Binnington is on a redemption tour himself: He won the Stanley Cup in 2019 and then was the reason the Blues were eliminated in 2020, with an 0-5 record and an .851 save percentage. Advantage: Carolina, Postgame analysis and highlight show airing each night throughout the season from Barry Melrose and Linda Cohn. Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences. -- but before we get there, it's time for eight divisional series to kick things off, starting on Saturday. Six players outside of their top line hit double-digit goal totals. He has also recently taken this team on a run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2019. | Are PSG better off without Neymar in big games? Can Barca overcome on-field fatigue, off-field chaos to beat Real Madrid in Copa del Rey? How aggressive will the surprising Kraken be? After a winner is crowned from the four divisions, the "final four" will be rebracketed based on their regular-season records, with No. Vasilevskiy's backup, Curtis McElhinney, doesn't inspire much confidence, but the Lightning don't expect to use him much anyway. Tragic number: E, No. Tournament Challenge: Check your brackets! Games left: 2 4 and No. He has been paired with Dylan DeMelo, who has had a much more effective season. Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: W4 Advantage: Carolina, Forward depth: The Hurricanes have enviable depth. Advantage: Colorado, Coaching: Jared Bednar is one of the most underrated coaches in the NHL. Forward depth: The Jets were dealt a massive loss when Nikolaj Ehlers suffered an upper body injury in late April, as he was having a career year. This will be quick if MacKinnon is OK. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. Series pick: Hurricanes in five. Zach Parise, a healthy scratch this season, is there too. Advantage: Even, Special teams: The Avalanche have the eighth-best power play in the NHL (22.7%) and the eighth-best penalty kill (83.1%). Almost all of the players in this tournament played in the NHL, with one exception given to a current NHL prospect. From a woman coming across an azure-hooded blue jay and believing "Creighton will fly through the early rounds" to a man feeling a little husky, "like UConn" in his dress shirt, the . Washington also got a trade deadline addition in Mantha, who has been solid, with eight points in 14 games, albeit not as productive as Hall. $20 per entry. It's that time of year again, when all the chatter about teams involves phrases like: body of work; good wins; bad losses; and of course, RPIs and the dreaded "bubble." Minnesota doesn't generate offense from this group like Vegas does -- the Wild don't have a defensemen in the top 40 in points per game, while the Knights have three in the top 30 -- but it's a solid group. Games left: 2 On the second pairing, Brett Pesce has quietly been outstanding for the Canes, with nearly the same expected goals for percentage at 5-on-5 as Hamilton. David Savard hasn't yet made the impact Tampa Bay had hoped, but he was acquired to make a difference in the playoffs, and he still can (and has the experience). McAvoy's performance so far against the Caps, where he was often paired against Washington's top players, should inspire confidence. Fill out your bracket and compete against friends, ESPN personalities and celebrities for your shot at. . When Washington hired Laviolette ahead of the season, it wanted to light a fire under the group and instill urgency. Nico Sturm, Nick Bjugstad and veteran center Nick Bonino are in the mix, as is veteran winger Marcus Johansson. Like the Avs, the Blues aren't going anywhere if Jordan Binnington isn't taking them there, as Ville Husso is the backup. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 68 2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. No. Finally, the New York Islanders need a lot of help to move out of fourth into third, but one part of the process would be a win in their game against the New Jersey Devils tonight. In New York, the top line is not as defined. Get the latest NHL hockey news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ESPN. Advantage: Boston, Forward depth: The best pickup for any team at the trade deadline was Boston landing Taylor Hall for a second-round pick. In more than 106 minutes at 5-on-5 together, the duo has a whopping 73.62% expected goals for percentage, outscoring opposing teams 10-1. In 822:55 minutes together this season, they have outscored teams 71-37 with a 61.1% expected goals for percentage. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 52 In this case it would be (77 - 67). NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge Brackets are closed for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge Sign in to check your scores. Advantage: Edmonton. Next game: vs. COL (May 8) Regulation wins: 15 In 2021, ESPN Men's Tournament Challenge collected 16.2 million brackets, surpassing 16 million for the fourth consecutive year. Advantage: Even, Goaltending: Tuukka Rask has played 93 career playoff games, and that type of experience typically matters this time of year. Series pick: Avalanche in five. How do you want to fill out your bracket? After a winner is crowned from the four divisions, the "final four" will be rebracketed based on their regular-season records, with No. In his absence, his regular linemates Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov posted a 56.00% expected goals for percentage. Women's Champ Week predictions: Which teams will win the auto bids in all 32 conferences? Next game: @ FLA (May 8) Games left: 4 For Florida, it's a bit more complicated. 2021 NHL playoff series previews: First-round matchups, picks, The triumph of Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors in Creed III, Top draft prospect Carter charged in fatal crash, Out of dark, Rodgers vows decision coming soon, Survey: Vikes, Fins, Raiders top FA report cards, Scheyer makes history as Duke sweeps at home, Kings deal Cup-winning G Quick to Blue Jackets, Eagles defend QB-push tactic as NFL set to revisit, Chargers GM halts speculation: Allen staying put, Hall of Fame coach Ault named to CFP committee, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, A new home for Michael Thomas? After the NHL staged a 24-team, bubble-based tournament to determine the Stanley Cup winner in 2020, we're back to a more traditional 16-team event in 2021 -- with a significant twist. The Bruins have the league's ninth-best power play. Pierre-Luc Dubois, acquired from Columbus for Patrik Laine earlier this season, had 20 points in 40 games. The 2021 bracket contest marks the fifth occurrence of Buffett's challenge, with the 2020 NCAA Tournament having been wiped out due to COVID-19. Regulation wins: 28 A lot can change in two seasons: If the Blues fall here, could he be on the hot seat? ET (TBS) Game 5: Tuesday,. The Capitals' defense might not be the X factor in many games, but it also won't lose them many games either. These are memorable names because these are legendary players. Take out his first season in Colorado, when he was an emergency hire after Patrick Roy left, and he has a 162-93-35 record. Advantage: Vegas, Coaching: This is Pete DeBoer's seventh playoff team. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 60 Pacioretty led the Knights with 24 goals this season.The Wild's top line has featured rookie of the year favorite Kirill Kaprizov (51 points in 55 games) paired with winger Mats Zuccarello. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. But another thing that sets hockey apart are the names that are memorable not because of the player's goal total or championship wins, but because this actual living breathing person is named Zarley Zalapski or Miroslav Satan. ET (ESPN2) Game 2: Wednesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. Playoff chances: 100% Advantage: Tampa Bay, Coaching: Typically, Joel Quenneville -- a three-time Stanley Cup winner, who ranks second all time in coaching wins, behind only Scotty Bowman -- is the automatic choice here. Grading all the big NHL deals, including Wednesday's trade that saw the Kings and Blue Jackets swap goaltenders, among other assets. The Penguins have scored 3.25 goals per game against New York this season, much better than most teams. May 3, 2021. Dominique Ducharme replaced Claude Julien after 18 games, and managed to sneak the Canadiens into the playoffs despite several injuries down the stretch. Playoff position: C4 Gretzky. He's motivated and scary. The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge tests your ability to correctly predict the outcome of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Entry is free and simple: Create an NHL Account or Sign in; When the bracket opens, choose a league in which you would like to enter your first bracket and click, "CREATE BRACKET" 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? How will the matchups play out? There are other aspects to this matchup that are intriguing for the Jets: Dubois following up a near star-making performance while with Columbus in the postseason bubble last summer, or Hellebuyck maybe stealing a game or two. Next game: vs. MTL (May 8) Playoff chances: 0% The Stanley Cup is something that sets the National Hockey League apart from other sports. Actual objects region, with players whose names are, or sound like, actual things. What will the defending champs do? Tragic number: E, Points: 37 The NHL is running its Bracket Challenge again, so we created a Chowder Challenge for all of you fine people to join. Saad is working his way back, having been out since April 24. Advanced stats are from Hockey Reference, Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey. 1 selection. The Jets averaged 3.15 goals per game with him, and 2.25 goals per game since he left the lineup. That means the four divisions the. If you'd like to submit yours for fun through social media, tweet it to ESPN with the hashtag #NHLNameBracket. Nashville boasts a top four featuring Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis and reigning Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi. The Canes have the third-best penalty kill in the league, while Nashville's power play ranks 24th -- another sizable mismatch. Advantage: Boston, Coaching: Peter Laviolette and Bruce Cassidy are two of the best in the game. Advantage: Colorado, Health: MacKinnon's health is the biggest issue facing the Avalanche. But Jon Cooper is one of the best in the game right now, the man Canada is likely to tap as its 2022 Olympic coach. 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ESPN's Tournament Challenge is back for the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Tournament! No. Playoff position: N/A Games left: 2 Tragic number: N/A, Points: 58 While NBC covered the league at various points in its history, the network's last relationship with the NHL is the result of NBC Sports acquiring the league's broadcast . To calculate you'd simply subtract the lower scores from the higher scores to get the number of total points you were away from getting the score exactly correct. Tarasenko, who returned after his third shoulder surgery, had just four goals in 24 games. | 1 Calgary Flames vs. Wild Card 1 Dallas Stars (Calgary wins 4-3) No. The annual tradition is back! Playoff chances: 0% The NHL on NBC is an American presentation of National Hockey League (NHL) games produced by NBC Sports, and televised on NBC properties, including MSNBC, CNBC, Golf Channel, USA Network and NBCSN in the United States.. But Tampa Bay has already been through its growing pains; its time is now. For Montreal, Tyler Toffoli brought as much joy to the Canadiens as his departure brought pain to Vancouver, scoring 28 goals this season. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 74 Regulation wins: 19 Thirty-two NCAA Division I men's basketball conferences will crown champions over a nine-day stretch that begins Saturday, March 4, with the Ohio Valley Conference tournament final and comes to an . First line: The Golden Knights have two lines that qualify here, but for the purposes of the exercise let's go with Mark Stone's line with Chandler Stephenson and Max Pacioretty. Playoff chances: 0% Terms of Use Complete your bracket by selecting your winner for each game of the NCAA Tournament, starting with the Sweet 16. Rookie defenseman Bowen Byram is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Make Your Picks, Points: 75 Yet bottom-six production -- and lack of 5-on-5 scoring -- was a recurring issue for Boston all season. Next game: vs. NJ (May 8) West: COL-STL | VGS-MIN. Bennett's arrival slid players down the lineup and only strengthened the bottom six (which has some decent players, including Nikita Gusev, whose performance has improved after a forgettable stint in New Jersey). While we accepted nicknames based on first names, we did not include players known by their nicknames. McDavid hasn't won a playoff round since 2017. Note: Playoff chances are via Money Puck. Washington's penalty kill is also very good, ranking fifth in the league. Vegas and St. Louis square off again tonight in a potential playoff preview (streaming on ESPN+), while the Avs get the Kings and the Wild face the Anaheim Ducks. Andrei Vasilevskiy looks like he will win his second Vezina Trophy in three seasons (he has finished as a finalist in each of the past four seasons) after going 31-10-1 with a .925 save percentage. Josh Anderson and Corey Perry chip in offensively -- Anderson, a key offseason pickup, is a negative-3.1 goals scored above average. He has also managed a packed roster well. Ivan Barbashev and Kyle Clifford are among the options in the lineup. The Wild have played the Golden Knights very tough. Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences. Playoff position: N/A The Blues earned one point for their overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, and with the Los Angeles Kings' regulation loss to the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis is now locked in to the No. The wild card is Ville Heinola, a 20-year-old blue chip defenseman, but he's inexperienced. Patrik Nemeth and Conor Timmins round out the group. Previously banged-up Bennett, Patric Hornqvist and Huberdeau all looked poised for Game 1, also. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? 1 too. The Promotion commences on March 12, 2023 and ends on the earliest of. Games left: 3 Paul Byron, Artturi Lehkonen, Michael Frolik and Jake Evans play their roles. Games left: 2 ESPN's Tournament Challenge is back for the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Tournament! Log in here. Jump to: 3. Advantage: Winnipeg, Coaching: Two veteran coaches squaring off here. Better offensively have been 22-year-old Jordan Kyrou and Mike Hoffman, the latter of whom the Blues held onto at the trade deadline. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? They're first in expected goals on the power play (7.99 per 60 minutes). The Penguins have a solid defense, but not quite as strong as New York's. Games left: 2 Playoff position: W2 4 spot, the Golden Knights, Avalanche and Minnesota Wild are all still in the mix for the top seed. | They've made life easy for Alexandre Carrier, a rookie who earned a bigger role midway through the season, and has played mostly with Ekholm. No. Defense: The Jets' Josh Morrissey was a massive disappointment this season, with a negative-6.1 goals scored above average. This season, they're rolling at 66.0% expected goals percentage at 5-on-5, earning 68.0% of the shot attempts as well. Playoff position: C3 This exclusive ESPN+ tool gives you bracket advice, with stats to help you make more informed picks for every game. How will the matchups play out? To mark the ninth straight year of the Bracket Challenge, the NHL is introducing two new exciting elements to the program. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 1 pairing in Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock. Nashville's penalty kill is third worst in the league (75.4%), so this is a mismatch. Playoff chances: 0% Playoff chances: 100% Let's take an in-depth look at each first-round matchup and make our picks for which teams will advance. The Oilers' top line is tougher to define, except to say that "it's the one with Connor McDavid." The third pairing of Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud might be one of the most underrated in the NHL. Barzal and Eberle are solid but can't keep up with the production of Pittsburgh's trio. 3 Los Angeles Kings (Edmonton . Travis Dermott has been a constant on the third pairing, with Rasmus Sandin, Ben Hutton and Zach Bogosian, working back from a shoulder injury, in the mix. Games left: 1 The B's are on pace for NHL records in wins and points, along with some individual superlatives as well. John Carlson and T.J. Oshie might also be nursing minor injuries. Pick the correct champion for a chance to. But the Leafs are rolling, and are clearly the better of the two teams here. In more than 766 minutes at 5-on-5, Dougie Hamilton and Jaccob Slavin have tilted the ice with a plus-19 differential in goals and plus-57 delta in high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick. Riley Nash, Alex Kerfoot and Ilya Mikheyev are one depth line; the other features more than 3,800 combined games in the NHL, with Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza and Wayne Simmonds all chasing their first Stanley Cup. I think they push the Knights to the brink, but Vegas has the experience and the goaltending to get by them. Continue reading this article and more from top writers, for only $9.99/mo. Devon Toews, acquired last offseason from the Islanders, has combined with Makar on a paring with a 63.0% expected goals rate at 5-on-5. Goodrow is out indefinitely with an upper body injury. Can the Lions fix their defense? Games left: 1 Games left: 1 Sign in to customize your ESPN experience. Series pick: Jets in seven. Advantage: Nashville, Coaching: The Predators went on a remarkable run to even make it to the playoffs, going 19-7-1 since March 15. Petr Mrazek has been excellent, but missed two months in the middle of the season with a thumb injury. Credit young players for stepping up, but also Charlie McAvoy for owning the No. Sportsnet reported Hedman (lower body injury) is putting off surgery until the offseason. Series pick: Maple Leafs in four. 3 Minnesota Wild. Kucherov should probably slide back to the top line with Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point, a trio that was dynamite in last year's playoffs, combining for 85 points in 25 games. After the NHL staged a 24-team, bubble-based tournament to determine the Stanley Cup winner in 2020, we're back to a more traditional 16-team event in 2021 -- with a significant twist. 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Note: Emily Kaplan previewed the East and Central, while Greg Wyshynski did the honors for the North and West. Race for No. Playoff chances: 99.6% Click here for the upcoming schedule and to learn how to subscribe. Interest-Based Ads Regulation wins: 16 Next game: vs. ANA (May 8) Jeff Petry was a revelation for Montreal this season, with 42 points in his first 55 games, skating 22:44 per game on average. Games left: 3 Full details on the process can be found here. In the playoffs, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Tom Wilson on their right wing, or Anthony Mantha. 00:33. . The quality of the Montreal goaltending boils down to one question: Which Carey Price, assuming he's healthy, will the Canadiens get? Advantage: Vegas. Tragic number: E, Points: 80 Fill out your bracket and compete against friends, ESPN personalities and celebrities for your shot at. They live in a world where all four lines can feasibly score, but to coach Rod Brind'Amour's identity of hard-nosed hockey. Next game: vs. DET (May 8) ACC. Stamkos (lower body injury) has been out since April 8 and is hopeful to be ready for the series, but it's troubling to hear him say all of his injuries are somewhat connected. On paper, the Lightning should have a big edge, but injuries are a concern for two of their top defensemen, Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh. Pittsburgh has been buoyed by surprise performances from Mike Matheson and especially Cody Ceci. Playoff position: N2 1 selection. Their offense was the Leafs' best defense, too: Toronto goalies had a .932 save percentage when the line was on the ice. 2 facing No. Neal Pionk (32 points in 53 games) was the Jets' leading scorer among blueliners. The 38-year-old Rinne's contract expires this summer, and he is likely done in Nashville -- where he will be remembered as the greatest player in franchise history thus far. Watch on ESPN+, Defense: Here's where the Predators finally can go toe-to-toe with the Canes. Advantage: Pittsburgh, Defense: The Islanders are known for their defensive structure -- often playing in low-scoring games, with forwards always coming back to help on the backcheck -- but they also have a true No. It's a group that's been effective in the past, but has struggled to produce offense this season. The player in the contest with the most points in their bracket at the end of the tourney gets a guaranteed grand prize of $1 million! Next game: @ LA (May 8) The #1 bracket app is back and better than ever for the 2022 NCAA Men's and Women's College Basketball Tournaments! While not as dominant as they once were, with a 53.4% expected goals at 5-on-5 this season, they can still be a force. Wheeler, who reportedly played through a rib injury earlier this season, in particular, has struggled. The NHL Bracket Challenge pool will divvy up the points after the conclusion of every series and the person with the most points after the Stanley Cup is handed out will win free premium Florida Panthers coverage for the entire year. | Ethan Bear and William Lagesson are also in the mix. Playoff position: N/A A guy like Daniel Sprong could be sneaky-impactful for Washington this postseason. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? Lee won't be back for the postseason, but New York added Palmieri and Zajac at the deadline to help replace him.
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