Tragic number: N/A, Points: 58 Washington's forward depth, overall, is stronger than Boston's. A guy like Daniel Sprong could be sneaky-impactful for Washington this postseason. 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. Advantage: Tampa Bay. The winners of those series will square off in the Stanley Cup Final. 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. 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. | Playoff position: N/A 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 . Advantage: Tampa Bay, Forward depth: When the Lightning won the Stanley Cup last year, they were lauded for their trade deadline acquisitions of Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 68 1 -- and then the debates begin. After Kaprizov, the next highest goal scorer was Kevin Fiala, who had 20 on the season in 50 games. 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Orr. 1 Calgary Flames vs. Wild Card 1 Dallas Stars (Calgary wins 4-3) No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. After a winner is crowned from the four divisions, the "final four" will be rebracketed based on their regular-season records, with No. Central: CAR-NSH | FLA-TB Tragic number: E, Points: 37 Playoff chances: 99.1% In 822:55 minutes together this season, they have outscored teams 71-37 with a 61.1% expected goals for percentage. You can download the bracket here and play along. Or the goalie who posted a .936 save percentage and two shutouts in the bubble last postseason? Current playoff matchups How do you want to fill out your bracket? McDonagh and Palat are also nursing injuries, while Jan Rutta is on injured reserve. Every postseason for Toronto centers around the new and exciting ways it's going to blow it -- this is a team that hasn't won a playoff series since 2004. Jump to: Initial registration for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket Challenge is now open at NHL.com/Bracket. If you have erroneously created a bracket, you can simply. Defenseman Matheson and forwards Brandon Tanev and Evan Rodrigues were all injured the past few weeks as well but are trending for returns. Playoff position: W2 | The infusion of reinforcements to the Canadiens' lineup, especially Gallagher, will be a boost to Montreal. The Promotion commences on March 12, 2023 and ends on the earliest of. CAR (May 8) 4 spot in the West Division. 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. He took the Knights to the conference finals in 2020 after taking over for Gerard Gallant, but this is his first full season with Vegas. 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." Search. Series pick: Golden Knights in seven. | Playoff chances: 100% 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. $20 per entry. Tragic number: E, Points: 55 While the Penguins' speed could present challenges for New York -- as it did in the regular season -- the Islanders' defensive structure thrives at this time of year. Oh, and he led nearly this exact group to a Stanley Cup last year. But the Leafs are rolling, and are clearly the better of the two teams here. Checking-line players Ryan Reaves and Tomas Nosek are working back from injury, and the Knights have relied on their trio with William Carrier for multiple seasons. Today, we're featuring a look at the field. Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences. Make sure to tune-in and watch who will. Continue reading this article and more from top writers, for only $9.99/mo. Compete against friends, ESPN personalities and celebrities to see who finishes with the best bracket. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. Fill out your bracket and compete against friends, ESPN personalities and celebrities for your shot at. The first playoff meeting between these franchises since 1979 will undoubtedly be intense and physical, as the Canadiens try to brutalize and goad the Leafs with physical play. Advantage: Toronto. Playoff position: C1 Playoff chances: 100% Regulation wins: 17 NHL execs identify the top prospects There have already been a number of big trades. Florida might have made its own shrewd move this time around. Regulation wins: 16 Then MacKenzie Weegar stepped up, showing he can play as a true No. 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. Games left: 5 While the Blues are locked into the No. 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. | The ESPN Men's Tournament Challenge brackets will be available Sunday, March 14, at 7 p.m. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum. Regulation wins: 19 Games left: 2 However, it should enter the playoffs with a mostly intact roster. Next game: vs. ARI (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. Justin Faulk, who led the Blues in ice time (24:29) and goals scored above average (9.5). Montreal's lineup got a boost from star prospect winger Cole Caufield. They're a very good team and capable of the upset. The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoff field is set. The Badgers are one of the last teams in the bracket and are projected to play in First Four after losing to the Wolverines Advantage: Minnesota, Special teams: Both power plays aren't that potent. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? Next game: vs. STL (May 8) 1 role. 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. Advantage: Vegas. The Penguins have been dealing with injury issues all season but seem to be getting healthy at the right time. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? Tragic number: N/A, Points: 75 Next game: @ NSH (May 8) Race for No. Next game: @ WSH (May 8) Advantage: Even, Special teams: The Maple Leafs had the 16th-best power play in the NHL (20.3%) and the 24th-best penalty kill (77.7%) through 54 games. It's a group that's been effective in the past, but has struggled to produce offense this season. ESPN's Tournament Challenge is back for the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Tournament! Games left: 2 Tyler Bozak can move up and down the lineup. 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. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 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 . Can the Lions fix their defense? Meanwhile, Cassidy has been coaching this group since 2016, including 55 playoff games and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. Regulation wins: 30 Given the strides Erik Cernak and Mikhail Sergachev continue to make, the Lightning's group is stronger overall. 1? Barzal and Eberle are solid but can't keep up with the production of Pittsburgh's trio. ; Pick the correct champion for a chance to win a share of $50,000 in prizes!Fill out 25 brackets to compete for more cash! Regulation wins: 23 The official National Hockey League web site includes features, news, rosters, statistics, schedules, teams, live game radio broadcasts, and video clips. In this case it would be (77 - 67). ESPN's Tournament Challenge is back, giving you the chance to fill out up to 10 brackets and compete against friends, family, coworkers, professional athletes and celebrities for bracket glory. ET for the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge presented by . Their penalty kill (10th, 82.2%) isn't bad either. North: TOR-MTL | EDM-WPG 3 Los Angeles Kings (Edmonton . How aggressive will the surprising Kraken be? Wheeler, who reportedly played through a rib injury earlier this season, in particular, has struggled. Playoff position: N/A Advantage: Florida. Games left: 4 It's on the penalty kill that the Knights have the advantage: They were first in the NHL (86.8%) while Minnesota was 12th (80.8%). That could result in some dream matchups for the Cup -- Bruins-Maple Leafs anyone? Lunardi lays out how UNC can still earn an at-large bid. Tragic number: E, Points: 74 (Spoiler: He does, as he should.) Interest-Based Ads Advantage: Colorado, Goaltending: When Philipp Grubauer left Game 1 against the Dallas Stars last postseason, the Avs' Stanley Cup hopes left with him. Bobrovsky has played well enough lately to earn the start in this series, but Florida has options if he falters early. Playoff position: C3 The Lightning are expected to welcome both Nikita Kucherov (out all season) and Steven Stamkos (out the last month) back to the lineup. Next game: @ VGS (May 8) 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. For the first time, TNT broadcasters will take part in the Bracket. Elizabeth Kitley, 6-4, C, Virginia Tech Hokies Kitley turned what was a close race into a second straight ACC Player of the Year trophy. Here are the top 10 pivots in the league right now. Game 1: Monday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. Terms of Use Veteran defenseman Erik Johnson could return later this postseason. Advantage: Edmonton, Goaltending: Connor Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender last season, and has once again carried the defensive load for the Jets. Kyle Turris is also an option. He has also managed a packed roster well. Play Tournament Challenge Second Chance. Playoff chances: 0% The national champion for the 2021-22 college basketball season was crowned Monday with Kansas cutting down the nets at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. | Nor as talented. Toronto Maple Leafs. 1 too. Playoff position: E1 Next game: vs. DET (May 8) How will the matchups play out? Mock draft: First-round predictions Playoff position: C4 They live in a world where all four lines can feasibly score, but to coach Rod Brind'Amour's identity of hard-nosed hockey. The Canes have the third-best penalty kill in the league, while Nashville's power play ranks 24th -- another sizable mismatch. Already an ESPN+ subscriber? Here's what to watch for in Saturday's 14-game slate: There aren't many other teams that are locked in to particular spots right now, but one of them is the Carolina Hurricanes, who have clinched the Central Division crown. Advantage: Florida, Special teams: Not a huge difference between the power play for the Panthers (20.5%) and the Lightning (22.4%), though Kucherov's presence could be an X factor. Fill out your bracket and compete against friends, ESPN personalities and celebrities for your shot at. 4 New York Islanders The Panthers were one of the best stories of the 2021 season, and have all the right pieces in place to have sustained success. Modern North American region, with players from North America who were active for NHL franchises in the past dozen years. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? Ivan Barbashev and Kyle Clifford are among the options in the lineup. 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. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? Tragic number: N/A. The #1 bracket app is back and better than ever for the 2022 NCAA Men's and Women's College Basketball Tournaments! Notice that we didn't say "starter" Frederik Andersen, as Jack Campbell went 17-2-2 with a .923 save percentage to potentially take the crease for the postseason. Advantage: New York, Coaching: This matchup pits two of the best bench bosses in the game against each other. NEW YORK/TORONTO -- "Bracketology" marks its return to the NHL when early registration opens tonight at 7 p.m. Welcome to the bracket challenge. Advantage: Even, Goaltending: The passing of the torch is finally happening in Nashville. Playoff chances: 0% Next game: vs. OTT (May 9) Tragic number: N/A, Points: 58 Games left: 3 That could result in some dream matchups for the Cup -- Bruins-Maple Leafs anyone? Regulation wins: 16 Complete your bracket by selecting your winner for each game of the Men's NCAA Tournament. 1 selection. Games left: 8 Full details on the process can be found here. Tournament Challenge: Check your brackets! 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. But once the bracket is revealed, how -- and even why -- teams got in matters little, and the excitement of following your bracket begins. ET, while the Women's Tournament Challenge brackets will be open on Monday, March 15, at 8 p.m. The Bruins have the league's ninth-best power play. The Penguins have scored 3.25 goals per game against New York this season, much better than most teams. Advantage: Tampa Bay. When Backstrom and Ovechkin have been on the ice together this season, they have outscored teams by 14 goals. He has had linemates ranging from Dominik Kahun and Jesse Puljujarvi (an effective 61.8% expected goals percentage) to Leon Draisaitl to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to Kailer Yamamoto. Click here for the upcoming schedule and to learn how to subscribe. Advantage: Vegas, Health: Pacioretty, Martinez, Nosek and Reaves all missed time down the stretch for Vegas, but all should play in the first round. Instead, Koskinen has struggled while Smith posted a .924 save percentage in 31 games, placing 12th in goals saved above average (14.6). 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