Are PSG better off without Neymar in big games? Jump ahead: 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. Next game: @ PIT (May 8) The Wild's defense corps is one of the deepest in the NHL. Games left: 1 Playoff chances: 0% The Women's Bracket Challenge final game is scheduled for April 2, 2023, while the Men's is scheduled for April 3, 2023. 01:02. Complete your bracket by selecting the winner in each of the games in the NCAA tournament. Playoff chances: 0% 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. David Rittich, acquired from Calgary at the trade deadline, is insurance. 3. Next game: @ WSH (May 8) Search. Advantage: Washington, Make picks throughout the postseason for a chance at $14,000 in prizes. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. The idle Calgary Flames will be hoping for a regulation win for the Maple Leafs, while the Vancouver Canucks must win their game against the Edmonton Oilers tonight to keep their hopes alive. The Oilers were widely ridiculed for bringing back 38-year-old Mike Smith, with many claiming that backup Mikko Koskinen deserved more playing time. -- but before we get there, it's time for eight divisional series to kick things off, starting on Saturday. Games left: 1 Hedman's health is of concern, especially after a precipitous drop off in performance to end the season. He should be rested heading into this postseason. Washington's penalty kill is also very good, ranking fifth in the league. The winners of those series will square off in the Stanley Cup Final. You don't need to know fancy stats to understand that is quite good. Picking the Wild here isn't misguided. Games left: 3 Playoff position: C2 It's now a yearly tradition: discounting the Islanders until they go on a playoff run that forces you to pay attention. The Lightning's penalty kill is marginally better than the Panthers' (84.2% versus 79.8%). Already an ESPN+ subscriber? It's going to be a treat watching it operate against Washington's usually potent power play -- where Oshie and Ovechkin have combined for 22 power-play goals -- which is third in the league at 24.8%. That line had a nice 69.0% expected goals percentage with outstanding underlying defensive numbers. Privacy Policy Playoff position: E4 Let's take an in-depth look at each first-round matchup and make our picks for which teams will advance. Advantage: Winnipeg. That's right you don't have to build a perfect bracket.. 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. 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. Zach Bogosian last played on April 22, and the prognosis was he would return in four weeks with a shoulder injury; we're coming up on that benchmark. Next game: vs. OTT (May 8) Goodrow is out indefinitely with an upper body injury. You can download the bracket here and play along. Series pick: Hurricanes in five. 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? Playoff chances: 99.1% : LOADING BRACKET. The third pairing of Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud might be one of the most underrated in the NHL. 2 facing No. Paul Stastny, who recently passed 1,000 career games, has 29 points in 55 games playing in a variety of roles. CAR (May 8) Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? Tragic number: N/A, Points: 58 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: 19 In 2021, ESPN Men's Tournament Challenge collected 16.2 million brackets, surpassing 16 million for the fourth consecutive year. Forward depth: The Avs' second line features Nazem Kadri flanked by Andre Burakovsky and either Joonas Donskoi or Brandon Saad, the latter of whom is working back from a lower-body injury. | Next game: vs. TB (May 8) ESPN's Tournament Challenge is back for the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Tournament! The #1 bracket app is back and better than ever for the 2022 NCAA Men's and Women's College Basketball Tournaments! Advantage: Colorado, Health: MacKinnon's health is the biggest issue facing the Avalanche. Tragic number: E, Points: 46 Children's Online Privacy Policy 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. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? 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. Against most teams, the Caps would have an edge on the top line, but the Bruins have arguably the best trio in the entire league in Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron. There is no penalty for not filling-out all of your created brackets/entries with team selections or using them to enter into a group. A five-game series win over the kind of team that would normally upset the Maple Leafs would be a declarative statement that this time, things are different. Advantage: Carolina, Forward depth: The Hurricanes have enviable depth. 3 Florida Panthers, No. Elsewhere in the Central, it's the latest skirmish in the Battle of Florida, as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers continue to joust for seeding; they're currently tied with 75 standings points, but the Lightning hold the regulation wins tiebreaker. Compete against friends, ESPN personalities and celebrities to see who finishes with the best bracket. Get the latest NHL hockey news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ESPN. He could get some love in the MVP voting this season, after scoring 26 goals and 58 points in 50 games. Next game: @ WPG (May 8) 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. The Predators have finally inserted young players into the lineup. Did we mention it's completely free to play, and that you can win $100,000 in each game? Playoff chances: 100% Play Tournament Challenge The past few years have spoiled us with an exuberance of blue-chip talent . Goaltending: The Panthers might have committed $70 million to Sergei Bobrovsky, but the Lightning have the best goalie in the game, full stop. No. Select the teams you think will win each tournament game from the first round all the way through the championship game. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum. Playoff position: N/A With the NHL playing in a four-division format this year for the regular season, the playoffs for the first two rounds, anyway will be intra-division. Catch NHL games streaming live every night (and on replay) this season on ESPN+. Games left: 1 The opposite happened with the trade for Eric Staal, who had three points in his first 21 games in Montreal. He has been solid the last two months of the season. Playoff position: C3 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. Advantage: Boston, Forward depth: The best pickup for any team at the trade deadline was Boston landing Taylor Hall for a second-round pick. The Wild's Cam Talbot ended up becoming one of the offseason's smarter signings, finishing 16th in goals saved above average (12.5). Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences. Next game: @ BOS (May 8) 1 pick. 3 Los Angeles Kings (Edmonton . Regulation wins: 16 Actual objects region, with players whose names are, or sound like, actual things. In 35 games this season, the trio had a 64.9% expected goals percentage. Right behind Saros on that 5-on-5 save percentage list is Carolina rookie Alex Nedeljkovic, who has emerged as a pleasant surprise and supplanted James Reimer as the Canes' No. 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? For the third straight season, Hellebuyck led the NHL in shots faced and saves made. Next game: vs. They live in a world where all four lines can feasibly score, but to coach Rod Brind'Amour's identity of hard-nosed hockey. Another night, another playoff spot clinched as we officially welcome the St. Louis Blues to the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. When he's not skating with McDavid, Draisaitl is holding down his own line, usually with Nugent-Hopkins and Yamamoto. West: COL-STL | VGS-MIN, First line: It's been a running theme throughout Sidney Crosby's career of just how many linemates he's had, but Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust are a well-oiled machine at this point. Race for the No. Washington's forward depth, overall, is stronger than Boston's. 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. Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: E3 Playoff position: N/A Next game: @ LA (May 8) The Canes also have elite defenders. Note: Emily Kaplan previewed the East and Central, while Greg Wyshynski did the honors for the North and West. Tragic number: E, No. There's not much dropoff on New York's middle lines, as they all play with a similar identity. Lee won't be back for the postseason, but New York added Palmieri and Zajac at the deadline to help replace him. 1 role. Adam Larsson has been a mainstay on the second pairing, playing with Kris Russell, Caleb Jones and Dmitry Kulikov at different times this season. The line of Martin Necas, Nino Niederreiter and Vincent Trocheck (57.89% expected goals for percentage) could feasibly operate as Nashville's top line. Complete your bracket by selecting your winner for each game of the Men's NCAA Tournament. (Especially Sanford, whose offensive numbers dipped from last season.) In this case it would be (77 - 67). Tragic number: E, Points: 80 | 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. He went to the Stanley Cup Final with the Devils in his first full season in New Jersey. Can the red-hot Hurricanes topple the Bruins at No. On Tuesday, we'll have staff picks and winners. But credit's hard to find when everyone thinks you just put some McDavid and Draisaitl on anything that ails the team. Nurse in particular has had a great two-way season, and was in the Norris Trophy conversation. In over 441 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, they had an expected goals percentage of 57.9%. 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. Not only because it's the rare championship trophy from which you can drink, but also because the names of those who won it are etched along its rings, forged into hockey history. How aggressive will the surprising Kraken be? The Jets were really spiraling down the stretch, while the Oilers and a next-level McDavid were steam-rollering through teams. scores. That means the four divisions the. Go to ESPN.com/NHL or the ESPN App for up-to-the-minute NHL news, information and analysis, including premium editorial content by ESPN senior NHL writer Greg Wyshynski, exclusively for ESPN+ subscribers. 1 The Lightning are expected to welcome both Nikita Kucherov (out all season) and Steven Stamkos (out the last month) back to the lineup. They'll face off against the Nashville Predators, who can clinch a playoff spot with a win. 1 Calgary Flames vs. Wild Card 1 Dallas Stars (Calgary wins 4-3) No. Advantage: Even, Health: Boston had to shuffle its lineup quite a bit this season due to injuries and COVID-19 absences. Next game: vs. OTT (May 9) Menu ESPN. The defensive defenseman's pairing with Morgan Rielly has a 56.1% expected goals percentage this season. Advantage: Vegas, Coaching: This is Pete DeBoer's seventh playoff team. Playoff position: N3 The first two rounds of the 2021 playoffs will be intradivisional. Logan Stanley, Tucker Poolman, Derek Forbort, Sami Niku and trade deadline addition Jordie Benn are options. Sportsnet reported Hedman (lower body injury) is putting off surgery until the offseason. The Predators shouldn't be discounted, but we need to look at this matchup for what it is: a fringe playoff team versus a deep and talented squad that has looked strong all season and captured the division crown from the defending Stanley Cup champions. 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. Dominique Ducharme replaced Claude Julien after 18 games, and managed to sneak the Canadiens into the playoffs despite several injuries down the stretch. 4 spot, the Golden Knights, Avalanche and Minnesota Wild are all still in the mix for the top seed. NHL Playoffs Central: Schedules, scores, highlights, analysis Next game: vs. ANA (May 8) So, to paraphrase "The Simpsons," whenever McDavid and Draisaitl aren't on the ice, all the other players should be asking "Where are McDavid and Draisaitl?" Games left: 2 Compher have paired together well, and both Tyson Jost and rookie Alex Newhook have seen time with them. Series pick: Caps in seven. They're a very good team and capable of the upset. 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. 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. Thank you for your interest in Qatar Bracket Challenge View Bracket Celebrity Brackets Paul Carr Argenti-YES rank 2K pct 99.7%. After missing eight games, forward Jordan Martinook got a regular-season game in and should be good for the playoffs. Regulation wins: 23 1 -- and then the debates begin. He has been paired with Dylan DeMelo, who has had a much more effective season. Regulation wins: 22 Tragic number: E, Points: 42 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. ; 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! Paired with Joel Edmundson, he could be a Norris Trophy contender. 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. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. Playoff position: N/A Catch up on all the deals made -- and potential ones to come. The best defenseman on the St. Louis Blues, post-Alex Pietrangelo? See how your bracket fared -- we tracked all of your hits (and misses) right here. In more than 783 minutes together, they have outscored teams by 29 goals and have a 73.23% expected goals for percentage. It's a group that's been effective in the past, but has struggled to produce offense this season. And the Jayhawks did it unlikely. After starting every game in the 2020 bubble, Juuse Saros had 14 more starts than Pekka Rinne this season. Meet the next wave of top picks With Teravainen -- who had three goals in his first five games back -- they're even stronger. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. While the Blues are locked into the No. Next game: @ SJ (May 8) 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. 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. 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 . 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 . Playoff chances: 0% He has an undisclosed injury and has played just once since May 5. One reason to root for every team and driver in 2023. Games left: 3 The Panthers are hoping to have Ekblad back at some point this postseason, but it's iffy for this series. Tragic number: E, Points: 45 The Stanley Cup is something that sets the National Hockey League apart from other sports. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 75 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%). They've skated with Victor Rask primarily this season, but lately have seen time with the more rugged Ryan Hartman. Continue reading this article and more from top writers, for only $9.99/mo. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. Next game: vs. COL (May 8) Playoff position: N/A 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. Regulation wins: 14 Regulation wins: 17 Games left: 4 Playoff chances: 100% The NHL's 2023 trade deadline is March 3. That could result in some dream matchups for the Cup -- Bruins-Maple Leafs anyone? Joe Lunardi provides his latest Bracket Math update, looking at where every team in the NCAA tournament mix stands right now. Playoff position: N/A Playoff chances: 0% Next game: vs. BUF (May 8) Why Owen Power is the clear No. Fantasy Hockey Playoff Bracket - ESPN Fantasy Hockey Home Sign Up Fantasy Store Fantasy Hockey Support Username and Password Help Change Email Address Issues Joining a League Login and Account. 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. Users can have up to 25 brackets per person (no limit) by default but the limit for each group can be set to. Playoff chances: 99.6% Francesco Pinelli's Slovenian tour At risk of incurring another analytics rant from coach Paul Maurice, Wheeler has been sub-replacement (negative-2.6 goals scored above average) level this season. But once the bracket is revealed, how -- and even why -- teams got in matters little, and the excitement of following your bracket begins. ET (ESPN2) Game 2: Wednesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. Initial registration for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket Challenge is now open at NHL.com/Bracket. ET (ESPN2) Game 3: Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. Welcome to Qatar Bracket Challenge The tourney has ended. 1 at this point. Health: There's a laundry list of injury issues for the Lightning. 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. Advantage: Colorado, Goaltending: When Philipp Grubauer left Game 1 against the Dallas Stars last postseason, the Avs' Stanley Cup hopes left with him. For the Blues, Tarasenko, Dunn and forward Sammy Blais are all skating as they return from their respective injuries. The middling "Price In Name Only" that they've seen in the regular season? Tragic number: 1, Points: 47 Games left: 1 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 chances: 100% To mark the ninth straight year of the Bracket Challenge, the NHL is introducing two new exciting elements to the program. 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. ESPN's Tournament Challenge is back for the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Tournament! Patrik Nemeth and Conor Timmins round out the group. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum. 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. The Golden Knights were 22nd in the NHL (17.8%), while the Wild were right behind them at 24th (17.6%). Playoff position: W3 Regulation wins: 27 Complete your bracket by selecting your winner for each game of the NCAA Tournament, starting with the Sweet 16. Playoff position: N/A Playoff position: N/A More than 11 million people participated in ESPN's NCAA tournament bracket challenge, and the winner is a sixth-grader. Regulation wins: 19 NHL playoff bracket 2022 Here's a look at the complete NHL playoff bracket for 2022: Eastern Conference A1. Games left: 4 Next game: @ CBJ (May 8) Tragic number: N/A, Points: 68 Playoff chances: 0% Neal Pionk (32 points in 53 games) was the Jets' leading scorer among blueliners. 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. Their penalty kill (10th, 82.2%) isn't bad either. East: PIT-NYI | WSH-BOS Rookie defenseman Bowen Byram is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. 4 spot in the West Division. His team, however, isn't nearly as unstoppable. Instead, Koskinen has struggled while Smith posted a .924 save percentage in 31 games, placing 12th in goals saved above average (14.6). Playoff position: W2 The offseason free-agent addition played 41 games due to injury and a stint in the COVID protocols, and ended up with his lowest points-per-game rate (0.56) since 2015-16. Joe Lunardi provides his latest Bracket Math update, looking at where every team in the NCAA tournament mix stands right now. Advantage: Even, Special teams: The Oilers have the league's best power play (27.4% in 54 games) thanks to McDavid and Draisaitl. 1 pick, Points: 75 Playoff chances: 100% Advantage: Carolina. . Use the NFL Playoff Machine from ESPN to predict the NFL Playoff matchups by generating the various matchup scenarios based on your selections. Interest-Based Ads Games left: 2 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: Even, Goaltending: Tuukka Rask has played 93 career playoff games, and that type of experience typically matters this time of year. 3. The Capitals' defense might not be the X factor in many games, but it also won't lose them many games either. Gretzky. Once the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff First Round matchups have been set, hockey fans around the world can begin creating and submitting brackets outlining their predictions for each playoff series online or via the NHL app. Regulation wins: 15 -- but before we get there, it's time for eight divisional series to kick things off, starting on Saturday. How will the matchups play out? Advantage: Boston, Coaching: Peter Laviolette and Bruce Cassidy are two of the best in the game. 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 . Playoff chances: 0% With the Caps, Ovechkin was resting toward the end of the season thanks to a minor injury, which also might have been precautionary. The NHL is running its Bracket Challenge again, so we created a Chowder Challenge for all of you fine people to join. They're praying the same thing doesn't happen this postseason, as Jonas Johansson and Devan Dubnyk are the alternatives. The wild card is Ville Heinola, a 20-year-old blue chip defenseman, but he's inexperienced. The Blues have the sixth-best power-play (23.2%) -- Perron had 21 power-play points -- but their penalty kill was just 25th in the league (77.8%). NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? Orr. Who voted for Messi, Mbappe, Putellas in The Best FIFA Awards? See Official Rules for full details. Points: 59 Advantage: Toronto, Health: The Leafs should get Hyman, Foligno and Nash back for the start of the playoffs. Playoff chances: 0% Advantage: Edmonton. 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. Tyler Bozak can move up and down the lineup. 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. Tragic number: N/A, Points: 58 Advantage: Toronto. Bracket Analyzer How far can your bracket go?. The interim coach doesn't have much of a sample, but he might have done enough to earn the job, provided GM Marc Bergevin returns. He's motivated and scary. Tragic number: E, Points: 48 The Jets averaged 3.15 goals per game with him, and 2.25 goals per game since he left the lineup. Tragic number: E, Points: 43 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. In more than 775 minutes together at 5-on-5, the duo have a 59.96% expected goals for percentage, per Natural Stat Trick. He went to the Stanley Cup Final with the Sharks in his first full season in San Jose. The Knights aren't nearly as strong defensively as they were under DeBoer last season, while the Wild are one of the NHL's best defensive teams in terms of limiting high-danger chances. Make Your Picks, Defense: In a season when the Bruins' defense was supposed to regress -- thanks to significant turnover -- it didn't really. 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. Series pick: Avalanche in five. Better offensively have been 22-year-old Jordan Kyrou and Mike Hoffman, the latter of whom the Blues held onto at the trade deadline. Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences. 1 taking on No. Women's Champ Week predictions: Which teams will win the auto bids in all 32 conferences? May 3, 2021. Regulation wins: 19 Grading all the big NHL deals, including Wednesday's trade that saw the Kings and Blue Jackets swap goaltenders, among other assets. Playoff position: N/A 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" Join the Chowder NHL Bracket Challenge! 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. Tragic number: E, Points: 74 Fill out 25 brackets to compete for more cash! You can also test out your skills by picking all the NCAA tournament games and more via the ESPN Streak game, where you can compete for $5,000 in guaranteed prizes each month. First line: Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen: a trio that has proved, over multiple seasons, that it's perhaps the best line in the NHL. Then MacKenzie Weegar stepped up, showing he can play as a true No. Florida is in better shape. Shea Theodore, who has also played with Pietrangelo, has been paired with Brayden McNabb. ET for the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge presented by . 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