. Colorado has to frustrate the Oilers' top skaters, make it difficult for them to find space or get in a rhythm early. But forwards Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie saw their offensive output drop during seasons impacted by injuries and illness. Bolden: Flames in seven Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six, Allen: Rangers in seven Player to watch: Tarasenko. (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. They'll need every bit of his experience and ability to slow the Avalanche down. Some of those came on odd-man rushes, a few on chances on the doorstep. View the updated NHL Playoff Predictions here to see playoff matchups and predicted Stanley Cup winner.. With the Seattle Kraken expansion draft and a salary cap that is not going up, a lot of players this summer have changed teams.. Player to watch: There was a time, not too long ago, when Jonathan Quick was considered one of the best big-game goaltenders in the NHL. Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in seven The Penguins' offense is also struggling, with an ice-cold power play and players such as Rust mired in slumps. Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Next game: vs. Watching all of it from the crease is Vezina contender Jacob Markstrom. That's by far the fewest among any goalie left in these playoffs. 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. 87 a game and a half. The clichs exist for a reason: There's no space out there anymore, no time to make plays or dangle or show off. 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). Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. Ditto Brad Marchand. 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 Then again, Kuemper hasn't been facing a ton of shots. as well as out-of-market games. A healthy Brayden Point obviously bolsters their advantage. We've graded all 32 teams-- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. 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. The All-Star break is over, and we are almost three-quarters of the way through the 2022-23 season. 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. Those matchups are plenty intriguing. 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Regular Season Game; North Carolina (17-11, 9-8 ACC) vs. No. Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series 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. Buccigross: Avalanche in seven Seven Avs skaters have at least three goals in the playoffs, and five have double-digit point totals. ESPN revealed its top five most likely playoff . 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. 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? Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. Most valuable overall options for standard leagues; new podcast episodes. Callahan: Hurricanes in six His playoff struggles are a bit overblown -- his numbers aren't that bad overall -- but the doubts linger. New York Rangers. After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. NHL playoff fantasy competition is its own brand of compact, focused fun. There is no such problem for the Lightning. He backstopped the Kings to the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, posting an incredible .946 save percentage to win that initial championship. There's an enviable level of top-end talent, but the balanced depth is really what the Avalanche have displayed in the postseason. Bold prediction: Brandon Hagel comes alive at last. If you just ignore the three goals he gave up in the first six minutes of Game 1 against Calgary, and also put aside that he allowed a 132-foot clearing attempt past the posts in Game 4, then Smith has been unequivocally rock solid for the Oilers. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? The Bruins' goalie tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman deserves credit in this area too, providing consistently good performances that have more than assuaged fears about how the team would move on from Tuukka Rask. That's always been ingrained in the culture of every good team I've been on here. The Avs' Norris Trophy finalist defenseman projects to draw Edmonton's toughest matchups, and as the Oilers proved against Calgary, its top line is tough to contain. If the Flames win the Cup, it wouldn't be hard to see him taking home a Conn Smythe. Weekes: Rangers in seven Shilton: Flames in six Ferraro: Avalanche in six Case for a Stanley Cup run: Colorado is a beast. Chandan: Blues in six Never let them have the puck. But even he was upstaged this postseason by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie. The next highest scorer, Zach Hyman, had 54 points. 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