But if there's a true flaw with the Oilers, it's once again found in the crease. 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. And, as Nashville's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some must-see drama. Toronto is no longer the one-dimensional wonder of its past, capable of putting pucks in the net but incapable of keeping them out. Tampa hasn't had much downtime since the NHL's bubble tournament two years ago. Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. Rick DiPietro: Panthers in seven Bold prediction: As happened to Tampa Bay in 2019, the seemingly unstoppable Panthers fall short with a baffling first-round exit. TB | WSH Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket. While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. Forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault, GM Rob Blake's key offseason pickups, were in the top four in scoring. Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. His .925 career playoff save percentage ties him for third all time (minimum 60 games) with Hall of Famer Dominik . Shilton: Avalanche in seven I think we're there with the Rangers. Stream the NHL on ESPN, Allen: Avalanche in five Another matchup against the Dallas Stars, who are a mess right now and Domi just recently torched, could be another interesting game for him. Brian Boucher: Panthers in six Case for a Stanley Cup run: What does (almost) every long playoff push include? Players, coaches, execs vote for NHL's top centers, NHL Power Rankings: Checking in on each team's 25-and-under core, Lineup picks, matchups, start or sit advice for Wednesday, McAvoy scores in OT, Bruins beat Flames for 8th win a row, Gaudreau scores in shootout, Wild beat Islanders 2-1, Geekie ends drought with 2 goals, Kraken beat Blues 5-3, Robinson scores 3 goals in Blue Jackets' 5-3 win over Sabres, 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason, Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket, Ranking NHL players who need a Stanley Cup, last two games of the season with a lower-body injury. Darcy Kuemper has been solid if unspectacular in the playoffs, posting a 6-2-0 record, .904 save percentage and 2.44 goals-against average. The Oilers are more resilient than some observers previously thought. He hasn't been that guy for a while, and at 36, he might never be that guy again. Seeing its dedication pay off with a playoff opportunity should be all the motivation Dallas needs to give each game its best. Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. Jump to a team: Coach Jon Cooper says his standout center -- the team's leading goal-scorer (30) over the past two postseasons -- is progressing from a lower-body injury he suffered in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs. The Oilers are more balanced (28.1% on the power play, 85.4% on the kill). Or was it symptomatic of the Blues' inconsistent attack? Kristen Shilton: Lightning in six This series against Colorado could see each team's top talents canceling each other out. 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? STL | NSH Nine of the 16 picked. On paper, they're winning this series. Bold prediction: Kopitar and Danault do what they can against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the loss of Doughty proves too much and the Kings fall to the Oilers in six games. Bold prediction: The Penguins go out in the first round, but goaltending isn't the reason. And if Boston is going to turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff run, it will be McAvoy leading the way. 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. In over 500 minutes of game action this postseason, Kuemper has faced only 218 pucks. Levy: Rangers in seven Center Anthony Cirelli has two points in 11 games but has provided what the Lightning need in the middle after Brayden Point's injury. No disrespect intended to Sebastian Aho, but the Rangers didn't have to face an elite offensive player like Kucherov in their series against the Hurricanes. Hagel took a puck off one of his feet in Game 2 against the Panthers, though he appeared in Games 3 and 4. Messier: Oilers in six We don't roll out the term "juggernaut" for just anyone around here. John Buccigross: Panthers in seven Keeping those three in check starts with good neutral-zone play, limiting their ability to gain speed and forcing play to the outside. 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. ET ESPN, SN; . Center Steven Stamkos (eight points) and defenseman Ryan McDonagh have been there in big moments. Colorado is every bit as good as we thought it was, and could be. McDonough: Hurricanes 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. 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. 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 . Are we focusing heavily on the best players in this series? Colorado's penalty kill (only 73.1%) and goaltending (see above) have underwhelmed, and would be the most likely potential issues against Edmonton. Case for a Stanley Cup run: It's hard to argue with the Panthers' results this season. 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. If Edmonton can do that again in the conference finals, Colorado's march to the Cup finals will be severely impeded -- and perhaps derailed. They were third in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this season. UPDATED Jun. Not exactly the best offensive company to keep. Victoria Matiash: Panthers in seven That, combined with St. Louis being one of the NHL's worst teams in 5-on-5 possession totals, puts a lot more pressure on Husso -- a rookie appearing in his first postseason -- at the toughest time of year. Unfortunately, Alex Ovechkin cornered the market on "he can still do that at his age, wow!" This postseason has been different because of how strong that duo's defensive habits are. on the season, while still finding time to amass 68 penalty minutes. But it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and carry the team for stretches this season. 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. 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Ranking & Projections - ESPN hsb.accessibility.skipContent ESPN NFL NCAAF NBA NHL Soccer MLB Watch Listen Fantasy Fantasy Hockey Home Sign Up Fantasy Store. They're not the Maple Leafs or the Panthers, crushed by the weight of expectations and entitlement. Callahan: Avalanche in seven All that winning is great at the time, but it cuts into recovery. Keep an eye on those little things Brodin can do to put Minnesota over the top. Period. James O'Brien, NHL writer: Bruins in 6. This series projects to trend more toward what Edmonton just experienced, with the potential for larger momentum swings and opportunity to generate offense. 2. It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. He was fourth on the team in goals scored above average. (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. Obviously, the Lightning would like to see Point back on the ice. Bold prediction: Boston uses its shutdown capabilities to bounce a high-octane offensive opponent in the first round. The Avalanche have an excellent power play (34.5%) but weaker penalty kill (73.1%). 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. They were 27th in goals-against per 60 at 5-on-5 under Tippett; under Woodcroft, they were ninth. Center Ross Colton, who scored the only goal in their Cup-clinching game last summer against the Canadiens, has played the majority of his minutes with Brandon Hagel, whom the Lightning acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline. How do the Avs slow down the McDavid-Draisaitl-Kane line? The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. Team defense has become a part of the equation because that mentality is exhibited by the team's top players (including Matthews). 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. The final day of the NHL regular season is April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few days later. Mike Smith has been great for Edmonton in the playoffs, without question, but we haven't seen the best of Kuemper yet. The Ducks and Penguins have moved back into the playoff race and will face off Monday. Bold prediction: Brandon Hagel comes alive at last. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. But I think Shesty has one that does, too. 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). 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. Bold prediction: Coach Dean Evason bucks tradition by not naming a playoff starter in net, opting to alternate between Fleury and Talbot instead. Like, ever. . These simulcasts typically involve ESPN's linear television channels and internet streaming platforms, and may . Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Welcome to the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs!The first round gets rolling on Saturday with Game 1 of the Washington Capitals-Boston Bruins series.. There's plenty of history in many of these matchups, as the NHL is using an intradivisional format for the first two rounds, before re-bracketing the final four for the semifinals. Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. Could the Florida Panthers, who raced to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, win their first Cup? It was once again the Connor and Leon show, as McDavid had 123 points and Draisaitl had 110. Leah Hextall: Panthers in seven The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. If defense wins championships (and history suggests it's a big factor), the Bruins should be feared by any opponent. They'll need every bit of his experience and ability to slow the Avalanche down. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Buccigross: Flames in six Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six, Allen: Rangers in seven Ferraro: Avalanche in six Those 5-on-5 opportunities can be -- and almost always are -- limited in the playoffs. 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. We just don't go away, regardless of the score and regardless of where the game is. The Flames' plus-85 trailed only the Presidents' Trophy-winning Panthers for the. Alas, he's ineligible, having played more than six games in his first two NHL seasons. 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. But he's not unbeatable. Marc-Andre Fleury has been lights out since arriving at the trade deadline from Chicago. 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. The 2021-22 season has been incredibly bizarre for Colton Parayko, who has been a puzzling player since the Blues won the Cup in 2019. McCarron for choosing his league over the NFL. 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. Or will the Toronto Maple Leafs shake off their demons and claim their first Cup since 1966-67? A healthy Brayden Point obviously bolsters their advantage. 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. Well, unless it's because of their opponents' goaltending. Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six 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. The past three postseasons haven't been the greatest for Sid, with six points in 14 games. 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 has n't had much downtime since the NHL regular season kristen shilton: Lightning in six this?. Playoffs, posting a 6-2-0 record,.904 save percentage and 2.44 nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn! 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