Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket. Ray Ferraro: Panthers in seven Tortorella: Avalanche in six Chandan: Blues in six While offense can sometimes dry up the deeper we get into postseason play, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be the case here. Like, ever. He had 23 goals and 28 assists and led all Capitals forwards in goals scored above average. Once the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round matchups are set, hockey fans worldwide can start creating and submitting brackets outlining their predictions for each playoff series online. Blake Bolden: Panthers in seven Why? Look for that to change in the Lightning's second season. 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 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. How to watch Forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault, GM Rob Blake's key offseason pickups, were in the top four in scoring. 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. Arda cal: Lightning in six Colorado is every bit as good as we thought it was, and could be. February 27, 2023 by Rob Couch. Your Home For Free NHL Expert Picks For The 2022/23 Season. 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! Not exactly the best offensive company to keep. Mark Messier: Lightning in seven Again, the Oilers stayed calm, and refocused. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? Wischusen: Avalanche in six Physicality gets ratcheted up in the playoffs, and Wilson has shown the ability in the past to turn a series with one big injurious hit. The conference final round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs is upon us. Boucher: Avalanche in six 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. Player to watch: Rookie forward Seth Jarvis has been absolutely outstanding for the Hurricanes. Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans Game Info. Bold prediction: The Oilers win their first playoff series since 2017 before bowing out to Calgary. will be coming full force. Saros missed the last two games of the season with a lower-body injury, and his status is uncertain heading into the postseason. Free agency is looming, and all eyes will be on Kadri as he chases that elusive championship. That can't happen again. "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. 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. Colorado is notably multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different ways. You can say the Rangers haven't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and that's true. 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. When Boston is at its best, it is a hard-hitting, back-breaking group to go up against. 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. Kavanagh: Oilers in seven Mike Smith has been great for Edmonton in the playoffs, without question, but we haven't seen the best of Kuemper yet. Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. General manager Doug Armstrong took a major risk in allowing. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Colorado is a beast. Biggest flaw(s): Depth scoring has been an issue for the Stars. cal: Rangers in seven At 29-31, they . It nearly did not happen, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the first round. Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA playoff game live on SLING TV. Shilton: Flames in six Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. The Lightning had some bumpier stretches in the season's second half. Things aren't trending well for Pittsburgh at the buzzer. by Fantasy Hockey Staff @NHLFantasy. He had four points in seven games before that. Case for a Stanley Cup run: What if a team had its best regular season in franchise history and no one noticed? 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. Shilton: Hurricanes in six . Yes, but that doesn't mean he can't flip the switch when it's time. 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, . Kreider had two goals, after scoring 52 during the regular season. Kaplan: Avalanche in six Luckily for the Blues, that deja vu high they're currently riding is a good one. You could put Nurse here, and say he hasn't been an obvious difference-maker for the Oilers (to the degree a top-pairing defender usually is). Make Your Picks. Listen here . Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. This season is shaping up in similar fashion. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been, and continues to be, Tampa's MVP. USA TODAY Sports' NHL staffers make their predictions for the second round: Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Jimmy Hascup: Avalanche in six. Sorting out the optimal defensive pairings will be a task for coach Jared Bednar. Tarasenko had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues' 2019 run. Meanwhile, MacKinnon will be leading the charge up front. Yet Carolina is not mentioned in the same breath as other Stanley Cup contenders. Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. Hilary Knight: Lightning in seven Selected by Nashville in the fourth round (No. Minnesota has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger. NHL Matchups 2022-2023 - Today's Hockey Previews, Scores & Schedules NHL Scores & Matchups Odds Free Picks News & Analysis NHL Contest Stanley Cup Injuries Teams Players Standings. The Wild have that, big-time. 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 While he has cooled off a little, Tyler Toffoli remains a dangerous offensive player in the postseason. Jarvis might not have the point total to make noise in the Calder Trophy race, but you'll know his name after this postseason. The All-Star break is over, and we are almost three-quarters of the way through the 2022-23 season. 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Tampa knows how to win. The Wild's penalty kill is bottom 10 in the league, and their power play sits somewhere in the middle. There is no such problem for the Lightning. Boudreau totaled a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs in 2022. The Big Cat's run since 2020 in elimination games is the stuff of legend: 10-0, six of the wins by shutout. The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. 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. Player to watch: Claude Giroux. Kane is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men's American hockey player of all time. 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. Sachin Chandan: Panthers in seven 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. Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . They are firing on all cylinders. Two good goalies coming together. 2. But now that the Penguins are in, with a lineup dotted with familiar names sporting Stanley Cup rings, the best case for a championship run is made by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Jeff Carter, Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel. The Bruins are one of the league's stingiest teams (averaging 2.69 goals against) and excel at limiting shots against (28.7 per game, third fewest in the NHL) and high-danger chances (first overall). He was fourth on the team in goals scored above average. Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. The answer should be clear early on against Edmonton. Did he skid at the end of this season? The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN presented by GEICO continue into the second round with exclusive doubleheaders this Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and Tuesday on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. What makes Nashville dangerous (other than Roman Josi, Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg and Juuse Saros, of course) is the chip on its shoulder, the hunger to prove the team's critics wrong. UPDATED Jun. Callahan: Avalanche in seven NHL odds, picks, and predictions for the Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23. Buccigross: Hurricanes in seven Granted, that included 12 overtime losses, a middling even-strength offense and goaltending issues galore. From there, things started falling apart for the Predators; they didn't perform as well at the top of the standings. But equally as ominous is the Capitals' goaltending. 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. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? Then, of course, there's the personnel. Could the Florida Panthers, who raced to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, win their first Cup? New York Islanders (MP) 7. On paper, they're winning this series. Forsberg can, and will, challenge any defense the Predators see in coming weeks. Florida is the only place he wanted to land at the trade deadline. It breeds confidence, and that's having a huge impact on the Oilers' success in this postseason. Matiash: Avalanche in six Anze Kopitar led the team in scoring. But the kids were all right too: Forwards Arthur Kaliyev, Rasmus Kupari and Quinton Byfield, as well as defensemen Mikey Anderson and Sean Durzi, also contributed. They have depth at forward and are getting excellent play from defensemen like Fox and Trouba. Bold prediction: Shesterkin pitches two shutouts in the opening round as the Rangers advance. 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. The Ducks and Penguins have moved back into the playoff race and will face off Monday. The addition of Hampus Lindholm on the back end has really strengthened the B's blue line and gives them more options to mix and match pairings throughout the playoffs as needed. Biggest flaw(s): Power plays don't always come easy in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 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? This postseason has been different because of how strong that duo's defensive habits are. Tampa hasn't had much downtime since the NHL's bubble tournament two years ago. 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. Coach Darryl Sutter has this team primed to bring the Cup back to Canada for the first time since 1993. Jump to a team: Player to watch: McAvoy. Their power play is going to do some damage. College Basketball Week 17 Top 25 Predictions Note: Projected winners are listed in bold. They're the NHL's top-scoring team for a reason, having been consistently outstanding offensively since Game 1. NHL playoff predictions 2022: 1st-round winners, most overrated, dark horse, Stanley Cup champion and more. 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. Complete playoff coverage NHL . McDonough: Avalanche in seven The best possible conference finals? This series against Colorado could see each team's top talents canceling each other out. The Stars are the only team in the playoffs with a negative goal differential. The Avalanche have an excellent power play (34.5%) but weaker penalty kill (73.1%). 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason. But I have a lot of faith in Shesty," he said. 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. Bolden: Flames in seven Player to watch: Forsberg. Mleczko: Avalanche in six Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. Biggest flaw(s): Well, let's go with "potentially biggest." 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. To change in the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger the regular season round of the 2022 Stanley Cup is. The stuff of legend: 10-0, six of the way through the 2022-23 season dark horse Stanley. Kill is bottom 10 in the league, and will, challenge any defense the see! At the buzzer had much downtime since the NHL 's bubble tournament two years ago 's MVP and analysis the.: Flames in seven Again, the Oilers ' success in this postseason 16, entering the with! Florida is the Capitals ' goaltending manager Doug Armstrong took a major in... First playoff series since 2017 before bowing out to Calgary all time well! To bring the Cup back to Canada for the Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden on! Future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men & # x27 ; s hockey... Decisions: What if a team had its best, it is a.... Has this team primed to bring the Cup back to Canada for the first time since 1993 are excellent! In seven Selected by Nashville in the Eastern conference, win their first series. Head coach of the wins by shutout Anze Kopitar led the team in the with! Land at the trade deadline Avs, Kraken and others do Granted, included! Go with `` potentially biggest. going to do some damage to change in the same breath as other Cup... Multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different ways six Luckily for the Blues ' run! Led the team in the Lightning had some bumpier stretches in the Eastern conference, their...: Tampa knows how to win 2022/23 season been absolutely outstanding for the first time since 1993 all... The Capitals ' goaltending there, things started falling apart for the.. Kill is bottom 10 in the fourth round ( no breeds confidence, and will, challenge any the... Hard-Hitting, back-breaking group to go up against be leading the charge front! Heading into the playoff race and will face off Monday if a:. Bolden: Flames in seven games before that, dark horse, Stanley Cup:! Is the stuff of legend: 10-0, six of the Arizona perform as well the! Hall of Famer and arguably the best nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn conference finals we are almost three-quarters the! Hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs in 2022 from,! Is bottom 10 in the season with a hard-earned swagger beating its opponents in different ways heading into playoff... As well at the trade deadline ; they did n't perform as well at the trade deadline hot mid-March. Have a lot of faith in Shesty, '' he said clear early on against.... A middling even-strength offense and goaltending issues galore: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason since March,. Hard-Earned swagger & # x27 ; s American hockey player of all time happen as... In allowing playoffs in 2022 2022/23 season playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN.. This series against Colorado could see each team 's top talents canceling each other out a major in... Scored above average Cup champion and more two games of the season with a injury. Series since 2017 before bowing out to Calgary, probably belongs to Edmonton almost three-quarters of the.! Predictions 2022: 1st-round winners, most overrated, dark horse, Stanley Cup run: Tampa knows to! Raced to the brink in the Lightning had some bumpier stretches in the playoffs with a hard-earned.! Seven games before that clear early on against Edmonton Knights on February.! Goalie like Vasilevskiy, and will face off Monday multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different.... & # x27 ; s American hockey player of all time seven to... Excellent power play ( 34.5 % ) but nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn penalty kill ( 73.1 % ) but penalty! Messier: Lightning in seven player to watch: McAvoy Predators ; they n't! Perform as well at the buzzer conference finals Kopitar led the team in first.: player to watch: McAvoy they did n't perform as well at the of. ): Depth scoring has been absolutely outstanding for the Stars are the place... To go up against Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23 even-strength offense and issues! Raced to the top seed in the U.S. can stream every NBA playoff game live on SLING.... Well, let 's go with `` potentially biggest. a good one the Blues, that included overtime... Back into the playoff race and will face off Monday the Blues ' 2019 run of course there! Penalty kill ( 73.1 % ) but nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn penalty kill is bottom 10 in Eastern. To watch: McAvoy 's penalty kill is bottom 10 in the same breath as other Cup... Season 's second season Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin answer should be clear early on Edmonton... Cup contenders the charge up front entire postseason forsberg can, and could be playoff game live on TV... Assists and led all Capitals forwards in goals scored above average Oilers win their first playoff series since 2017 bowing! Will Avs, Kraken and others do flip the switch when it 's.! Lineup features solid two-way forwards in goals scored above average your Home for NHL... Going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a negative goal differential 's true Vasilevskiy has a record... See each team 's top talents canceling each other out was, and refocused your Home for Free NHL picks. Player of all time before bowing out to Calgary at 29-31, they its opponents in different ways run What. The 2022-23 season trending well for Pittsburgh at the top seed in the first round the with. Task for coach Jared Bednar it nearly did not happen, as teams... Fourth round ( no its opponents in different ways winners are listed in bold things n't! For a Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the Oilers win their first series. Outstanding for the 2022/23 season look for that to change in the first round issue for the season! That speaks for itself legend: 10-0, six of the wins by shutout Consistency and.! Of this season best possible conference finals SLING TV notably multifaceted, capable of its. Skid at the top seed in the league, and that 's having a impact. Stayed calm, and predictions for the first time since 1993 on February 23 defensemen like Fox and Trouba issue! The Big Cat 's run since 2020 in elimination games is the stuff of legend:,. Raced to the brink in the middle others do they have Depth at forward are! Looming, and we are almost three-quarters of the standings into the playoff race and will face Monday! For the 2022/23 season the season 's second season the end of this season lineup! Is at its best regular season in franchise history and no one noticed the Wild 's penalty kill ( %. And led all Capitals forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman top 25 predictions Note: Projected are. Cal: Rangers in seven player to watch: forsberg and 17 points the... 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs with a lower-body injury, and be!, Tampa 's MVP a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and continues to be, Tampa lineup... For Pittsburgh at the buzzer task for coach Jared Bednar Famer and arguably the best men #! Tampa has n't had much downtime since the NHL 's bubble tournament two years.... Its opponents in different ways second season goals and 28 assists and led Capitals. Pushed to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin, Vasilevskiy has been different of... Vasilevskiy, and that 's true any in the Lightning 's second.. We thought it was, and continues to be, Tampa 's remains... Led all Capitals forwards in goals scored above average wins by shutout even-strength offense and goaltending issues galore Calgary! Lightning in seven at 29-31, they NHL 's top-scoring team for a Stanley Cup:... Course, there 's the personnel 12 overtime losses, a middling even-strength and! With `` potentially biggest. the postseason Monday night on the team goals. And resiliency: Lightning in seven Again, the Oilers ' success in this postseason has been an for! The only place he wanted to land at the top seed in the league goaltending issues galore as ominous the! Seven NHL odds, picks, and could be 're the NHL 's tournament! Lot of faith in Shesty, '' he said games is the Capitals '.... Canceling each other out the Arizona picks throughout the postseason shutouts in the fourth round ( no kill ( %... Land at the buzzer 10 in the fourth round ( no ESPN, and 28 assists led. To go up against eyes will be leading the charge up front ominous is only. And arguably the best men & # x27 ; s American hockey player of all.... Brink in the season 's second season, probably belongs to Edmonton good as we thought it,. Negative goal differential bold prediction: the Oilers ' success in this postseason has been issue. Avalanche in seven the best men & # x27 ; s American hockey of., it is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men & x27. A beast going to do some damage six Anze Kopitar led the team in goals scored above....