He received help from familiar Capitals names such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and Tom Wilson, while Conor Sheary and Anthony Mantha chipped in. What do the Stars have to lose? Football Women's Basketball Games Home ESPN Fantasy App 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. While it's desirable to have the top-end talent Colorado does, it's often the unheralded players who pick up the playoff slack. 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. Saros missed the last two games of the season with a lower-body injury, and his status is uncertain heading into the postseason. Forward Jason Zucker, who could help, can't stay in the lineup due to injuries. Ferraro: Avalanche in six 17 overall, should be able to select . The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. Shilton: Flames in six ", Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. The Lightning will have to convert some of those to beat "Shesty.". Can Georgia pull off a repeat? Kevin Weekes: Lightning in seven Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six ESPN revealed its top five most likely playoff . Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the two clubs from the East. At every juncture where past Oilers' teams have misstepped, this group has stepped up. Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six That killer instinct has been a hallmark of Boston's play in the past and hasn't always been at the forefront of late. Since being acquired at the trade deadline, the former Blackhawks winger hasn't produced. 3 in . 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. But if there's a true flaw with the Oilers, it's once again found in the crease. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. With a healthy Ovechkin, they can be in any series. Hagel took a puck off one of his feet in Game 2 against the Panthers, though he appeared in Games 3 and 4. How much trust should he place in Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard? 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. Edmonton's top line is stacked, it's slippery and it's been operating at an incredibly high level. Mleczko: Hurricanes in seven Forsberg can, and will, challenge any defense the Predators see in coming weeks. 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). But I think Shesty has one that does, too. 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. He does all the little things, is strong at both ends of the ice and can contribute just about anywhere. Case for a Stanley Cup run: The Penguins crossed the finish line as a playoff team. Here are the current standings in the East, with the bottom four seeds lining up for the Play-In Tournament. But forwards Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie saw their offensive output drop during seasons impacted by injuries and illness. Case for a Stanley Cup run: This is Edmonton Oilers Version 2.0. That's where depth will come into focus, and the Oilers will want to be sure theirs is on point. Rick DiPietro: Panthers in seven Don La Greca: Panthers in seven It nearly did not happen, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the first round. Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Next game: vs. Find North Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the February 25 college basketball matchup. Center Steven Stamkos (eight points) and defenseman Ryan McDonagh have been there in big moments. The clichs exist for a reason: There's no space out there anymore, no time to make plays or dangle or show off. Colorado has shown it can win all types of games, whether big-time blowouts or tightly contested grinders. That presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota's run. Defenseman Adam Fox said he's looking forward to the battle between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. PIT | BOS 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. 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. Some nights, the Bruins look impenetrable; the next, they're floundering in their own end. Philadelphia Flyers (MP) Atlantic Division 1. We've graded all 32 teams-- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. Bring on the intensity, the heart-stopping drama and the sheer excitement. Things aren't trending well for Pittsburgh at the buzzer. This postseason has been different because of how strong that duo's defensive habits are. 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. Tortorella: Hurricanes in six Why not Dallas? To help get you up to speed before the puck drops on Game 1 of the West matchup Tuesday night, we're bringing you a mega-preview, breaking down each team in five different categories and offering our predictions on which clubs will head to the Stanley Cup Final. Because as good as McDavid has been, Draisaitl might be better (and he's playing hurt, too). When the trade deadline rolls around, there are always teams caught in the middle of the standings . Jump to a team: The 24-year-old forward had 103 points and was a plus-58 (!) 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. How will the Rangers handle Nikita Kucherov? From there, things started falling apart for the Predators; they didn't perform as well at the top of the standings. 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. The 2022-23 NHL season is the 106th season of operation (105th . Jonathan Quick's best saves of 2022-23 season (1:58) . 4 NHL Trade Deadline Sellers Looking to Bounce Back in 2023-24. 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. Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Time: 10:00 p.m. Everyone knows anything can happen once the playoffs begin. Do you blame us? The matchups and storylines are set as the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs get underway this week, with the last team standing hoisting the cherished chalice sometime in late June. And that was against the two best offensive teams in the regular season. Unfortunately, Alex Ovechkin cornered the market on "he can still do that at his age, wow!" Bold prediction: Kopitar and Danault do what they can against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the loss of Doughty proves too much and the Kings fall to the Oilers in six games. How they got here: Defeated Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3, defeated Florida Panthers 4-0. Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven 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. He's the club's leading scorer, averaging more than a point a game, and eats important minutes. What Keith does best is bring consistency to Edmonton's defensive effort. Orchestrating all of it is coach Rod Brind'Amour, for whom the players would skate through a wall. Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA playoff game live on SLING TV. Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Lightning in six Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive duos. View the NHL player point predictions 2021-22 season.How many points will Connor McDavid get? Their head-to-head matchup will be a primary talking point in the lead-up to Game 1. Vitek Vanecek has been wildly inconsistent, while Ilya Samsonov has played to a sub-replacement level this season. No disrespect intended to Sebastian Aho, but the Rangers didn't have to face an elite offensive player like Kucherov in their series against the Hurricanes. Until he does, it's Casey DeSmith's crease. The role players GM Chris Drury added along the way -- such as forwards Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- have bolstered the team. Now they also have some strong depth, and the versatility to play the Islanders' style if needed. But that doesn't mean the playoffs haven't enlightened us about some aspects of this Lightning team. And, as Nashville's leader in game-winning goals, Forsberg also has the potential to create some must-see drama. Pittsburgh Penguins 4. If the season ended today we'd have the Heat . John Buccigross examines the historical run the Tampa Bay Lightning have had over the past two seasons. They were 27th in goals-against per 60 at 5-on-5 under Tippett; under Woodcroft, they were ninth. Toronto Maple Leafs. 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. Rush to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Then, of course, there's the personnel. Another matchup against the Dallas Stars, who are a mess right now and Domi just recently torched, could be another interesting game for him. The NHL is an exciting sport to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper . Portland Trail Blazers. And Kane already had a pair of hat tricks in the playoffs. LA | DAL. La Greca: Hurricanes in six Buccigross: Flames in six 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. The Igor Shesterkin that we saw during Round 1 is not the Igor Shesterkin that the Lightning are going to see. Subscribe to ESPN+ Colton and Perry, the latter of whom was acquired as a free agent this past summer, lead the Lightning with five goals each. 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. cal: Rangers in seven Some teams have improved, while others went into re-build mode. Mleczko: Flames in six Calgary got burned off a couple clean looks for that unit that turned into almost series-defining mistakes. 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. 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, Who goes to the Stanley Cup Final? Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in seven The Wild's penalty kill is bottom 10 in the league, and their power play sits somewhere in the middle. Blake Bolden: Panthers in seven There's an enviable level of top-end talent, but the balanced depth is really what the Avalanche have displayed in the postseason. Goals project to be at a premium for Dallas, so look for the team's top defender to step up in keeping pucks out of the Stars' end -- and out of their net. We just don't go away, regardless of the score and regardless of where the game is. Matiash: Flames in seven NHL Matchups 2022-2023 - Today's Hockey Previews, Scores & Schedules NHL Scores & Matchups Odds Free Picks News & Analysis NHL Contest Stanley Cup Injuries Teams Players Standings. Never let them have the puck. But teams win with depth in the playoffs, and there's been some falloff here for the Flames. We've already discussed Kuemper. (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. Draisaitl has unmatched playmaking ability and when he's on a roll, it's hard to think of how Colorado will totally contain how adept he is with the puck. He's a 40-year-old veteran churning out great numbers, including an 8-3-0 record, .927 SV% and 2.70 GAA. The NHL playoffs get underway Monday, with all four games on ESPN networks. Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for four series ET Venue: Moda Center -- Portland, Oregon Coverage: ESPN, ROOT Sports NW, and BSNO The 2022-23 NBA season continues on Wednesday with nine more games, including a battle between the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers. It starts with Bruins-Canes (7 p.m. Forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault, GM Rob Blake's key offseason pickups, were in the top four in scoring. Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. We know Josi is a Norris Trophy-caliber defender, but the rest of Nashville's blue line doesn't exhibit nearly the same consistency. The Stars need to be more than just a one-line wonder. One of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, or Edmonton Oilers will be this year's Stanley Cup champion. 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. Wischusen: Flames in seven Daily Fantasy Picks; Projected Lineups; Player Rankings; . New York Rangers. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. Their top defensive pairings of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson along with Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington have been outstanding. 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. There is no such problem for the Lightning. We've seen in other series around the league how important timely scoring is from often unheralded or unexpected players. After Pavelski, Hintz and Robertson (who all tallied 70 or more points), Dallas' offense has been streaky. Colorado's big three has produced 17 goals and 31 points in 10 games. Ferraro: Hurricanes in six Ray Ferraro: Panthers in seven We don't roll out the term "juggernaut" for just anyone around here. The team gets contributions from steady veterans (Jordan Staal), stellar young talents (Martin Necas) and other teams' castaways (the divisive but effective Tony DeAngelo). 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. 12:50 PM. 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. At 29-31, they . This is when he should shine. There has also been more effort on the forecheck. He hadn't been practicing, but is expected to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. 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. Not exactly the best offensive company to keep. On paper, they're winning this series. 2021-22 NHL Predictions Updated after every game. John Tortorella: Panthers 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. 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 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. Shilton: Avalanche in seven Wyshynski: Flames in seven. 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