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. That killer instinct has been a hallmark of Boston's play in the past and hasn't always been at the forefront of late. A healthy Brayden Point obviously bolsters their advantage. Offseason keys for eliminated teams, Sean Allen: Panthers in six Wischusen: Rangers in seven But being that he's Sidney Crosby and he knows this could be the last ride for members of this group, he's absolutely the player to watch for Pittsburgh. That mindset is critical when every team out there is looking to unseat the champions. Stanley Cup playoff picks: Who wins each second-round series? 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. 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. Anze Kopitar led the team in scoring. One problem Biggest flaw(s): Ovechkin missed the Capitals' final three games after appearing to injure a shoulder in an April 24 game. Heiskanen missed time this season with illness but is an invaluable asset to Dallas' overall success. NHL Events 2022-23; ESPN, Turner Schedules; . Biggest flaw(s): Power plays don't always come easy in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Edmonton's trio has combined for 26 goals and 67 points in 12 games. They were third in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this season. Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven On paper, they're winning this series. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have underperformed much of the season, and the Stars don't get much scoring help from their defensemen (John Klingberg leads Dallas blueliners with six goals). For example, we've learned that they've effectively rebuilt their bottom six after the offseason exodus of their celebrated checking line of Yanni Gourde, Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. Heading into the playoffs, Craig Custance gets the lowdown on the Vancouver Canucks from rival players, coaches and scouts. Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. That's the question. Player to watch: Rookie forward Seth Jarvis has been absolutely outstanding for the Hurricanes. Well, unless it's because of their opponents' goaltending. Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series Yes, Mike Smith has been in a groove during April, with a .948 even-strength save percentage in nine games. Again, a criticism of Calgary this season is like using one of those eyepieces to search for a flaw on a gorgeously cut diamond. 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. In today's Morning 3-on-3, we debate whether both are playoff locks -- and a threat if they make it. Jonathan Quick's best saves of 2022-23 season (1:58) . Why? But it's also true that the Lightning haven't faced a goalie like Shesterkin, who is playing out of his gourd right now. Under coach Dave Tippett, the Oilers were 13th in the NHL in expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5; under interim coach Jay Woodcroft, who took over Feb. 10, the Oilers jumped to fourth in that category. LA | DAL. Bold prediction: Binnington ends up back in the starter's net, and carries St. Louis deep into the postseason. 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. They're very ordinary on the back end without him. 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. 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. USA TODAY Sports' NHL staffers make their predictions for the second round: Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Jimmy Hascup: Avalanche in six. 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. You can say the Rangers haven't faced a goalie like Vasilevskiy, and that's true. We know Josi is a Norris Trophy-caliber defender, but the rest of Nashville's blue line doesn't exhibit nearly the same consistency. Unlike Darcy Kuemper, who has faced the fewest shots among remaining playoff goaltenders, Smith has been peppered with the second-most. Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Time: 10:00 p.m. Boudreau totaled a 50-40-13 record, missing the playoffs in 2022. Bolden: Hurricanes in six Bold prediction: The Hurricanes get past the Bruins in the first round, but it's a grinding seven-game series. The team gets contributions from steady veterans (Jordan Staal), stellar young talents (Martin Necas) and other teams' castaways (the divisive but effective Tony DeAngelo). "Obviously, Vasilevskiy has a track record that speaks for itself. The trio of Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson might still be underrated around the NHL, but they carried Dallas up the standings despite critics having panned the Stars' postseason chances. Kane is a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best men's American hockey player of all time. 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. Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Next game: vs. 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 . The Wild's penalty kill is bottom 10 in the league, and their power play sits somewhere in the middle. Tampa Bay is better 5-on-5. Against Carolina, Shesterkin gave up two or fewer goals in six of the seven games in the series and won another Game 7, this time on the road. If he's diminished, so are the Caps' Cup chances -- significantly. Colorado has to frustrate the Oilers' top skaters, make it difficult for them to find space or get in a rhythm early. Do you blame us? If that's the case, whose top line will benefit more? 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? Cohn: Avalanche in seven The second round against Calgary couldn't have started any worse with a quick 3-0 deficit for Edmonton in Game 1 and another 2-0 hole to start Game 2. The College Football Playoff will pit Georgia against Ohio State and Michigan against TCU in a bid to figure out the next national champion. It will all happen on the new NHL TV Networks of ESPN and TNT/Turner Sports. Toronto Maple Leafs. 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason. That can't happen again. I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of . But he's not unbeatable. Keep an eye on those little things Brodin can do to put Minnesota over the top. We just didn't go away. The XFL has entered the second week of its third season under its . And yet, here we are. Patrice Bergeron is still Patrice Bergeron. If the season ended today we'd have the Heat . Marc-Andre Fleury has been lights out since arriving at the trade deadline from Chicago. But it'll also take continued contributions from players like Andrew Copp (12 points), Ryan Strome (9) and Frank Vatrano (8); and further damage done by the Rangers' "Kid Line" of Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. 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. NHL playoff series odds: St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild Odds provided by BetMGM Blues +130 vs. Wild -150 Easily the most polarizing series in the Western Conference, both St. Louis and. 16 teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 87d ESPN staff. One of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, or Edmonton Oilers will be this year's Stanley Cup champion. New Jersey Devils (MP) 6. The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . TB | WSH Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. They'll help power what could be a last attempt at a Cup for this aging core, with Malkin, Letang and Rust among the team's pending free agents. The NHL is an exciting sport to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper . Their power play is going to do some damage. 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. cal: Rangers in seven The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six 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. But equally as ominous is the Capitals' goaltending. 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. Metro: CAR | NYR 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). They'll need continued offense from Fox, who had 18 points in 14 games. 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. The 24-year-old forward had 103 points and was a plus-58 (!) Atlantic: FLA | TOR 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. 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. Rush to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. reactions, leaving Crosby's incredible season a bit underappreciated. Heiskanen can set a tone for how the entire team approaches its defensive strategy. Before the NBA resumes play on Thursday night, it is time to answer some big questions. Matiash: Avalanche in six The Wild have that, big-time. The 2022-23 NHL season is the 106th season of operation (105th . And it's not just the Avs' marquee names -- Nazem Kadri, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar to name a few -- who are having an impact. Rantanen must be exactly that for Colorado in the series ahead. He's both their last line of defense and their catalyst, as the Rangers feed off his performances when opponents tip the ice. Florida has three 30-plus goal scorers, six players with 50-plus points and a Hart Trophy contender in Jonathan Huberdeau, who can go toe-to-toe with any offensive threat in the league. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. From there, things started falling apart for the Predators; they didn't perform as well at the top of the standings. Now they also have some strong depth, and the versatility to play the Islanders' style if needed. How to watch . 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