2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs 5-2-22. What an incredible (finally) FULL SEASON from everyone, From the new expansion team Seattle Kraken to record showings form quite a few players, this is going to be a fun playoff run. We will begin in the Western Conference and the #1 team Colorado Avalanche facing wild card team 2 Nashville Predators
Colorado faltered down the stretch after clinching the western conference and finished 2nd overall but has a strong offensive lineup led by Nathan McKinnion Nashville team captain Roman Josi with a career high 96 points 23g 73a and should be a lock for teh Norris trophy as top defenseman. Despite this, Nashville struggled throughout the season and will struggle in the playoffs Colorado in an easy 5.
Calgary Flames vs Dallas Stars the powerful Calgary Flames easily winning the Pacific division led by Johnny Gaudreau with 115 points and goaltender Jacob Markstrom with a .922 save % will prove to be no match for the stars who is led by Joe Pavelski with 81 points another easy 5 in this series.
Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings both pacific division teams going at it again Edmonton led by Art Ross trophy Connor McDavid 79a 123 points and Leon Draisaiti's 55 goals going up against Anze Kopitar's 67 points and Adrian Kempe's 35 goals. On paper this is no contest either but were only separated by 5 points. Edmonton will win a tougher 6 games over the Kings.
Minnesota Wild vs St Louis Blues two central division teams going at it again Minnesota is led by the leagues 5th best point producer Kirill Kaprizov 108 points 47g 61a Minnesota also picked up reliable goaltender Mark Andre Fleury at the trade deadline to provide relief in goal to #1 starter Cal Talbot and his .911 save %. The Blues will counter with all star and fan favorite Vladimir Tarasenko who led the team in goals 34 and points 82. Minnesota is for real this season and will have no problems beating St Louis in 6 in an interesting matchup.
The Eastern Conference saw all eight teams get at least 100 points in the season for the first time ever in either conference to record that tremendous feat.
I'll start off with the metropolitan division winner Carolina Hurricanes going against #1 wild card Boston Bruins. Carolina is led by Sebastian Aho who led the team in scoring with 37g 44a and 81 points but will NOT have Frederik Anderson in goal for game 1. Boston will counter with Brad Marchant's 48a and 80 points and David Pastrank's 40 goals. Tough call with Anderson being out but Carolina should win this in 6.
Florida Panthers vs Washington Capitals. The #1 overall team in the NHL this season going against the barely 8th team in the division. Florida has been decent now for a few years but they went all in at this years trade deadline getting Claude Giroux from Philadelphia. Florida won the President's Trophy with the help of an impressive 13 game win steak. The 122 team point total is a record for the club as is 58 wins and a very very impressive 29 of those wins were come from behind wins nine of which was more than one goal. Florida boasts a high powered offense with Johnathan Huberdeau recording 115 points tying him for second in the league with Gaudreau Aleksander Barkov led the team with 39 goals.
Washington counters with all world Alexander Ovechkin and his 9th career 50 goal season (tying him with legends Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for most 50 goal season) he is slated to play in game one but come sin banged up after getting injured against Toronto. Washington needs him badly in this series but Florida is just that good this year. Panthers in 6.
New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins. This was probably the best case scenario for the Penguins finishing 3rd by one more point over 8th p[lace Washington. Starting Goaltender Tristian Jarry is OUT for at least two games
but backup Casey DeSmith did well in his absence going 500 in the final six . games.
The Rangers faced the Penguins three times down the stretch winning all three to clinch 2nd in the division. And will rely heavily on Artemi Panarin who led the team with 74 assists and 96points. Chris Kreider led with 52 goals. and will also rely on goaltender Igor Shesterkin .935 save % and 36 wins.
They will have to stop all world Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and team leader in assists Kris Letang with 58 AND team scoring leader Jake Guentzel with career highs in goals 40 an points 84. Despite the firepower losing Jarry will be the Penguins downfall and yet sadly another first round exit we are giving the Rangers 6 to win it which is far better that the chances we are giving Florida if the Penguins fell to 8th and a probable sweep.
Finally the last series and this one I am most looking forward to current two time defending cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning against the red hot Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto come sin hot with 54 wins and 115 points in addition to 60 goal scorer Auston Matthews (yes 60!!!!! and he is 24). Toronto is also 7-2-1 in their last 10.
Tampa counters with all world Steven Stamkos who recorded a hat trick against the New York Islanders bringing his point total for the month to 33 and the most points in a calendar month for a Lightning player and the most by any NHL skater since December 1995 and a guy named Mario Lemieux with 34.
Both teams play hard and score often but Toronto as had playoff struggles and needs to stay focused if they are to win it (and a date with Florida next round). goaltending edge goes to Tampa with Andri Vasilevskiy tied Florida's Sergi Bobrovsky with NHL leading 39 wins and two back to back cups. If he is on look out. This is the only series we picked going 7 games. This will be GOOD! However we see an all Florida match up round two Tampa wins it.
The winner of the Florida Tampa matchup in round 2 will win the cup and we pick Florida to do just that. They are that good.
8-11-2020 First round today/tonight and here is how we see it Tampa vs Columbus Tampa in an easy 5 they are just too good. Philly vs Montreal Philly is not Pittsburgh and will dominate in 4. Washington vs Islanders Washington is just too good but it will be a tough 6 game for them. Boston vs Carolina last years stanley cup runner up team has struggled badly in the round robin and I see Carolina actually winning this in a tough 6.
Western Conference Vegas vs Chicago 5 games toi Vegas they are that good. Colorado vs Arizona Arizona is good but Colorado has the talent and firepower to win this in 5. Dallas vs Calgary UPSET ALERT!!!!!!! I actually see Calgary going 6 games to beat Dallas. St Louis vs Vancouver St Louis last years cup champs will prove that they can overcome a disaster round robin and beat Vancouver in 5.
Round 2 Western Conference Vegas vs Calgary Calgary's run is over Vegas is that good Colorado vs St Louis and St Louis will NOT be heading back to the finals to defend the cup.
Eastern Conference Philly vs Carolina Storm Surge will end right here Philly easy. Tampa vs Washington I Actually see Tampa winning it
Eastern Conference Finals Tampa over Philly by this time Stamkos will be back and this will help them...
Western Conference finals Vegas over Colorado. Vegas is legit people....
Stanley up Finals Tampa over Vegas in a wild one worth watching.
8-9-2020 update Hockey has restarted the playoff season and several upsets have happened including my beloved Penguins getting eliminated by Montreal. Arizona beating Nashville and Chicago beating Edmonton. When the field of 16 is set (and the lottery draft for #1 overall pick tomorrow) i'll post more later in the week
1-1-2020 update
Well a few months into the season and lets see how I am doing so far.
Pacific seesa Vegas on top (not surprised) and Arizona at #2 (again NOT surprised) but Vancouver #3 (surprise) with Calgary and Edmonton battling in the wild card area (for now) and as expected NONE of the California teams are even close to playing in April. Arizona got a bump a few weeks ago getting Hall from the Devils and still holding on to my call that they will make it.
Atlantic and Tampa (my pick to #1) is currently in 3rd with Boston leading the way and my bubble pic Toronto in at #2. Buffalo is floundering and Florida is right behind Tampa by one point. not making changes to these pics I see all 4 of these teams (not buffalo) getting in.
Central and St Luis as defending champs are sitting pretty at #1 with Colorado AND Dallas rounding out the top 3. Despite all of the team drama going on in Winnipeg they are 4th in the division and actually got off to a good start. The surprise here is how bad Nashville is floundering Ryan Ellis got clocked in the first period of the winter classic with an elbow to the head and he will be missed (Corey Perry who delivered the hit will get three games off) . Duchene is looking good as expected Josi is an all star (again) and Rinne and Saros are doing well in net. As expected Chicago and Minnesota ar also floundering in the division and sticking to my call they will not make it.
Metro as 4 teams with at least 50 points (no other division can claim that which SHOULD end the debate of who the toughest division is) Washington as expected in first with 59 Ovechkin will skip the all star game (again) and get a game off (again) Islanders at #2 with 53 points and the Penguins at #3 with 52 which is surprising when you consider how many INJURIES THEY HAD THIS SEASON. Guentzel leading the team with 20 goals is now out for the rest of the regular season. Superstar Sidney Crosby has been out for 6 weeks but is expected to be back next week. My two key players Galchenyuk 13 points in 30 games (not that good) and Malkin 38 points in 26 games appears to be back and happy. My blunder here was New Jersey. The devils have turned into a TRAIN WRECK with 34 points and traded away Taylor Hall to Arizona (if i remember right the coach was also fired) and have no chance at the playoffs (for my only bad prediction so far) but ahead of dead last Detroit Red Wings Philadelphia at 49 points MIGHT make it and Columbus and NY Rangers not that far behind (still calling they wont make it)
This will be devoted to my favorite sport HOCKEY!!!!! With some bits coming from Franchise Hockey Manager on PC. This picture of this is from me it is Pittsburgh Penguin defender #4 Justin Schultz.
Training camp has officially started in the NHL and I am looking forward to the season and I will post a pre season review near the end of training camp when the final NHL rosters will be announced.
2019-2020 Preview and predictions
The NHL officially opens season play tomorrow so I'll take a look at each division and see what happens.
Starting off in the EASIEST division to call the Pacific. This will come down to two teams for the division title (Calgary and Vegas) with a huge trade from Pittsburgh to get Phil Kessel in Arizona I will call it Arizona WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR!!!! Edmonton will make noise but they need way more than McDavid to go anywhere close to far in the playoffs (probable serious buble team again for them this season) OUT of the race will be all three California teams (San Jose, Anaheim and LA) and of course Vancouver who is still in rebuild mod after losing the Sedin twins a few years back.
Second easiest to call will be Atlantic and Tampa Bay will rule the league again BUT this year they will not flop in the 1st round (as did ALL division winning teams last season which was a first time ever that happened) Boston while showing some age still has the talent and skill and should have no problem making it into the playoffs either and a long time sleeping PANTHER under new head coach Joe Quenneville WILL get this team into the playoffs. Buffalo OR Toronto will try to squeak in as well (it won't be both unless one of the other three flounders) OUT will be Detroit (too easy to call this one, Ottawa and Montreal (despite the fact I love Shea Weber but they need a lot more firepower to even compete with the likes of Tampa, Florida or Boston.
Which means now things are getting tough and a tough one to call will be in the Central and eyes will be on Winnipeg as Nathan Beaulieu and Brian Little will start the season on IR but the bigger blow could come from Dustin Byfuglien out for personal reasons (rumors of retirement are circling as well) who is huge d man for this team and his loss could make or break the Jets this season. St Louis will be looking to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions (congrats and good luck on that) St Louis does have the talent and added Justin Faulk from Carolina to bolster their defense. St Louis has to be considered to be a division winner but repeat champs???? meh maybe....Another team that made a lot of noise in the offseason is Nashville landing Matt Duchene to bolster their already powerful offense but lost a key d man to the Devils in PK Subban. Rinne still is the #1 goalie and will be counted on heavily if the preds have any chance to repeat as division winner (first team in a while to do that in the Central and spoiler they wont make it a three peat this year way too many questions on D) Dallas AND Colorado are looking very strong and will jump in if the jets falters which means that Chicago and Minnesota will be looking at the playoffs from their TV sets
Now for the toughest call the Metropolitan division one of four teams can actually win the division Washington, Pittsburgh, Islanders and Carolina with the New Jersey Devils making three big splashes (one in the draft) landing Wayne Simmonds and teammate PK Subban from Nashville while acquiring Jack Huges as the #1 pick in last years draft. Should be a fun time for the Devils this season and they should make the playoffs but NOT the division title. Washington is Washington with Ovechkin and gang cannot be overlooked, Storm Surge Carolina will keep the fans entertained again this season Islanders who lit up Pittsburgh before getting swept of their own in the second round (Carolina) will be in the playoff mix and division title despite not making that much noise in the off season. The team with the most noise is Pittsburgh making a huge trade with Arizona send fan favorite Phil Kessel and getting back Alex Galynchuk who has a LOT to prove as does Evgeni Malkin who admitted last season was a horrible one for him. The Penguins also bolstered their penalty kill team landing shot blocker Brandon Tanev (6 million deal lets the pens fans scratching their heads time will tell) and sent down Casey DeSmith (goalie) who cleared waivers forcing Matt Murray to a must have bounce back year and Tristan Jarry as the back up. There are a LOT of questions surrounding the penguins team but no question they should make the playoffs Meaning the Rangers, Flyers and yes the #1 in the league team killing Columbus (sweeping Tampa no less) will NOT make the playoffs. Heart says Pittsburgh will win the division but again too many questions Carolina??? While they did get better they are not the elite team YET. Washington until proven otherwise should be the team to beat in the toughest division in the NHL PERIOD!