Rod Brind'Amour is a favorite to win the Jack Adams as Coach of the Year in 2021, as he had the Canes operating on a high level for the entire season. Catch NHL games streaming live every night (and on replay) this season on ESPN+. Next game: vs. TB (May 8) 1 pick. Playoff chances: 0% The Oilers' top line is tougher to define, except to say that "it's the one with Connor McDavid." | Actual objects region, with players whose names are, or sound like, actual things. Rookie defenseman Bowen Byram is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Playoff position: N/A While the Blues are locked into the No. Menu ESPN. Playoff chances: 100% 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. Defense: When Aaron Ekblad was lost for the season, Florida's defensive outlook appeared much more gloomy. Playoff chances: 0.9% Playoff position: N1 - Create up to 25 brackets and . You'll get points for each game you pick correctly, with the points increasing during each round of the tournament. Playoff chances: 0% (Especially Sanford, whose offensive numbers dipped from last season.) Complete your bracket by selecting the winner in each of the games in the NCAA tournament. Ryan Graves, Makar's primary partner last season, has combined with Samuel Girard for another solid pairing (61.0% expected goals). 4 and No. 2 facing No. And I think they get stopped. The first two rounds of the 2021 playoffs will be intradivisional. Playoff position: N/A Regulation wins: 23 For Edmonton, the pairing of Tyson Barrie (48 points in 55 games) and Darnell Nurse (36 points in 54 games) has excelled offensively. 1, a loaded LPGA field and more to watch in golf this week, How to watch PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational on ESPN+, Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, Everything you need to know about F1's 2023 season, F1 season preview: Who's hot and who's not, Breaking down the latest in 2024 football recruiting, from top commits to March visits, Oral history: When Barcelona, Real Madrid played four Clasicos in 18 days back in 2011, LIVE Transfer Talk: Gvardiol, Bellingham named Real Madrid's top transfer targets, Roundtable: Early takeaways from Kyrie Irving joining Luka Doncic in Dallas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Orr. No. Regulation wins: 11 Or the goalie who posted a .936 save percentage and two shutouts in the bubble last postseason? But at this point, the Oilers could put McDavid in with the equipment manager and the mascot and they'd be the best line in the game. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. Veterans Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Suter join with Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba to make up the top two pairings. In Virginia Tech's final seven games, six of which . Advantage: Colorado, Health: MacKinnon's health is the biggest issue facing the Avalanche. The Stanley Cup is something that sets the National Hockey League apart from other sports. Tragic number: E, Points: 42 Advantage: Even, Special teams: The Canes have the second-best power play in the league, trailing only the Oilers, clicking at 25.6%. Even if he isn't, it would take Binnington stealing this series against Colorado as emphatically as he lost the Blues the series against Vancouver last postseason. Next game: vs. VAN (May 8) 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? Regulation wins: 19 The Penguins are bottom-six in penalty kill (77.4%), which is where the Isles thrive, finishing in the top six (83.7%). Sullivan did a wonderful job with the injury-riddled Penguins this season, but given that Pittsburgh has won only one postseason game over the past two years, the edge goes to Trotz. Games left: 1 Tragic number: E, Points: 47 Advantage: New York, Coaching: This matchup pits two of the best bench bosses in the game against each other. Points: 59 Next game: vs. OTT (May 8) I think they push the Knights to the brink, but Vegas has the experience and the goaltending to get by them. Advantage: Vegas, Coaching: This is Pete DeBoer's seventh playoff team. Advantage: Winnipeg, Coaching: Two veteran coaches squaring off here. NHL playoff bracket 2022: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for postseason | Sporting News Canada -156 BUF -175 LAK -127 Thu, 7:30p CAR DET CHI 2/26, 11:00a NYI WIN 2/26, 12:30p LAK NYR 2/26,. Children's Online Privacy Policy The official National Hockey League web site includes features, news, rosters, statistics, schedules, teams, live game radio broadcasts, and video clips. For Montreal, Tyler Toffoli brought as much joy to the Canadiens as his departure brought pain to Vancouver, scoring 28 goals this season. The infusion of reinforcements to the Canadiens' lineup, especially Gallagher, will be a boost to Montreal. Playoff chances: 0.4% 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? His partner Torey Krug, who supplanted Pietrangelo this season, saw his offensive numbers decline across the board, especially on the power play, compared to his work in Boston. 1 too. Playoff chances: 100% Click here for the upcoming schedule and to learn how to subscribe. Almost all of the players in this tournament played in the NHL, with one exception given to a current NHL prospect. Today, we're featuring a look at the field. | They're praying the same thing doesn't happen this postseason, as Jonas Johansson and Devan Dubnyk are the alternatives. Advantage: Colorado. Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A, Points: 47 When Backstrom and Ovechkin have been on the ice together this season, they have outscored teams by 14 goals. Advantage: New York, Goaltending: The Islanders' tandem of Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin have the third-best 5-on-5 save percentage in the league (.931), which is about what you'd expect from a team coached by Barry Trotz and Mitch Korn. Playoff position: N/A Playoff chances: 0% If he stumbles, the Bruins will turn to 22-year-old rookie Jeremy Swayman, who earned the backup role with a .945 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 starts. Pittsburgh has been buoyed by surprise performances from Mike Matheson and especially Cody Ceci. Join the Chowder NHL Bracket Challenge! First line: The Capitals trot out Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on their top line. 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? Fill out your bracket and compete against friends, ESPN personalities and celebrities for your shot at. We've compiled 64 of them into four different regions in a bracketed tournament: Old-school region, with the players from yesteryear. Advantage: Vegas. First line: When Zach Hyman returns to the lineup, he should reunite with Auston Matthews (40 goals in 50 games) and Mitch Marner (1.24 points per game) to form one of the NHL's best lines. That's right you don't have to build a perfect bracket.. McDavid hasn't won a playoff round since 2017. Next game: vs. PHI (May 8) While we accepted nicknames based on first names, we did not include players known by their nicknames. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 66 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. Regulation wins: 16 John Carlson and T.J. Oshie might also be nursing minor injuries. How aggressive will the surprising Kraken be? Jump to: Washington defenseman Michal Kempny, a regular defenseman, is out for the season. For Florida, it's a bit more complicated. As the March 3 deadline approaches, here's a list of players and picks potentially on the move for each club, and our call on what each GM should do. They needed him, as Robin Lehner struggled through an injury to post a .913 save percentage. Play Tournament Challenge Second Chance. Next game: @ WSH (May 8) Nor as talented. Playoff position: N/A Make Your Picks, Points: 75 4 Nashville Predators Playoff position: N/A Terms of Use Advantage: Tampa Bay. 329m goal: Felix the only men's contender for Chelsea's Goal of the Month, UFC 285's Shevchenko by the numbers: It all adds up to domination, A battle for No. 3. Next game: @ MIN (May 8) New for 2021, a team may move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. Top center Ryan Johansen's production has dipped from 0.80 points per game two years ago to 0.46 points per game this season. He's been great in the playoffs, too: .923 save percentage and four shutouts in 25 career appearances. Women's Champ Week predictions: Which teams will win the auto bids in all 32 conferences? Next game: @ BOS (May 8) Playoff chances: 0% 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. NHL Playoffs Central: Schedules, scores, highlights, analysis Games left: 5 Logan Stanley, Tucker Poolman, Derek Forbort, Sami Niku and trade deadline addition Jordie Benn are options. 2 Minnesota Wild vs. No. Initial registration for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket Challenge is now open at NHL.com/Bracket. 3 St. Louis Blues (St. Louis wins 4-2) No. Shea Theodore, who has also played with Pietrangelo, has been paired with Brayden McNabb. He had a .915 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average in winning 23 of 44 games. Next game: @ CHI (May 9) Regulation wins: 27 The X factors: As always, one is Alex Tuch, who had 18 goals in 55 games this season and has 15 goals in 47 career playoff games. The Predators activated Olivier from injured reserve before the end of the season, and while Dante Fabbro and Colton Sissons were banged up, they appear to be ready for the series. Meanwhile, Filip Forsberg, a staple on Nashville's top line, had 32 points in 39 games -- which made him the Predators' most productive forward this season. Advantage: Colorado. | -- but before we get there, it's time for eight divisional series to kick things off, starting on Saturday. The last time these two met in the postseason, in 2012, there were seven one-goal games. Advantage: Vegas. The line of Martin Necas, Nino Niederreiter and Vincent Trocheck (57.89% expected goals for percentage) could feasibly operate as Nashville's top line. It's a group that's been effective in the past, but has struggled to produce offense this season. Series pick: Lightning in seven. 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. Fill out your bracket and compete against friends, ESPN personalities and celebrities for your shot at. Winnipeg's Maurice is sixth in career wins and has done a solid job with a team that has had its share of change and challenges. Regulation wins: 28 NEW YORK/TORONTO -- "Bracketology" marks its return to the NHL when early registration opens tonight at 7 p.m. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 60 Next game: vs. MTL (May 8) The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. See Official Rules for full details. Playoff chances: 0% Yzerman. 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