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Are the Stanley Cup playoffs finally returning to normal?
As normal as it can be a two-month battle of attrition that can be overturned by a hot goalkeeper. It was a full season of 82 games in the NHL for the first time since 2018-19. No neutral location “inflated” cities for the playoffs. Fans with full capacity in buildings. All four divisions are returning to their traditional formations after last season’s adjustment needed by COVID. Although we miss this all-Canadian section, this means that we are returning to the wilderness conference playoff format used by the NHL since 2014. The only unusual thing about the 2022 playoffs is that they start on May 2, due to the Olympic break this season.
The NHL players did not go to the Olympics, did they?
Unfortunately, they did not do it, although our defeat was a win for Slovakia. Although the NHL and its players negotiated collectively to allow them to play in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, there was a clause unless the 2021-22 season was substantially affected by the COVID pandemic. That was it: 131 games were postponed and rescheduled this season. Hundreds of players and coaches entered the league’s COVID protocols after passing positive tests, especially when the Omicron variant arrived. By the end of the season there were 1,004 skaters and an NHL record of 119 goalkeepers who played at least one game this season. This is one reason (of many) that the goal was so coco-bananas.
How many scores did he have this season?
Too high. Like, “some games looked like low-scoring NFL games.” The NHL playoffs start on Monday, with all four games on ESPN. It starts with the Bruins-Canes (7pm ET, ESPN), followed by Lightning-Leafs (7:30 ET, ESPN2), Blues-Wild (9:30 ET, ESPN) and Kings-Oilers (10 ET). ESPN2). • Full playoff coverage • NHL on ESPN With an average of 6.3 goals per game, this was the NHL season with the most scores in 26 years. The NHL saw eight players break 100 points, most from 1995-96, and 51 players score 30 or more goals, the highest total since 1993-94. There have been historic individual appearances, such as Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, who became the top scorer with 60 goals after Steven Stamkos in 2011-12, and Nashville Predators defender Roman Josi, who scored 96 points and became the defender with most scores of the last 29 years. There have also been historic team appearances, such as the Florida Panthers scoring 340 goals to become the NHL team with the most scores by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.
Wait, are the Florida Panthers good? The Florida Panthers themselves who have not won a playoff series in 26 years?
One and the same. The Panthers won the Presidents’ Trophy with the best NHL record (122 points), just for the second time in the franchise history that they exceeded 100 points in one season. Left winger Jonathan Huberdeau set a team record with 115 points. The rich got richer in the NHL trade deadline as the Panthers acquired Philadelphia Flyers star (and pending free agent) Claude Giroux. Incredibly, this success comes with a first coach behind the bench: Andrew Brunette, who took over temporarily following the resignation of coach Joel Quenneville following the release of an investigation into how the Chicago Blackhawks handled Kyle Beach’s claims that the former He was sexually assaulted by video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. Under the Brunette, the Panthers won the Atlantic Division on a walk. But again, it was a ride for the entire Eastern Conference playoffs this season. Panthers games were electrified, with a high score in 2021-22. Michael Reaves / Getty Images
What happened to the exchange rate?
He had no home in the East. For the first time in NHL history, all eight teams in the Eastern Conference playoffs broke 100 points in the standings. There was a 16-point gap between the final wild team (the Washington Capitals) and the team with the highest out-of-play position (the New York Islands). This led to a playoff game that “ended Halloween”, as one NHL coach sarcastically told me. But it was a different story in the West.
How was the playoff game in the West?
Intense! The Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars held the last two wilds, as the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Cannons challenged in the final month of the season to fail. Dallas secured its place in the playoffs last week of the season. Nashville did the same, but fell to the last seed in the West after taking the lead in their last race in the Arizona Coyotes.
Wait, did not the Golden Knights enter the playoffs?
No. For the first time in their long, historic history (that is, five years) the Golden Knights did not qualify for the post-season. They lost a de facto playoff game in Dallas on April 26 that ended their season. 2 About He was one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season, even before a big hit for disgruntled Buffalo Sabers star Jack Eichel in November. But a string of injuries to key players, such as winger Mark Stone and goalkeeper Robin Lenner – and headaches that paid off – led to their deaths. NHL fans enjoyed the schadenfreude, especially because of the way Vegas parted ways with goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury last offseason, exchanging him for the Blackhawks. In the end, they are in the playoffs and the Golden Knights are not.
Where is Marc-Andre Fleury playing now?
Minnesota Wild, which acquired him in the commercial term from Chicago. It has gone 9-2-0 since then. Other notable additions to the playoffs include Giroux and defender Ben Chiarot (Panthers), defender Mark Giordano (Maple Leafs), striker Brandon Hagel (Lightning), center Max Domi (Hurricanes), winger Rickard Rakell (Penguins). ), the defender Hampus Lindholm (Bruins). ), defenders Josh Manson and Artturi Lehkonen (Avalanche), defenders Nick Leddy (Blues) and Brett Kulak (Oilers).
What is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup?
According to Caesars Sportsbook, the Colorado Avalanche is the top pick for the Cup (+330), after finishing second after the Panthers (+550) in the Presidents’ Trophy (119 points). They beat the Central Division and will face the Predators, the second wild team in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Avalanche took a break as Predators’ top goalkeeper Juuse Saros suffered an ankle injury at the end of the season that could affect his condition for the series. Not that he needed a break, as Avalanche had an 80-point season with Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri and Cale Makar. In addition, goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper was one of the best in the NHL in 2022. The Avs are ready to overtake. The following are the other future Cup odds, per Caesars:
What are the other first cycle series in the West?
Minnesota Wild (No. 2, Central Division) vs. St. Louis Blues (No. 3, Central Division). The Wilds had their best offensive season in franchise history, with a 47-goal season from winger Kirill Kaprizov. The Blues had their best attacking season since the 1990-91 season, with the help of winger Vladimir Tarashenko (82 points), who from the exchange request last season went to lead the Blues in scoring. This could be a beautiful series with bruises. Calgary Flames (No. 1, Pacific Division) vs. Dallas Stars (first wild). The Flames had three 40-goal scorers for Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, a pending free agent with 115 points. They also had one of the top goalkeepers in the league, Jacob Markstrom. The Stars could be considered a one-line team, but they were a great line-up: Joe Pavelski (81 points), Roope Hintz (37 goals) and 22-year-old star Jason Robertson, who had 41 goals. Edmonton Oilers (No. 2, Pacific Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (No. 3, Pacific Division). Connor and Leon’s show was in full swing as McDavid (123 points) and Draisaitl (110) moved the Oilers into the postseason. Another big factor in their success: The exchange of coach Dave Tippett with interim coach Jay Woodcroft in February, which changed several measurements for Edmonton. The Kings were one of the NHL surprises, making the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They were the veterans who led the way, including center Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault as well as a rekindled season by goalkeeper Jonathan Quick. An unpleasant one for this match: The defender of the Kings protagonist, Drew Doughty, is out for the season with a wrist injury. They could use it here.
What is the best matchup in the East?
The Toronto Maple Leafs, No. 2 in the Atlantic, against Tampa Bay Lightning, the No. 3 team in the division. There are several stories here for 10 series. The Leafs have not won a playoff series since 2004 – including a stunning first-round defeat to Montreal last season – and are looking for their first Stanley Cup victory since 1967. They have their favorite MVP Auston Matthews with dominance line with Mitch Marner and 26-year-old rookie Michael Badding. They also have questions about golding and endurance after the season. The Lightning, meanwhile, are trying to become the first NHL team to win three consecutive Stanley Cups since 1982. You will remember many of the names: Steven Stamkos (106 points), Victor Hedman (85 points), Brayden Point, goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevsky and winger Nikita Kucherov, whom you may remember from the noisy (and shirtless) press conference after last summer’s victory. This is the most exciting playoff series of the first round, period. Especially if you think about the impact on Toronto if the Leafs go out in the first round for the sixth consecutive season.
