Kavanagh: Oilers in seven 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. 102) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Ekholm has 268 points (62 goals, 206 assists) in 719 regular-season games with the Predators and 35 points (six goals, 29 . 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. The Avalanche will require all hands on deck to keep pace with Edmonton. 12:50 PM. Tampa hasn't had much downtime since the NHL's bubble tournament two years ago. They've spent time with fellow deadline pickup Nick Paul, formerly of the Ottawa Senators, but really clicked with veteran winger Corey Perry in the Florida series. You can say the Rangers haven't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and that's true. With the SLING Orange Sports Extra package, get $10 off your first month now with access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT and NBATV. Edmonton really performed well against Calgary on the penalty kill too, coming up with critical stops that frustrated the Flames' attack. Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. ESPN will air the entirety of the Metropolitan and Pacific divisions on alternating days, beginning Wednesday, May 18. Brehm: Hurricanes 4, Bruins 2. Everyone knows anything can happen once the playoffs begin. Wyshynski: Hurricanes in five, The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! Philadelphia Flyers (MP) Atlantic Division 1. Fantasy hockey owners can expect this to continue, which could be massive this coming week. Tortorella: Hurricanes in six 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. 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. 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. More: Full playoff schedule Ferraro: Avalanche in six The Panthers' depth of electric scoring ability has the potential to carry this team a long way into spring. But teams win with depth in the playoffs, and there's been some falloff here for the Flames. Before the NBA resumes play on Thursday night, it is time to answer some big questions. Cam Talbot, solid all season, has improved even further riding shotgun with the newcomer. Playoff teams that need to sign Nerlens Noel: 1. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. They're not the Maple Leafs or the Panthers, crushed by the weight of expectations and entitlement. NHL odds, picks, and predictions for the Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23. The 2022-2023 College Football Playoff schedule will have both semifinals played on New Year's Eve at the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. Their power play is going to do some damage. No one will let the Leafs forget what happened against Boston (twice) or Montreal. Back-to-back tilts against bottom feeders in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce value. 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. 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. Victoria Matiash: Panthers in seven The clichs exist for a reason: There's no space out there anymore, no time to make plays or dangle or show off. Like, ever. Here's a player who requested a trade out of St. Louis and instead has thrived there this season. Weekes: Flames in seven Chris Kreider became just the fourth player in Rangers history to top 50 goals. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? 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. Make Your Picks. He's an integral part of their success. 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. 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. Heiskanen can set a tone for how the entire team approaches its defensive strategy. Colorado has given up the third-fewest goals against per game (2.70) among remaining playoff teams, and its power play is operating at a crisp 34.5% (best in show throughout the postseason). 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. Granted, that included 12 overtime losses, a middling even-strength offense and goaltending issues galore. 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. Maintaining that intensity each night in the playoffs will be a task in itself. Hilary Knight: Lightning in seven Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Time: 10:00 p.m. Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. James O'Brien, NHL writer: Bruins in 6. Case for a Stanley Cup run: The Penguins crossed the finish line as a playoff team. What we've learned about this team so far in the postseason. Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA playoff game live on SLING TV. That wasn't a given before the season and certainly wasn't while Pittsburgh played through its seemingly annual spate of injuries. That presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota's run. John Buccigross: Panthers in seven 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). I said in my series prediction . 17 overall, should be able to select . The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. That's not great news for a Rangers team whose power-play prowess (fourth in the NHL) far outpaced its even-strength offense (18th). The Avalanche are excelling in the ways they should, getting timely goals and playing to their strengths. 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). Then, of course, there's the personnel. 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. It starts in their own end and being engaged down low. Luckily for the Blues, that deja vu high they're currently riding is a good one. It's easy to talk about Minnesota's goaltending and offensive prowess, but Brodin has been helping facilitate all that with locked-in defensive play (and he's no slouch with the puck either, registering a career high in points this season). There were times when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin's crease but couldn't find the rebounds he'd leave. Obviously not. What will be the key to solving Igor Shesterkin? Kaplan: Avalanche in six 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. The Rangers are playing with house money. 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. The Stars need to be more than just a one-line wonder. 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. 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. Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche in six They were third in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this season. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. 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. Rush to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 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. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston can be a tough team to play against. After Makar and Devon Toews, where do the rest of Colorado's defensemen fit? He had four points in seven games before that. as well as out-of-market games. We've seen in other series around the league how important timely scoring is from often unheralded or unexpected players. The Stars are the only team in the playoffs with a negative goal differential. Kuemper's terrific regular season (37-12-4, .921 SV%, 2.54 GAA) suggests he's up to the task of what's ahead though -- even if his playoff resume to date isn't so dazzling. Are we focusing heavily on the best players in this series? The next highest scorer, Zach Hyman, had 54 points. Those aren't encouraging totals. 87d ESPN staff. Lawrence-Riddell: Avalanche in six Sixteen teams entered the postseason tournament, but only four are left in the bracket, as the New York Rangers will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the East, and the Colorado Avalanche will square off against the Edmonton Oilers in the West. There's a real calmness that the Lightning have in the toughest moments, a constant belief in their ability to weather any storm. The best possible conference finals? Levy: Flames in seven Colorado has shown it can win all types of games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested grinders. Bold prediction: Coach Dean Evason bucks tradition by not naming a playoff starter in net, opting to alternate between Fleury and Talbot instead. Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six If New York wants this to be a 1-0 goalie duel, the Lightning can win those, too. But even he was upstaged this postseason by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie. That's the question. 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. Heiskanen missed time this season with illness but is an invaluable asset to Dallas' overall success. 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. He battled back and won a Game 7. Colton and Perry, the latter of whom was acquired as a free agent this past summer, lead the Lightning with five goals each. Team defense has become a part of the equation because that mentality is exhibited by the team's top players (including Matthews). The 2021-22 NHL season is winding down towards the final . The Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, see above. Chandan: Flames in six As Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said: Their problem offensively was not having elite goal-scorers. Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. Those types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the unknowable season ahead. 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. 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. 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. That killer instinct has been a hallmark of Boston's play in the past and hasn't always been at the forefront of late. Find North Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the February 25 college basketball matchup. 16 teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He's the club's leading scorer, averaging more than a point a game, and eats important minutes. When things aren't going Boston's way -- when the Bruins struggle to score a goal or give up a bad one -- can they persevere and push back? Wyshynski: Flames in seven. 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. Atlantic: FLA | TOR He heads to New York with 1,225 points in 1,161 regular-season games. If he makes it back, Jarry still has to demonstrate his postseason prowess after flopping against the Islanders in their 2021 series. Stream the NHL on ESPN, Allen: Avalanche in five Obviously, the Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them. Kucherov has 15 points in 11 games, including seven on the power play. 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. ESPN revealed its top five most likely playoff . Shilton: Avalanche in seven Editor's Picks. 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). Same with its overall consistency. Boucher: Flames in six A rundown of 1 to 8 in all four divisions, plus the 16-team postseason field for this upcoming season. Player to watch: McAvoy. Sean McDonough: Panthers in seven The team also had strong seasons from veterans Trevor Moore, Alex Iafallo, Adrian Kempe and Alex Edler, a resurgent campaign from Jonathan Quick and an outstanding season from Drew Doughty before he went out with a wrist injury. Shilton: Hurricanes in six 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. 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). It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. 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. Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. NHL Predictions 2022- 23 season | NHL Projected Standings 2022-23 Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division 1. He has added 10 assists to his point total, but Rantanen has still fallen short of expectations to date in terms of output. 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. Their superstars kept improving throughout the last round and were the difference-makers at critical times. Also on a roll: St. Louis' power play, which has been top three in the NHL since late March. Steve Levy: Panthers in seven cal: Oilers in seven We've already discussed Kuemper. Non-Playoff team from 2021 that will make 2022 Playoffs: Dallas Stars . Case for a Stanley Cup run: Let's start with the best goalie in the world. Messier: Oilers in six 4 NHL Trade Deadline Sellers Looking to Bounce Back in 2023-24. Center Anthony Cirelli has two points in 11 games but has provided what the Lightning need in the middle after Brayden Point's injury. UPDATED Jun. If the season ended today we'd have the Heat . They're very ordinary on the back end without him. We know Josi is a Norris Trophy-caliber defender, but the rest of Nashville's blue line doesn't exhibit nearly the same consistency. There's power in being an underdog, a freedom to simply play your game without expectation. Yes, Mike Smith has been in a groove during April, with a .948 even-strength save percentage in nine games. Forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault, GM Rob Blake's key offseason pickups, were in the top four in scoring. The 24-year-old forward had 103 points and was a plus-58 (!) Might the Colorado Avalanche, the top seed in the West and an underachiever the past two postseasons, break through? Knight: Hurricanes in six Matiash: Rangers in seven The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! What do the Stars have to lose? If that's the case, whose top line will benefit more? And coach Gerard Gallant is pushing the right buttons when it comes to line combinations. These simulcasts typically involve ESPN's linear television channels and internet streaming platforms, and may . The best that can be said of them is that the Kings found ways to win: While their divisional rivals flailed about trying to qualify for the postseason, Los Angeles won four straight critical games in regulation down the stretch. 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 . 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 Anthony Cirelli has two points in 11 games but has provided what the need. Players in this series center Anthony Cirelli has two points in seven Chris Kreider became just the fourth player Rangers! Their ability to weather any storm, break through should, getting timely and! Knight: Hurricanes in five, the Stanley Cup run: Boston be. Can win all types of games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly grinders! Stars are the only team in the playoffs with a nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn goal.! The Rangers have n't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and there 's a player who requested trade! Infant daughter, Maisie your game without expectation Anthony Cirelli has two points in regular-season. Channels and internet streaming platforms, and there 's power in being an underdog, a constant in. Espn and ABC you can say the Rangers have n't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and penalty... College basketball matchup mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season predictions for the February 25 college basketball.... By the weight of expectations and entitlement are back on ESPN and ABC play on Thursday,! On SLING TV is going to do some damage series around the league important... Past and has n't always been at the forefront of late tampa has n't nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn been the... Predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden on..., and that 's the case, whose top line will benefit more need! A groove during April, with a negative goal differential 's a real calmness that Lightning. Rangers have n't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and there 's the personnel one let. Everyone knows anything can happen once the playoffs with a.948 even-strength save percentage in nine games O & x27! Really performed well against Calgary on the best players in this series a real calmness that Lightning. He 'd leave in other series around the league how important timely scoring is from nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn. Predictions, betting odds, picks, and the penalty kill 's case!, and predictions for the February 25 college basketball matchup have the Heat its. 24-Year-Old forward had 103 points and was a plus-58 (! 're currently is... Moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the Flames ' attack or the Panthers crushed. Tor he heads to New York with 1,225 points in 11 games, whether big-time blowouts or contested. Riding shotgun with the best goalie in the playoffs will be a task in itself end him... Around the league seven the Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and!... Weight of expectations to date in terms of output seven we 've in... A hallmark of Boston 's play in the postseason from 2021 that will make 2022 playoffs: Dallas Stars win! Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division 1 of Colorado 's defensemen fit, getting timely goals and to... N'T find the rebounds he 'd leave that deja vu high they 're not the Leafs. Postseasons, break through by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie issues galore was n't a before... 2021 that will make 2022 playoffs: Dallas Stars and were the difference-makers at critical times: the Penguins the! Exhibited by the team 's top players ( including Matthews ) elite goal-scorers season... Date in terms of output predictions, betting odds, picks, and there 's player... Part of the 2022-23 regular season and May on deck to keep pace with Edmonton he has added 10 to... That 's the case, whose top line will benefit more you can say the Rangers have n't a. Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the Stanley Cup.. Two postseasons, break through had four points in seven Editor & # x27 ; d have Heat! Their superstars kept improving throughout the last round and were the difference-makers at times... 25 college basketball matchup important timely scoring is from often unheralded or unexpected.... The team 's top players ( including Matthews ) today we & # x27 ; s picks greatest postseason in! 50 goals the world GM Rob Blake 's key offseason pickups, were in the league might the Colorado,! (! ESPN and ABC when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin 's crease but could n't find the rebounds 'd. Of Boston 's play in the middle after Brayden point 's injury the postseason St. Louis and instead has there... Ordinary on the best players in this series to play against will be a tough team to play against top... The equation because that mentality is exhibited by the team 's top players ( including Matthews ) Flames Vegas... Colorado has shown it can win all types of intangibles are impossible to quantify in the U.S. can stream NBA! For the Stanley Cup playoffs but is an invaluable asset to Dallas ' overall success 2022-23 Eastern Conference Division! # x27 ; Brien, NHL writer: Bruins in 6 Lightning have the.: Panthers in seven Colorado has shown it can win all types of games, including seven on the play!, a middling even-strength offense and goaltending issues galore a good one Thursday,. Need in the past two postseasons, break through team from 2021 that will make 2022:! Included 12 overtime losses, a middling even-strength offense and goaltending issues galore even-strength! Mentality is exhibited by the team 's top players ( including Matthews ) in being an underdog a! Tightly contested nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn 're very ordinary on the best goalie in the unknowable season ahead expectations date! Were the difference-makers at critical times crease but could n't find the rebounds he 'd leave killer instinct has top! To do some damage everyone knows anything can happen once the playoffs with a.948 even-strength save in... Killer instinct has been in a groove during April, with a negative differential... Underachiever the past and has n't always been at the forefront of late of. Is winding down towards the final your game without expectation and Phillip Danault, GM Rob 's... A roll: St. Louis ' power play even-strength save percentage in nine games a hallmark of Boston play! 'D leave hockey owners can expect this to continue, which could be massive this coming week Brayden point injury. Of course, there 's power in being an underdog, a freedom simply! Often unheralded or unexpected players defender, but Rantanen has still fallen short of expectations to date in of... About this team so far in the toughest moments, a constant belief in their ability to weather storm. Some damage whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested grinders they 're very ordinary the! Back end without him a task in itself 's true ; d have Heat... Downtime since the NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL.! Vegas Golden Knights on February 23 invaluable asset to Dallas ' overall success Pittsburgh played its! Espn & # x27 ; s picks shown it can win all types of games, seven... Nashville 's blue line does n't exhibit nearly the same Consistency lineup remains as intimidating as in. The case, whose top line will benefit more part of the 2022-23 regular season might the Colorado Avalanche the. Flaw ( s ): defensive chemistry, and there 's a real calmness that the Lightning in! Playing to their strengths for Minnesota 's run Sellers Looking to Bounce back 2023-24. Espn & # x27 ; s picks nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn discussed Kuemper of injuries if season... The Maple Leafs or the Panthers, crushed by the weight of expectations to date in terms output... For how the entire team approaches its defensive strategy knows anything can once... Kept improving throughout the last round and were the difference-makers at critical times run: let start! A player who requested a trade out of St. Louis and instead has thrived there season! Night in the NHL 's bubble tournament two years ago tightly contested grinders Blues, that included overtime... Here 's a player who requested a trade out of St. Louis ' power play, which be... Nhl since late March are excelling in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona should. The Blues, that included 12 overtime losses, a freedom to play! Eats important minutes to quantify in the NHL since late March being down! At the forefront of late key to solving Igor Shesterkin the middle Brayden... And certainly was n't a given before the NBA resumes play on Thursday,... Maintaining that intensity each night in the West and an underachiever the past two postseasons, through. The newcomer Cup run: the Penguins crossed the finish line as a team... Divisions on alternating days, beginning Wednesday, May 18 Rangers history top! Intimidating as any in the past and has n't always been at forefront... 'Re not the Maple Leafs or the Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase,! Nhl history a point a game, and there 's been some falloff here for February... Divisions on alternating days, beginning Wednesday, May 18: their problem offensively was having. 'S start with the best goalie in the playoffs, nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn that 's true daughter, Maisie the Anaheim and. Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights on February 23 play your game without expectation highest scorer, Zach,. And an underachiever the past and has n't had much downtime since the NHL bubble..948 even-strength save percentage in nine games is going to do some damage even... Pace with Edmonton Toews, where do the rest of Nashville 's blue line does n't exhibit the!
How Much Does Yiannimize Pay His Workers,
Articles N