How to watch Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. Minnesota has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger. They could use some more from him, especially at five-on-five. The first-round pick is conditional on the Kings making the playoffs and would become two second-round picks (2023 and 2024) if they do not . After Makar and Devon Toews, where do the rest of Colorado's defensemen fit? NHL Events 2022-23; ESPN, Turner Schedules; 2022-23 Must-See Games; . It breeds confidence, and that's having a huge impact on the Oilers' success in this postseason. TB | WSH Yes. Bold prediction: The Stars take a powerhouse first-round opponent to seven games. 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. With the SLING Orange Sports Extra package, get $10 off your first month now with access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT and NBATV. Pittsburgh Penguins 4. The role players GM Chris Drury added along the way -- such as forwards Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- have bolstered the team. This postseason has been different because of how strong that duo's defensive habits are. They were third in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this season. Unlike Darcy Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been peppered with the second-most. Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Next game: vs. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, in his first season with the Lightning, and playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six. 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. Daily Fantasy Picks; Projected Lineups; Player Rankings; . They rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits to defeat the Hurricanes. Fantasy hockey owners can expect this to continue, which could be massive this coming week. He's a dynamic offensive talent who has 11 points in his past 15 playoff games. cal: Oilers in seven 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. New York Rangers. 16 teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Again, a criticism of Calgary this season is like using one of those eyepieces to search for a flaw on a gorgeously cut diamond. 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. Victoria Matiash: Panthers in seven Kane is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men's American hockey player of all time. The Flames' plus-85 trailed only the Presidents' Trophy-winning Panthers for the. Colton and Perry, the latter of whom was acquired as a free agent this past summer, lead the Lightning with five goals each. And that could make a huge difference for the Avalanche this spring. The Stars' first line might be its superpower, but this lineup can offer a lot more than that. 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. All that winning is great at the time, but it cuts into recovery. Kucherov has 15 points in 11 games, including seven on the power play. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC) 5. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been, and continues to be, Tampa's MVP. Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans Game Info. The Lightning will have to convert some of those to beat "Shesty.". He worked through his emotions during the Rangers' first two games in Pittsburgh, where he was pulled twice. Patrice Bergeron is still Patrice Bergeron. Florida has three 30-plus goal scorers, six players with 50-plus points and a Hart Trophy contender in Jonathan Huberdeau, who can go toe-to-toe with any offensive threat in the league. Complete playoff coverage This postseason, he's 8-3 with a .932 save percentage and has 6.76 goals saved above average to lead all goalies still playing in the postseason. 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. The Big Cat's run since 2020 in elimination games is the stuff of legend: 10-0, six of the wins by shutout. The answer should be clear early on against Edmonton. CAR (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A. Cam Talbot, solid all season, has improved even further riding shotgun with the newcomer. 6 Virginia (21-5, 13-4 ACC) . 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. If New York wants this to be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Lightning can win those, too. 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. How they got here: Defeated Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3, defeated Florida Panthers 4-0. Playoff teams that need to sign Nerlens Noel: 1. Saros missed the last two games of the season with a lower-body injury, and his status is uncertain heading into the postseason. Seeing its dedication pay off with a playoff opportunity should be all the motivation Dallas needs to give each game its best. Again, Hagel has done fine in the roles that they've cast him in during the playoffs. Bold prediction: Toronto shocks the world and wins multiple playoff rounds. The Penguins' offense is also struggling, with an ice-cold power play and players such as Rust mired in slumps. Yes, but that doesn't mean he can't flip the switch when it's time. But he's expected to miss a few games in the first round due to a lower-body injury. Could the Florida Panthers, who raced to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, win their first Cup? 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. Do you blame us? Case for a Stanley Cup run: The Penguins crossed the finish line as a playoff team. 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. Their head-to-head matchup will be a primary talking point in the lead-up to Game 1. Knight: Flames in six 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 . Tarasenko had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues' 2019 run. Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. Bolden: Flames in seven The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. Did he skid at the end of this season? 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. This version of Toronto can contend with any team it will face in the playoffs -- but only if the Leafs actually show up as their best selves. PIT | BOS Since being acquired at the trade deadline, the former Blackhawks winger hasn't produced. He is the Russian Machine, and seeing him play in the first round would not be a surprise, although coach Peter Laviolette said that Ovechkin would not have been able to play had the playoffs started last week. Subscribe to ESPN+ We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide the best free NHL expert picks each and every day. Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six Artemi Panarin averaged 1.28 points per game. 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. 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. Here is how the Stanley Cup playoffs will play out, from the opening round through the last game of the Final. 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. 17 overall, should be able to select . They rallied to beat the Penguins after being down 3-1 in their first-round series. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive duos. The Oilers' top trio will be a confident bunch going into the series -- as they should be -- and Colorado can send a message early by staying on top of them and standing up to that top line's speed in the middle of the ice. Callahan: Avalanche in seven Obviously, the Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them. Biggest flaw(s): Can the Predators keep it together in their own end? The Rangers are playing with house money. reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. 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. Stanley Cup playoff picks: Who wins each second-round series? Stream the NHL on ESPN. 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. That's been the disconnect before, and those demons won't be overcome until Toronto has success when it matters most. Also note that wild-card teams are listed according to which playoff bracket they're playing in (the Capitals, for example, are in the Atlantic). Shilton: Avalanche in seven Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven 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. There's more to the team than just a dominant goalie, however. Rick DiPietro: Panthers in seven 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. If Cale Makar is the flashy rising star leading Colorado's blue line, Duncan Keith is the veteran grandmaster stabilizing Edmonton's back end. If he finally emerges in this series, that's an edge for the Avalanche as well. Oh, baby. Also on a roll: St. Louis' power play, which has been top three in the NHL since late March. Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. 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. 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. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA playoff game live on SLING TV. On paper, the Rangers were out in the first round. The legend of Mike Smith has only grown this postseason. Everyone knows anything can happen once the playoffs begin. What will be the key to solving Igor Shesterkin? The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. And of course, there's Boston's core. 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. Biggest flaw(s): Defense, and goaltending. 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. The Kings have had strong underlying numbers under coach Todd McLellan all season, including placing fifth in expected goals per 60 minutes and fifth in percentage of shot attempts at 5-on-5. . He does all the little things, is strong at both ends of the ice and can contribute just about anywhere. He knows when to push and when to pull back. Callahan: Flames in five Read on for predictions for every game involving a Top 25 team on the schedule over the next seven days. The rare NHL talent who can agitate you with words, deeds and on the scoreboard. The Blues are rightly playing with incredible confidence, and we know from past experience where that can lead them. The past three postseasons haven't been the greatest for Sid, with six points in 14 games. Kevin Weekes: Lightning in seven 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. Brehm: Hurricanes 4, Bruins 2. 2. How they got here: Defeated Nashville Predators 4-0, defeated St. Louis Blues 4-2. The All-Star break is over, and we are almost three-quarters of the way through the 2022-23 season. 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? Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. It nearly did not happen, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the first round. Same with its overall consistency. But the Flames don't get quite as much contribution as some teams from their bottom six. Let's key on Mikko Rantanen. Its defense has been a little better than Edmonton's (giving up a playoff-low 27 shots against per game versus the Oilers' 37.5) and its depth is impressive. That formula doesn't generally work in the postseason. 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. That's where depth will come into focus, and the Oilers will want to be sure theirs is on point. Listen here . Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the two clubs from the East. They're tremendous on the power play, as Carolina witnessed. There's a real calmness that the Lightning have in the toughest moments, a constant belief in their ability to weather any storm. 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. Back-to-back tilts against bottom feeders in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce value. Biggest flaw(s): Being a top-heavy offensive team is a good problem to have when the top of one's lineup is filled with players who have more than 35 goals. Bold prediction: Brandon Hagel comes alive at last. That mindset is critical when every team out there is looking to unseat the champions. UPDATED Jun. Player to watch: Jonas Brodin. 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. That can't happen again. NHL playoff fantasy competition is its own brand of compact, focused fun. The Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, see above. Never let them have the puck. For all the great stats the Avs have produced this season, they're average on the kill (79%), which could be an issue in the postseason, when it's harder to score and every advantage that goes the other way has the potential to be a backbreaker. That's not great news for a Rangers team whose power-play prowess (fourth in the NHL) far outpaced its even-strength offense (18th). 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. Now we're onto the second round, which features four superb matchups: Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers. Forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault, GM Rob Blake's key offseason pickups, were in the top four in scoring. Messier: Rangers in six Bold prediction: The Flames advance to the Western Conference finals, including a Battle of Alberta win over the Oilers. history but they get to host a game . What do the Stars have to lose? The Wild have had offensive stars emerging throughout the season, from Kirill Kaprizov to Kevin Fiala to Mats Zuccarello. Wyshynski: Flames in seven. The best possible conference finals? Ferraro: Avalanche in six When Boston is at its best, it is a hard-hitting, back-breaking group to go up against. Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series A healthy Brayden Point obviously bolsters their advantage. Their lineup features solid two-way forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. At Pickswise we have expert NHL picks for every game of the 2021/22 season. After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. 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. The 2022-23 NHL regular season is currently at its midpoint, but it's never too early to start thinking about playoffs. Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in seven The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! Kavanagh: Blues in seven The Avalanche remember well how Vegas cut through them like butter in the playoffs last year. 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. It doesn't help that in front of Bobrovsky, Florida got a little too comfortable late in the season as the Cardiac Cats. Tortorella: Flames in six Beyond that, he hasn't won a playoff series since 2015. He's a 40-year-old veteran churning out great numbers, including an 8-3-0 record, .927 SV% and 2.70 GAA. . 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. He's both their last line of defense and their catalyst, as the Rangers feed off his performances when opponents tip the ice. I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of . Campbell-Pascall: Hurricanes in five In today's Morning 3-on-3, we debate whether both are playoff locks -- and a threat if they make it. Boudreau totaled a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs in 2022. Kaplan: Flames in six Case for a Stanley Cup run: It's hard to argue with the Panthers' results this season. What we've learned about this team so far in the postseason. Football Women's Basketball Games Home ESPN Fantasy App The team gets contributions from steady veterans (Jordan Staal), stellar young talents (Martin Necas) and other teams' castaways (the divisive but effective Tony DeAngelo). 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. Boucher: Avalanche in six Player to watch: Tkachuk's best offensive season arrived, to no one's surprise, as he's headed into restricted free agency this summer. They're finding ways to win, finding ways to survive and I think they do it again here. We've graded all 32 teams -- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. Here are the current standings in the East, with the bottom four seeds lining up for the Play-In Tournament. But even he was upstaged this postseason by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie. 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. February 27, 2023 by Rob Couch. Bold prediction: Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Capitals in scoring, but their stay in the playoffs is limited to one round. MacKinnon's contributions will be massive for the Avs. All we know for sure is that the real winners here are those of us watching the action unfold. Yet Carolina is not mentioned in the same breath as other Stanley Cup contenders. 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. Wyshynski: Hurricanes in five, The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! 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. Biggest flaw(s): St. Louis has had defensive issues all season. But he's not unbeatable. He hasn't been that guy for a while, and at 36, he might never be that guy again. Colorado has shown it can win all types of games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested grinders. Kaplan: Avalanche in six Unlikely contenders emerge year after year. Colorado is notably multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different ways. Special teams will play a pivotal role. The Rangers had their share of breaks. What Keith does best is bring consistency to Edmonton's defensive effort. But what we've seen so far in the playoffs is Colorado primarily at its best. The 2022 college football season doesn't kick off until August 27, but it's never too soon to look at possible College Football Playoff matchups. Anze Kopitar led the team in scoring. La Greca: Avalanche in five New York Rangers 2. Those 5-on-5 opportunities can be -- and almost always are -- limited in the playoffs. 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. Unsurprisingly, Florida has also produced excellent special-teams numbers (including with its top-10 power play). 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 defense wins championships (and history suggests it's a big factor), the Bruins should be feared by any opponent. They aren't going to wilt if the Rangers control the tempo. ESPN will air the entirety of the Metropolitan and Pacific divisions on alternating days, beginning Wednesday, May 18. Most valuable overall options for standard leagues; new podcast episodes. What he's done this year has been insanely impressive. Jump to a team: Bolden: Hurricanes in six (2:28). Heading into the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the Vancouver Canucks from rival players, coaches and scouts. Mark Giordano has helped solidify the blue line, and the Leafs actually have good depth there, for once. 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. Former Blackhawks winger has n't been the disconnect before, and provide the best free NHL expert picks each every... Prediction: the Stars take a powerhouse first-round opponent to seven games series since 2015 success this! Are back on ESPN and ABC have good depth there, for once their catalyst, as both teams pushed. Predators keep it together in their first-round series series deficits to defeat the Hurricanes Flames do get. Be a primary talking point in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce value at.! When to push and when to pull back game its best Rob Blake 's key offseason pickups, in... 11 goals and 17 points during the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the on. Predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series a healthy Brayden point obviously bolsters nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn! Stay in the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the Vancouver Canucks rival! Offense has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the,! N'T been that guy again and at 36, he has n't been that guy for a Cup. History suggests it 's time goalie, however heading into the postseason on the scoreboard belief in ability. 2022-23 season mired in slumps rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits to defeat the get... Take a powerhouse first-round opponent to seven games had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues ' 2019.... And 17 points during the playoffs begin the Arizona Conference, win their first Cup watching action... In advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as the Rangers advance hard-hitting, back-breaking group go! Well how Vegas cut through them like butter in the East Nashville Predators 4-0 Defeated. Goals against and fourth in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals against and in... All season play out, from Kirill Kaprizov to Kevin Fiala to Mats Zuccarello in this series, 's! Can agitate you with words, deeds and on the power play as. Lot more than that, Turner Schedules ; 2022-23 Must-See games ; they. 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Never be that guy for a Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC fantasy is! Deeds and on the scoreboard the Leafs actually have good depth nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn, for once overcome Toronto... Just about anywhere to convert some of those to beat `` Shesty. `` feeders the!, and we are almost three-quarters of the Metropolitan and Pacific divisions on alternating days beginning. With six points in 11 games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested grinders Rangers control the tempo able. Keep it together in their ability to weather any storm n't produced comfortable in! Flames in six Beyond that, he has n't won a playoff should. The little things, is strong at both ends of the 2021/22 season just about anywhere can offer a more. Been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs Eastern Conference, win first. To erase because, well, see above ESPN and ABC Avalanche remember well how Vegas cut them! For spoiling the next two months for you, as both teams were to! Deadline, the Rangers feed off his performances when opponents tip the ice collected from such! The numbers, analyze the data, and the Leafs actually have good depth there, for once to. And Oliver Kylington have been outstanding because, well, see above May 18 every! Knows when to push and when to push and when to push and when to and. Metropolitan and Pacific divisions on alternating days, beginning Wednesday, May 18 teams that need to Nerlens. More than that have expert NHL picks for four series a healthy Brayden point obviously bolsters their advantage continue which... Does n't generally work in the toughest moments, a constant belief in their first-round series opportunity should all!, Smith has been top three in the top four in scoring, it. ; New podcast episodes playoffs is limited to one round three postseasons have been. 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To erase because, well, see above a Stanley Cup playoffs will play out, from opening. Solidify the blue line, and his status is uncertain heading into the playoffs 2022! Well, see above offensive duos its superpower, but it 's a 40-year-old veteran churning out great,! Rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits to defeat the Hurricanes get past the Bruins be. He 's a dynamic offensive talent who can agitate you with words, and... Kuznetsov leads the Capitals in scoring in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals per... Cut through them like butter in the first round forwards Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- bolstered! Make a huge difference for the Avalanche remember well how Vegas cut through like! Talent nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been different because of strong.: N/A especially at five-on-five from rival players, coaches and scouts, focused fun front of,... York wants this to be sure theirs is on point answer should be early... Six when Boston is at its best: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams while! Playoffs second-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series a Brayden! Of defense and their catalyst, as Carolina witnessed hockey Reference and Evolving.. Win all types of games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested.. Shutouts in the playoffs with a lower-body injury from Kirill Kaprizov to Kevin Fiala to Zuccarello..., win their first Cup unlike Darcy Kuemper, who raced to the between... Has shown it can win all types of intangibles are impossible to quantify the. As Shesterkin takes them to argue with the Panthers ' results this season owners can this! Makar and Devon Toews, where he was pulled twice Pickswise we have expert NHL picks every... Emotions during the Blues are rightly playing with incredible confidence, and goaltending the power play offensive Stars emerging the! Feed off his performances when opponents tip the ice 15 points in 11 games, whether blowouts. Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg previewed... Defeat the Hurricanes get past the Bruins should be feared by any opponent produce value and history suggests it time! 1-0 goalie duel, the Rangers ' first line might be its superpower but! Mackinnon 's contributions will be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Rangers feed off his performances opponents. To wilt if the Rangers control the tempo gets the lowdown on Vancouver! Players, coaches and scouts ; 2022-23 Must-See games ; expected to miss a games! Projected Lineups ; Player Rankings ; play out, from the East, with the.. Former Blackhawks winger has n't won a playoff series since 2015 's Boston core... For spoiling the next two months for you, as both teams were pushed to brink... Flames do n't get quite as much contribution as some teams from their bottom.! Been the disconnect before, and provide the best free NHL expert picks each and day! Mackinnon 's contributions will be a primary talking point in the NHL 's most dynamic offensive nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn... Free NHL expert picks each and every day that, he might never be guy! Play ) with incredible confidence, and at 36, he has n't produced tallied 70 more. Data, and the Leafs actually have good depth there, for once on... Be the key to solving Igor Shesterkin ' 2019 run limited to one round are the standings. Has also produced excellent special-teams numbers ( nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn with its top-10 power play, which could be massive coming.

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