David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
The NHL common season will come to an in depth Friday with a pair of video games, setting the stage for the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Monday.
Whereas all 16 playoff groups have been determined and many of the first-round matchups are set, the winner of the Western Convention’s Central Division has but to be confirmed.
The Colorado Avalanche enter Friday’s sport in opposition to the Nashville Predators one level behind the Dallas Stars for the division lead, which means they will clinch the division with a win or accept second place with a loss.
Regardless of the uncertainty relating to the Central Division, the NHL has introduced the dates for the primary two video games of each cemented and potential first-round playoff sequence, though instances and tv info have but to be launched.
Here’s a rundown of the first-round matchups to this point, in addition to the dates for Video games 1 and a pair of of every sequence, by way of ESPN.
Jap Convention
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Boston Bruins vs. No. 4 Florida Panthers
Sport 1: April 17
Sport 2: April 19
No. 2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Sport 1: April 18
Sport 2: April 20
Metropolitan Division
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 New York Islanders
Sport 1: April 17
Sport 2: April 19
No. 2 New Jersey Devils vs. No. 3 New York Rangers
Sport 1: April 18
Sport 2: April 20
Western Convention
Central Division
No. 1/No. 2 Dallas Stars vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild OR No. 4 Seattle Kraken
Sport 1: April 17
Sport 2: April 19
No. 1/No. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild OR No. 4 Seattle Kraken
Sport 1: April 18
Sport 2: April 20
Pacific Division
No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 Winnipeg Jets
Sport 1: April 18
Sport 2: April 20
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Kings
Sport 1: April 17
Sport 2: April 19
Getting into the postseason, all eyes shall be on the Boston Bruins, who’re coming off a traditionally dominant marketing campaign.
The Bruins went a outstanding 65-12-5 for 135 factors, giving them probably the most wins and most factors of any group in a single NHL season.
A tremendous eight completely different gamers recorded at the least 50 factors for the Bruins this season, together with winger David Pastrňáok, who led the group with 61 objectives and 113 factors, which means he would possible be the NHL’s MVP if not for the presence of Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid.
Boston additionally boasts the possible Vezina Trophy winner for the NHL’s prime goaltender in Linus Ullmark, who went 40-6-1 with a 1.89 goals-against common, .938 save proportion and two shutouts.
The Bruins are undoubtedly the group to beat, and they’re going to begin their potential run to a Stanley Cup on Monday once they host the Florida Panthers of their first-round playoff sequence.
Issues really feel a bit extra broad open within the Western Convention, because the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights and Oilers all really feel like sturdy Stanley Cup threats.
The Avs weren’t fairly pretty much as good as they had been final season once they led the Western Convention with 119 factors, however they’re nonetheless the defending Stanley Cup champions.
They boast a pair of 100-point scorers in Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, plus star defenseman Cale Makar had 66 factors in simply 60 video games.
There’s little doubt that many hockey followers would like to see a rematch of final 12 months’s Western Convention Finals between the Avs and Oilers given the firepower each groups possess.
Edmonton had a uncommon three 100-point scorers in possible Hart Trophy winner McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Scoring is the Oilers’ energy, however they really feel like a extra full group this season than in previous years due to the acquisition of defensive stalwart Mattias Ekholm and the stable play of goalie Stuart Skinner, who went 29-14-5 with a 2.75 GAA and .913 save proportion.
The 2022-23 Stanley Cup playoffs promise to offer loads of twists, turns and high-level hockey, and the enjoyable will get began Monday evening.
