This is when he should shine. When Kuemper was tested, he didn't always look sharp; St. Louis caught him in bad positioning and decidedly flat-footed on a few occasions. If Andersen can't go, netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov. The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! That killer instinct has been a hallmark of Boston's play in the past and hasn't always been at the forefront of late. The Capitals have a veteran group that can play physical hockey and defend well at 5-on-5. Player to watch: Tom Wilson managed not to get suspended during the regular season, to his credit. But forwards Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie saw their offensive output drop during seasons impacted by injuries and illness. DiPietro: Avalanche in seven 12:50 PM. McDonough: Avalanche 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. This Western Conference finals present a hockey feast for the eyes: Colorado's top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin vs. Kane, McDavid and Draisaitl. Igor Shesterkin led the NHL in save percentage and goals saved above average, carrying the Rangers for the first two-thirds of the season as New York was near the bottom of the league in even-strength analytics. He hadn't been practicing, but is expected to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Do the Lightning have what it takes to three-peat? How they choose to defend Kucherov's line is going to be a key for the series. Only four teams had a lower expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 than the Rangers this season: the Sabres, Kraken, Coyotes and Blackhawks. The Oilers are more balanced (28.1% on the power play, 85.4% on the kill). McCarron for choosing his league over the NFL. All of those little things add up when they're coming top down through the lineup. Mika Zibanejad led the way with three points. Orchestrating all of it is coach Rod Brind'Amour, for whom the players would skate through a wall. . by Fantasy Hockey Staff @NHLFantasy. Offseason keys for eliminated teams, Sean Allen: Panthers in six Tortorella: Hurricanes in six Selected by Nashville in the fourth round (No. 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 Bruins have just about everything you can want in a contender: a deadly top line, an elite defenseman, and a great goalie. The past three postseasons haven't been the greatest for Sid, with six points in 14 games. 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. 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? 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. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. McDonough: Flames in seven 26, 2022, at 10:51 PM. 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. Tampa Bay is better 5-on-5. Florida is the only place he wanted to land at the trade deadline. The Avalanche have an excellent power play (34.5%) but weaker penalty kill (73.1%). The Ducks and Penguins have moved back into the playoff race and will face off Monday. Period. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. Cohn: Rangers in seven Washington lives and dies on the performance of its franchise star, especially on the power play. Tarasenko had 11 goals and 17 points during the Blues' 2019 run. Edmonton's top line is stacked, it's slippery and it's been operating at an incredibly high level. (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. But that doesn't mean the playoffs haven't enlightened us about some aspects of this Lightning team. Subscribe to ESPN+ He hasn't been that guy for a while, and at 36, he might never be that guy again. But it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and carry the team for stretches this season. We've got all the angles covered to get you ready for the playoffs as ESPN hockey reporters Greg Wyshynski and Kristen Shilton take a look at each of the 16 postseason teams, offering the reasons each team could win it all, along with their (potentially) biggest flaws, players to watch and a bold prediction for every contender. Again, Hagel has done fine in the roles that they've cast him in during the playoffs. NHL predictions: Expert picks for both conference final series in Stanley Cup playoffs Our experts reveal their predictions for which two teams will be moving on to the Stanley Cup Final. 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? That's the question. 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. If you just ignore the three goals he gave up in the first six minutes of Game 1 against Calgary, and also put aside that he allowed a 132-foot clearing attempt past the posts in Game 4, then Smith has been unequivocally rock solid for the Oilers. Kavanagh: Hurricanes in six He relieves pressure in Edmonton's end, makes smart plays up the ice and is a natural leader from whom few words are required -- but there's no doubt Keith has a "big voice" in the Oilers' room, according to teammates. Yet Carolina is not mentioned in the same breath as other Stanley Cup contenders. 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason. Kuemper came through in that series when the Avalanche needed it, but there wasn't a lot of rhythm to his game. The NHL playoffs get underway Monday, with all four games on ESPN networks. Bold prediction: The Oilers win their first playoff series since 2017 before bowing out to Calgary. They're not the Maple Leafs or the Panthers, crushed by the weight of expectations and entitlement. NHL Predictions 2022- 23 season | NHL Projected Standings 2022-23 Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division 1. 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. On paper, the Rangers were out in the first round. LA | DAL. Jake Oettinger has played well in net, and Dallas' defense has looked more cohesive lately. La Greca: Hurricanes in six Biggest flaw(s): Power plays don't always come easy in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 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. It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. Things aren't trending well for Pittsburgh at the buzzer. 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. Colorado's penalty kill (only 73.1%) and goaltending (see above) have underwhelmed, and would be the most likely potential issues against Edmonton. In over 500 minutes of game action this postseason, Kuemper has faced only 218 pucks. They aren't going to wilt if the Rangers control the tempo. The 13th overall pick in 2020, Jarvis had 11 points in a nine-game stretch near the end of the season, running shotgun with Aho for a lot of it. Biggest flaw(s): Defensive chemistry, and the penalty kill. Not exactly the best offensive company to keep. Blake Bolden: Panthers in seven There has also been more effort on the forecheck. He's both their last line of defense and their catalyst, as the Rangers feed off his performances when opponents tip the ice. Again, a criticism of Calgary this season is like using one of those eyepieces to search for a flaw on a gorgeously cut diamond. We just didn't go away. Lawrence-Riddell: Flames in seven Read on for predictions for every game involving a Top 25 team on the schedule over the next seven days. After years of falling short in Philadelphia, the former Flyers captain wants to win it all. 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. Sorting out the optimal defensive pairings will be a task for coach Jared Bednar. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. The opponents are very favourable. 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. Keeping those three in check starts with good neutral-zone play, limiting their ability to gain speed and forcing play to the outside. Free agency is looming, and all eyes will be on Kadri as he chases that elusive championship. 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. 17 overall, should be able to select . Colorado is notably multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different ways. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. La Greca: Flames in six Atlantic: FLA | TOR Brian Boucher: Panthers in six Since being acquired at the trade deadline, the former Blackhawks winger hasn't produced. Levy: Avalanche in five 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. View the NHL player point predictions 2021-22 season.How many points will Connor McDavid get? The puck drops on the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN presented by GEICO with 12 first round games on ESPN and ESPN2 over three days beginning on Monday, May 2. After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. Daily Fantasy Picks; Projected Lineups; Player Rankings; . Center Anthony Cirelli has two points in 11 games but has provided what the Lightning need in the middle after Brayden Point's injury. He heads to New York with 1,225 points in 1,161 regular-season games. 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 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. 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). 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. on the season, while still finding time to amass 68 penalty minutes. And that was against the two best offensive teams in the regular season. 3 in . They're very ordinary on the back end without him. . It starts in their own end and being engaged down low. If he's diminished, so are the Caps' Cup chances -- significantly. 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. That can't happen again. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the two clubs from the East. Why? Player to watch: Vasilevskiy. Case for a Stanley Cup run: Boston can be a tough team to play against. Being involved to that degree clearly works for the netminder, and he has thrived under the pressure. He's a 40-year-old veteran churning out great numbers, including an 8-3-0 record, .927 SV% and 2.70 GAA. Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. We know Josi is a Norris Trophy-caliber defender, but the rest of Nashville's blue line doesn't exhibit nearly the same consistency. Levy: Rangers in seven Edmonton really performed well against Calgary on the penalty kill too, coming up with critical stops that frustrated the Flames' attack. 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