They'll need every bit of his experience and ability to slow the Avalanche down. Wischusen: Flames in seven That formula doesn't generally work in the postseason. Jake Oettinger has played well in net, and Dallas' defense has looked more cohesive lately. The team gets contributions from steady veterans (Jordan Staal), stellar young talents (Martin Necas) and other teams' castaways (the divisive but effective Tony DeAngelo). Beyond that, he hasn't won a playoff series since 2015. Make Your Picks. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston can be a tough team to play against. Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the two clubs from the East. The Bruins have just about everything you can want in a contender: a deadly top line, an elite defenseman, and a great goalie. 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. If his Game 5 hat trick against the Blues was any indication, "Playoff Nate" is ready to dance toe-to-toe with McDavid & Co. MacKinnon already has eight goals and 13 points in 10 games. Luckily for the Blues, that deja vu high they're currently riding is a good one. 87d ESPN staff. That wasn't a given before the season and certainly wasn't while Pittsburgh played through its seemingly annual spate of injuries. We know Josi is a Norris Trophy-caliber defender, but the rest of Nashville's blue line doesn't exhibit nearly the same consistency. Kavanagh: Oilers in seven 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. The Wild have had offensive stars emerging throughout the season, from Kirill Kaprizov to Kevin Fiala to Mats Zuccarello. The first round might actually be the hardest for Tampa, knowing how hungry the Leafs are to overcome their checkered playoff past. The XFL has entered the second week of its third season under its . My other prediction for this 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. In net, Jack Campbell appears back on his game following a midseason downturn and rib injury. The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. Ditto Brad Marchand. 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. La Greca: Avalanche in five Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Lightning in six 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). As long as the Oilers' stars are shining that brightly, they'll have a chance to win any series. Player to watch: Jonas Brodin. DiPietro: Flames in six 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. The final day of the NHL regular season is April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few days later. Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six There's power in being an underdog, a freedom to simply play your game without expectation. There were times when Carolina created chaos around Shesterkin's crease but couldn't find the rebounds he'd leave. Heiskanen missed time this season with illness but is an invaluable asset to Dallas' overall success. A rundown of 1 to 8 in all four divisions, plus the 16-team postseason field for this upcoming season. When Jonathan Quick repeatedly slammed the door in the first-round series, Edmonton didn't panic. He has added 10 assists to his point total, but Rantanen has still fallen short of expectations to date in terms of output. 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. Ray Ferraro: Panthers in seven The 2021-22 NHL season is winding down towards the final . Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been, and continues to be, Tampa's MVP. Levy: Avalanche in five 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. Kane is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men's American hockey player of all time. While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. Non-Playoff team from 2021 that will make 2022 Playoffs: Dallas Stars . The Avalanche will require all hands on deck to keep pace with Edmonton. 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. Wyshynski: Blues in seven, Allen: Flames in six Hextall: Flames in six 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! La Greca: Flames in six Shilton: Avalanche in seven Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche in six Cam Talbot, solid all season, has improved even further riding shotgun with the newcomer. The All-Star Game and the Stadium Series will be on ABC, and ESPN will have the All-Star Skills Competition. Why? They're very ordinary on the back end without him. How will the Rangers handle Nikita Kucherov? Levy: Rangers in seven Steve Levy: Panthers in seven Boucher: Flames in six John Buccigross examines the historical run the Tampa Bay Lightning have had over the past two seasons. The Oilers are more balanced (28.1% on the power play, 85.4% on the kill). Case for a Stanley Cup run: This is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0. 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. Those aren't encouraging totals. Again, a criticism of Calgary this season is like using one of those eyepieces to search for a flaw on a gorgeously cut diamond. And there's the Leafs' excellent special teams, including the NHL's best power play and a penalty kill that is nearly as likely to score short-handed as to get scored on. Seven Avs skaters have at least three goals in the playoffs, and five have double-digit point totals. What Keith does best is bring consistency to Edmonton's defensive effort. Then again, Kuemper hasn't been facing a ton of shots. Case for a Stanley Cup run: The Penguins crossed the finish line as a playoff team. While the 29-year-old is still producing at a steady clip with 54 points in 59 games (he tallied a career-high 99 points last season . Knight: Avalanche in seven The Rangers didn't have to face Penguins starter Tristan Jarry until Game 7; instead, they saw backup Casey DeSmith for five and a half periods and then third-stringer Louis Domingue for just over six games. I think we're there with the Rangers. Bold prediction: Boston uses its shutdown capabilities to bounce a high-octane offensive opponent in the first round. They're tremendous on the power play, as Carolina witnessed. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. Biggest flaw(s): Well, let's go with "potentially biggest." Keeping those three in check starts with good neutral-zone play, limiting their ability to gain speed and forcing play to the outside. Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA playoff game live on SLING TV. Things aren't trending well for Pittsburgh at the buzzer. He's a dynamic offensive talent who has 11 points in his past 15 playoff games. NHL Events 2022-23; ESPN, Turner Schedules; . 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. There is no such problem for the Lightning. The Stanley Cup playoffs are a place where teams defy the numbers, find an undeniable belief in themselves and create - for lack of a better term - postseason magic. Weekes: Flames in seven Biggest flaw(s): Consistency and resiliency. Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven Bold prediction: Coach Dean Evason bucks tradition by not naming a playoff starter in net, opting to alternate between Fleury and Talbot instead. I said in my series prediction . How they got here: Defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-3, defeated Calgary Flames 4-1. Yes, Mike Smith has been in a groove during April, with a .948 even-strength save percentage in nine games. Unsurprisingly, Florida has also produced excellent special-teams numbers (including with its top-10 power play). There's a lot we already knew about the Lightning after back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, from their ability to win in a variety of ways to their efficiency in elimination games. 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. If he's diminished, so are the Caps' Cup chances -- significantly. It nearly did not happen, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the first round. 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. Again, the Oilers stayed calm, and refocused. 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. The Big Cat's run since 2020 in elimination games is the stuff of legend: 10-0, six of the wins by shutout. "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. That mindset is critical when every team out there is looking to unseat the champions. Hilary Knight: Lightning in seven Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket. Selected by Nashville in the fourth round (No. 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. All things being equal, Colorado boasts the deeper team. This series against Colorado could see each team's top talents canceling each other out. At every juncture where past Oilers' teams have misstepped, this group has stepped up. Back-to-back tilts against bottom feeders in the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes should produce value. Now, these two teams just went through two second-round series that were markedly different. 4 NHL Trade Deadline Sellers Looking to Bounce Back in 2023-24. Their power play is going to do some damage. Mleczko: Hurricanes in seven Mleczko: Avalanche in six Same with its overall consistency. Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. Being involved to that degree clearly works for the netminder, and he has thrived under the pressure. Carolina Hurricanes 3. All we know for sure is that the real winners here are those of us watching the action unfold. 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. His playoff struggles are a bit overblown -- his numbers aren't that bad overall -- but the doubts linger. Granted, that included 12 overtime losses, a middling even-strength offense and goaltending issues galore. What will be the key to solving Igor Shesterkin? For the first time since 1991, the Flames and Oilers meet up in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Goalie Tristan Jarry, who had an outstanding regular season, has been sidelined with a broken foot that he's in the process of rehabbing. After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. But he's not unbeatable. . Find North Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the February 25 college basketball matchup. We've graded all 32 teams-- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. 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. Weekes: Rangers in seven How to watch Toronto can't hide from its ugly postseason past. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. 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? . Biggest flaw(s): Power plays don't always come easy in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Kevin Weekes: Lightning in seven 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. Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in six Florida is the only place he wanted to land at the trade deadline. . 2. He had just two points in the Pens' six-game series loss to the Islanders last playoffs. Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. The Ducks and Penguins have moved back into the playoff race and will face off Monday. Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? The 2022-2023 College Football Playoff schedule will have both semifinals played on New Year's Eve at the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. The conference final round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs is upon us. 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? Buccigross: Hurricanes in seven Columbus Blue Jackets (WC) 5. Lawrence-Riddell: Flames in seven Bold prediction: Shesterkin pitches two shutouts in the opening round as the Rangers advance. With a healthy Ovechkin, they can be in any series. A healthy Brayden Point obviously bolsters their advantage. Biggest flaw(s): The playoffs couldn't arrive at a worse time for Pittsburgh. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Colorado is a beast. But if there's a true flaw with the Oilers, it's once again found in the crease. 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. That must be what the Hurricanes felt like in 2021-22, as they set a new standard for points in a season, won the Metropolitan Division for the first time and led the league in goals-against average. 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. TWDC 2022-23 NHL Game Schedule: Date, Time (ET), Teams, Network/Platform Tue, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m., Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers, ESPN, ESPN+ Tue, Oct. 11, 10 p.m., Vegas Golden. And Kane already had a pair of hat tricks in the playoffs. The Avalanche are top three in league scoring, top six in goals against, have a top-five power play and boast enviable depth at forward and on the back end to complement Darcy Kuemper, who has had a resurgent second half in net. Picks for Rangers-Lightning, Avalanche-Oilers, 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason, Free-agency, draft plans for Avs, Lightning, every other NHL team, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. They're not the Maple Leafs or the Panthers, crushed by the weight of expectations and entitlement. Atlantic: FLA | TOR Levy: Flames in seven His point total, but the rest of Nashville 's blue line n't... 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