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The Florida Panthers had a magical odd season, finishing with the one file within the NHL for the first time in franchise ancient past to lift the Presidents’ Trophy and home-ice advantage all the diagram thru the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Then over again, the Panthers could presumably per chance be the newest crew in a protracted line of franchises that possess captured the Presidents’ Trophy but didn’t utilize the Stanley Cup. The closing crew to manufacture the feat, ending the odd season with the one file and successful the Stanley Cup, used to be the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.
That talked about, the Panthers will starting up their quest for the Cup with a first-spherical series in opposition to the Washington Capitals, and it’s miles presumably no longer a really easy matchup.
With that in thoughts, right here’s a peep on the first-spherical matchups along with some predictions for about a of the largest ones. The first spherical begins on Monday, Can even simply 2.
Jap Conference
No. 1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
Game 1: Tuesday, Can even simply 3 at 7: 30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Game 2: Thursday, Can even simply 5 at 7: 30 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 3: Saturday, Can even simply 7 at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Monday, Can even simply 9 at 7 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 5: Wednesday, Can even simply 11, time TBD
Game 6: Friday, Can even simply 13, time TBD
Game 7: Sunday, Can even simply 15, time TBD
No. 2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 1: Monday, Can even simply 2 at 7: 30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Game 2: Wednesday, Can even simply 4 at 7: 30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Game 3: Friday, Can even simply 6 at 7: 30 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 4: Sunday, Can even simply 8 at 7 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 5: Tuesday, Can even simply 10, time TBD
Game 6: Thursday, Can even simply 12, time TBD
Game 7: Saturday, Can even simply 14, time TBD
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
Game 1: Monday, Can even simply 2 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Wednesday, Can even simply 4 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 3: Friday, Can even simply 6 at 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Sunday, Can even simply 8 at 12: 30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 5: Tuesday, Can even simply 10, time TBD
Game 6: Thursday, Can even simply 12, time TBD
Game 7: Saturday, Can even simply 14, time TBD
No. 2 Contemporary York Rangers vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Game 1: Tuesday, Can even simply 3 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Thursday, Can even simply 5 at 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Saturday, Can even simply 7 at 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Monday, Can even simply 9 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 5: Wednesday, Can even simply 11, time TBD
Game 6: Friday, Can even simply 13, time TBD
Game 7: Sunday, Can even simply 15, time TBD
Western Conference
No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville Predators
Game 1: Tuesday, Can even simply 3 at 9: 30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Thursday, Can even simply 5 at 9: 30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Saturday, Can even simply 7 at 4: 30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Monday, Can even simply 9 at 9: 30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 5: Wednesday, Can even simply 11, time TBD
Game 6: Friday, Can even simply 13, time TBD
Game 7: Sunday, Can even simply 15, time TBD
No. 2 Minnesota Wild vs. No. 3 St. Louis Blues.
Game 1: Monday, Can even simply 2 at 9: 30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Wednesday, Can even simply 4 at 9: 30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 3: Friday, Can even simply 6 at 9: 30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Sunday, Can even simply 8 at 4: 30 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 5: Tuesday, Can even simply 10, time TBD
Game 6: Thursday, Can even simply 12, time TBD
Game 7: Saturday, Can even simply 14, time TBD
No. 1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 Dallas Stars
Game 1: Tuesday, Can even simply 3 at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Game 2: Thursday, Can even simply 5 at 10 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 3: Saturday, Can even simply 7 at 9: 30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Monday, Can even simply 9 at 9: 30 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 5: Wednesday, Can even simply 11, time TBD
Game 6: Friday, Can even simply 13, time TBD
Game 7: Sunday, Can even simply 15, time TBD
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Kings
Game 1: Monday, Can even simply 2 at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Game 2: Wednesday, Can even simply 4 at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Game 3: Friday, Can even simply 6 at 10 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 4: Sunday, Can even simply 8 at 10 p.m. ET (TBS)
Game 5: Tuesday, Can even simply 10, time TBD
Game 6: Thursday, Can even simply 12, time TBD
Game 7: Saturday, Can even simply 14, time TBD
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
The Oilers are motivate within the playoffs for the third straight season, and Connor McDavid and Co. shall be having a peep to transfer past the first spherical for the first time for the reason that 2016-17 marketing campaign.
Edmonton’s first-spherical series in opposition to Los Angeles shall be a squawk, however the Oilers defeated the Kings in three out of four meetings all the diagram thru the odd season.
The Oilers had been paced offensively by McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman this season. Both McDavid and Draisaitl tallied more than 100 formula, while Hyman executed with more than 50.
Tyson Barrie, Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse possess held down the fortress on the motivate discontinuance, although Cody Ceci, Philip Broberg, Duncan Keith, Brett Kulak and Kris Russell possess furthermore performed neatly defensively.
Mikko Koskinen spent more on the final than no longer in purpose for Edmonton this season and is in general in intention all the diagram thru the postseason. Then over again, Mike Smith furthermore performed neatly and must mild step in if wished.
The Kings, meanwhile, had been led by veterans Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown. The trio performed a well-known feature in L.A.’s 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup championships and must mild be having a peep to create an impact in opposition to a rapid Oilers crew.
That talked about, the Kings possess furthermore purchased contributions from several young players this 300 and sixty five days, at the side of Arthur Kaliyev and Quinton Byfield, although they are able to must play significantly better within the playoffs if L.A. wants a probability to utilize.
The Oilers and Kings possess no longer met within the postseason for the reason that first spherical in 1992 when Edmonton defeated L.A. in six games.
Prediction: Oilers in six
Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators
The Avalanche were the one crew within the Western Conference all the diagram thru the odd season, although they have not made it past the 2d spherical of the playoffs for the reason that 2001-02 season despite high expectations over the last several years.
Colorado faces a elaborate opponent within the first spherical of this 300 and sixty five days’s playoffs, too, within the Nashville Predators. In point of truth, the Avs misplaced the odd-season series in opposition to the Predators 3-1, at the side of a pair of further time losses.
The Avalanche possess one in every of the one offenses within the NHL and receive consistent production from all four traces. Then over again, Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog are Colorado’s heavy-hitters within the scoring department, every having scored as a minimal 30 dreams this season.
Defensemen Cale Makar and Devon Toews possess furthermore been productive on offense, while Samuel Girard, Erik Johnson and Jack Johnson possess performed tight defense down the stretch.
A most well-known incompatibility for the Avalanche this season used to be the addition of Darcy Kuemper in purpose. He used to be tasked with playing as neatly as Philipp Grubauer did all the diagram thru the 2020-21 season, and he rose to the squawk.
Transferring on to Nashville, the Predators barely clinched a playoff berth. The crew is led offensively by Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg but lacks offensive depth within the motivate of the duo. One of the best most likely varied players to possess as a minimal 20 dreams this 300 and sixty five days were Ryan Johansen, Tanner Jeannot and Roman Josi.
That talked about, the Predators could presumably per chance possess scenario scoring on Kuemper. In addition, they are able to also strive in opposition to to withhold the puck out of their very accept rating as Juuse Saros and David Rittich have not been the one combination in purpose this 300 and sixty five days, combining for a 3.03 GAA and .912 set proportion.
Prediction: Avalanche in six
Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals
Quite about a the Panthers’ success could presumably per chance furthermore be attributed to veterans Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. The trio used to be a riding power for Florida on offense, although the crew furthermore purchased well-known production from their depth forwards.
Anthony Duclair, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, Mason Marchment and Anton Lundell every executed with as a minimal 40 formula.
Florida’s defense had furthermore been surprisingly spectacular despite shedding Aaron Ekblad to injury. MacKenzie Weegar, Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour were the crew’s only defenders all the diagram thru the odd season, although Ben Chiarot could presumably per chance furthermore be in that class after coming over in a commerce from the Montreal Canadiens.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky furthermore had a soar-motivate season, which performed a well-known feature in Florida’s success.
Meanwhile, the Capitals are led by Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and TJ Oshie offensively and John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov and Matt Irwin on the blue line.
Washington’s defense hasn’t been powerful of a local this 300 and sixty five days, however the depth scoring hasn’t been as accurate as it has been in years past. That talked about, it shall be advanced for the crew to beat Bobrovsky and the Panthers if they cannot rep the offense rolling.
Then over again, the Capitals are never a really easy out within the playoffs, and they also can also give the Presidents’ Trophy winners a travel for their money.
Prediction: Panthers in seven
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Lightning are coming off motivate-to-motivate Stanley Cups and are aiming for their third straight title. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, are hoping to create it out of the first spherical for the first time for the reason that 2003-04 season.
Thankfully for Toronto, it’s no longer facing the Boston Bruins. Tranquil, despite finishing third within the Atlantic Division, the Lightning are no shaggy dog myth.
The Bolts are carried by veterans Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman, but furthermore rep well-known depth production from Alex Killorn, Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat. Stamkos executed the odd season with more than 100 formula, the one mark of his profession, and has been one in every of the one forwards within the league.
Tampa Bay furthermore has arguably the one goaltender within the NHL in Andrei Vasilevskiy, and it shall be advanced for the Maple Leafs to rep pucks past him despite having the league’s leading goalscorer in Auston Matthews, besides Mitch Marner and William Nylander.
Brooding concerning the Maple Leafs’ goaltending squawk has been shaky all season, the Lightning could presumably per chance possess the upper hand.
Prediction: Lightning in seven
