STL | NSH He's a dynamic offensive talent who has 11 points in his past 15 playoff games. Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series 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. Period. And that could make a huge difference for the Avalanche this spring. McDonough: Hurricanes in seven 87 a game and a half. Obviously not. Vitek Vanecek has been wildly inconsistent, while Ilya Samsonov has played to a sub-replacement level this season. As long as the Oilers' stars are shining that brightly, they'll have a chance to win any series. Make Your Picks. If Andersen can't go, netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov. Anze Kopitar led the team in scoring. That unit shows no signs of slowing, either, and that should give Dallas a confidence boost going into the first round. Same with its overall consistency. Before I reveal every series winner in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs and the exact number of games in which the series will be won, I'd like to just offer a small reminder to establish a baseline . 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. Offseason keys for eliminated teams, Sean Allen: Panthers in six Those 5-on-5 opportunities can be -- and almost always are -- limited in the playoffs. Player to watch: Tarasenko. Kavanagh: Blues in seven Not too shabby. This is when he should shine. will be coming full force. Case for a Stanley Cup run: It's hard to argue with the Panthers' results this season. They went 12-8-3 after that. McDonough: Flames in seven The opponents are very favourable. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive duos. 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. John Buccigross: Panthers in seven Two good goalies coming together. . Levy: Rangers in seven Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. Each player had some solid stretches late in the Calgary series, but those four have combined for only five goals thus far in the playoffs. What do the Stars have to lose? Bold prediction: Binnington ends up back in the starter's net, and carries St. Louis deep into the postseason. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, in his first season with the Lightning, and playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six. This series projects to trend more toward what Edmonton just experienced, with the potential for larger momentum swings and opportunity to generate offense. A game-changing talent who also is playing for his next contract (from Nashville or someone else). NHL Events 2022-23; ESPN, Turner Schedules; 2022-23 Must-See Games; . 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? 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. Then again, Kuemper hasn't been facing a ton of shots. Edmonton trended up across the board under Woodcroft, including in the most important area: the standings, where the Oilers finished second in the Pacific. We're learned that fatigue hasn't yet been an issue for a team that's gone all the way in two straight postseasons -- perhaps because they followed truncated regular seasons? Colorado has shown it can win all types of games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested grinders. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. And Kane already had a pair of hat tricks in the playoffs. Edmonton's top line is stacked, it's slippery and it's been operating at an incredibly high level. Biggest flaw(s): Fatigue. He battled back and won a Game 7. 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. Biggest flaw(s): Depth scoring has been an issue for the Stars. This season is shaping up in similar fashion. He hasn't been that guy for a while, and at 36, he might never be that guy again. Bold prediction: The Penguins go out in the first round, but goaltending isn't the reason. The Stars' first line might be its superpower, but this lineup can offer a lot more than that. Cam Talbot, solid all season, has improved even further riding shotgun with the newcomer. He had four points in seven games before that. Those matchups are plenty intriguing. Editor's Picks. He received help from familiar Capitals names such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and Tom Wilson, while Conor Sheary and Anthony Mantha chipped in. Bold prediction: Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Capitals in scoring, but their stay in the playoffs is limited to one round. 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. Unlike the other two teams on this list, the Portland Trail Blazers are currently on the outside looking in. Are we focusing heavily on the best players in this series? 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 Lightning have done it the past two seasons, under less-than-ideal pandemic-related circumstances to boot. The Flames' plus-85 trailed only the Presidents' Trophy-winning Panthers for the. 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. This postseason has been different because of how strong that duo's defensive habits are. The other thing we've seen from Edmonton is a real commitment to the defensive side of the puck from its top players. Daily Fantasy Picks; Projected Lineups; Player Rankings; . And yet, here we are. Boucher: Avalanche in six Make Your Picks. Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six NHL playoff fantasy competition is its own brand of compact, focused fun. 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). But forwards Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie saw their offensive output drop during seasons impacted by injuries and illness. So if there's room for improvement anywhere, it's from some of the Oilers' second- and third-line skaters like Warren Foegele, Ryan McLeod, Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi. Keith has been on every big stage hockey has to offer. With the 2023 All-Star Game and skills competition approaching on Feb. 3-4, we turn our focus to the collective bold predictions from our ESPN hockey family. 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. Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. LA | DAL. What Keith does best is bring consistency to Edmonton's defensive effort. What sort of postseason magic can Kadri create to cap this career season? And if Boston is going to turn its defensive advantages into a lengthy playoff run, it will be McAvoy leading the way. La Greca: Avalanche in five It breeds confidence, and that's having a huge impact on the Oilers' success in this postseason. On paper, they're winning this series. Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. In general, Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft has been leaning on the same eight forwards up front and limiting the use of his fourth-liners. No one will let the Leafs forget what happened against Boston (twice) or Montreal. The Predators can score well enough, but how well they can execute team defense and keep the puck out of their own net will be the key. 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. NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference. The Oilers will have to settle for Bouchard logging 19:46 in average ice time and being part of a successful pairing with Duncan Keith, which is not something Edmonton fans would have predicted before the season. That could change in a hurry in the postseason, as the Canes flex their impressive depth, stingy penalty kill and offensive power led by Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. Not enough has been made of the Blues. Mleczko: Flames in six 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason. Biggest flaw(s): Minnesota's special teams are less than awe-inspiring. reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. Messier: Rangers in six John Buccigross examines the historical run the Tampa Bay Lightning have had over the past two seasons. 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. Bold prediction: Coach Dean Evason bucks tradition by not naming a playoff starter in net, opting to alternate between Fleury and Talbot instead. They had three 40-goal forwards in Johnny Gaudreau, who posted a remarkable 115-point season, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm, with Andrew Mangiapane (35 goals) not far off the pace. Tocchet, most recently head coach of the Arizona . It starts in their own end and being engaged down low. 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. Nine of the 16 picked. They are firing on all cylinders. Hextall: Hurricanes in six Player to watch: Claude Giroux. 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. Heiskanen missed time this season with illness but is an invaluable asset to Dallas' overall success. Let's key on Mikko Rantanen. All that winning is great at the time, but it cuts into recovery. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Lawrence-Riddell: Avalanche in six Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six Sachin Chandan: Panthers in seven Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. We muse, one last time, on the league stages of the 2022/23 Indian Super League (ISL) season: Odisha slip through, somehow It was in their hands going into the final week. 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. Artemi Panarin averaged 1.28 points per game. MacKinnon's contributions will be massive for the Avs. 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. Tarasenko had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues' 2019 run. And, as Nashville's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some must-see drama. Jake Oettinger has played well in net, and Dallas' defense has looked more cohesive lately. New York Rangers 2. We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide the best free NHL expert picks each and every day. 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. Minnesota has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger. We've graded all 32 teams -- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. We've seen in other series around the league how important timely scoring is from often unheralded or unexpected players. If that's the case, whose top line will benefit more? Shilton: Flames in six Brian Boucher: Panthers in six 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. Orchestrating all of it is coach Rod Brind'Amour, for whom the players would skate through a wall. There were times when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin's crease but couldn't find the rebounds he'd leave. 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. The Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, see above. Subscribe to ESPN+ In net, Jack Campbell appears back on his game following a midseason downturn and rib injury. McCarron for choosing his league over the NFL. There has also been more effort on the forecheck. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. While offense can sometimes dry up the deeper we get into postseason play, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be the case here. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. 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 going to overtime. The first round might actually be the hardest for Tampa, knowing how hungry the Leafs are to overcome their checkered playoff past. Weekes: Blues in seven They'll need every bit of his experience and ability to slow the Avalanche down. Chandan: Hurricanes in five Ditto Brad Marchand. My other prediction for this series? The 2022-23 NHL season is the 106th season of operation (105th . . How they got here: Defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-3, defeated Calgary Flames 4-1. He's a 40-year-old veteran churning out great numbers, including an 8-3-0 record, .927 SV% and 2.70 GAA. 2022 NHL Playoffs: B/R Staff 1st-Round Predictions 0 of 8 Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images Let the fun begin. Portland Trail Blazers. The goaltending from Ville Husso has been exceptional, and Jordan Binnington is finally rebounding to become a more reliable backup. On paper, the Rangers were out in the first round. Look for that to change in the Lightning's second season. His playoff struggles are a bit overblown -- his numbers aren't that bad overall -- but the doubts linger. ET ESPN, SN; . The Capitals have a veteran group that can play physical hockey and defend well at 5-on-5. Biggest flaw(s): The fact that the Kings still managed to make the playoffs without Doughty is a testament to how well they played before his injury. Unfortunately, Alex Ovechkin cornered the market on "he can still do that at his age, wow!" But I think Shesty has one that does, too. 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. Pacific: CGY | EDM Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. Patrice Bergeron is still Patrice Bergeron. 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. 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. If defense wins championships (and history suggests it's a big factor), the Bruins should be feared by any opponent. The best possible conference finals? They have depth at forward and are getting excellent play from defensemen like Fox and Trouba. Unsurprisingly, Florida has also produced excellent special-teams numbers (including with its top-10 power play). Why not Dallas? Editor's Picks. Keith did that for the Oilers against Calgary, steering them out of a potential loss in Game 2 and picking up some of the responsibilities for the not-100% healthy Darnell Nurse. Unlike Darcy Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been peppered with the second-most. Or was it symptomatic of the Blues' inconsistent attack? ", Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. There's power in being an underdog, a freedom to simply play your game without expectation. Another matchup against the Dallas Stars, who are a mess right now and Domi just recently torched, could be another interesting game for him. How well Colorado's back end -- led by Makar, Devon Toews and Bowen Byram -- can manage those assignments will go a long way in determining the series. There's more to the team than just a dominant goalie, however. That formula doesn't generally work in the postseason. 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. NFL Survivor Pool 2023 Canada Fantasy Hockey Predictions Rob Ellis - September 9, 2022 0 Will that be the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are looking to become the first team to win the Cup in three consecutive seasons since the New York Islanders won four straight from 1980 to 1983? 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. But that's the regular season. Because as good as McDavid has been, Draisaitl might be better (and he's playing hurt, too). Shilton: Avalanche in seven Hagel took a puck off one of his feet in Game 2 against the Panthers, though he appeared in Games 3 and 4. General manager Doug Armstrong took a major risk in allowing. Might the Colorado Avalanche, the top seed in the West and an underachiever the past two postseasons, break through? The image above displays the 2023 NHL Playoff bracket and will be updated after each week. That's not great news for a Rangers team whose power-play prowess (fourth in the NHL) far outpaced its even-strength offense (18th). It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. Bold prediction: Toronto shocks the world and wins multiple playoff rounds. Stream the NHL on ESPN, Allen: Avalanche in five Hosts Linda Cohn and Emily Kaplan bring their hockey expertise and passion for the sport, discussing the latest news around the league as well as interviewing the biggest names both on and off the ice. Kaplan: Flames in six Alas, he's ineligible, having played more than six games in his first two NHL seasons. The Rangers still aren't an impressive five-on-five team, relying on Shesterkin to bail them out at even strength, which he has. Biggest flaw(s): Can the Predators keep it together in their own end? 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. The Oilers are more balanced (28.1% on the power play, 85.4% on the kill). Jump to a team: 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Colorado is a beast. 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.