2022 Stanley Cup playoffs thread

[Cosmo]

The Kraken and Jets are playing out the string today in Winnipeg, but it's time to turn the page to the best playoffs in sports.

EAST
A1 Florida vs. WC2 Washington
A2 Toronto vs. A3 Tampa Bay
M1 Carolina vs. WC1 Boston
M2 N.Y. Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh

WEST
C1 Colorado vs. WC2 Nashville
C2 Minnesota vs. C3 St. Louis
P1 Calgary vs. WC1 Dallas
P2 Edmonton vs. P3 Los Angeles

Quick predictions:
Florida in 6
Tampa in 6
Carolina in 7
Rangers in 5
Colorado in 5
Minnesota in 7
Calgary in 6
Los Angeles in 7

 

[dixiehack]

Avs sweep. Book it. Saros out with a high ankle sprain.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I just looked back at my preseason predictions and I did fairly well. I picked by division, but I think I would have had all the playoff teams in the east, except I had the Islanders in there instead of Pittsburgh, and I had Pittsburgh just out of it. In the west, I had Winnipeg in instead of St. Louis, and Vegas in instead of LA. I had St. Louis close, didn't see LA coming.

For round one:
Florida in 6.
Tampa in 5
Carolina in 5
Rangers in 6
Colorado in 4
St. Louis in 7
Calgary in 5
Los Angeles in 7

 

[Moderator1]

Optimistic thinking the Caps can win two games. They've won one in each of the past two playoffs, they're not as good as they were then and they're playing a better team. If Ovechkin doesn't play, they won't win one.

But who knows? I don't know which one but I'd bet one of the 16 teams no one would pick right now will win the Cup.

 

[Cosmo]

Mods, I agree with you, but I picked a second win out of dumb fandom. Also, I think Florida is vulnerable to lose a game or two but not to lose the series.

 

[UPChip]

EAST
A1 Florida vs. WC2 Washington - Maybe if Ovechkin comes back they win game 3 in DC. Otherwise, they're toast. Panthers in 5.
A2 Toronto vs. A3 Tampa Bay - Toronto's gift of self-sabotage is legendary, but I'm getting some serious 'out of gas' vibes from this Lightning group, at least in the short term. Leafs in 5.
M1 Carolina vs. WC1 Boston - This series will be a slobberknocker because every playoff series Boston has played in has been a slobberknocker in the last 10 years. Canes break through in the end. Canes in 7.
M2 N.Y. Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh - This might be Sid's last best chance at a Cup. He's got three, so I'm not going to feel too bad for the *******, but I think the Rangers aren't quite ready. Pens in 6.

WEST
C1 Colorado vs. WC2 Nashville - Sutter was right, especially if Saros is hurt. Avs sweep.
C2 Minnesota vs. C3 St. Louis - I'm in Minnesota. The irrational exuberance is very high. They haven't played well against St. Louis this year. Probably comes down to goaltending, at least two overtime games and some fluky bounces. Wild in 7.
P1 Calgary vs. WC1 Dallas - Calgary has won exactly one seven-game playoff series since the 2005 lockout. I think they're suspicious but not against this Dallas team. Flames in 6.
P2 Edmonton vs. P3 Los Angeles - Edmonton probably has more #narrative than even the Leafs but less publicity. That said, this LA team screams just happy to be here. Oilers in 6.

Semifinals
Florida vs. Toronto: There's gonna be some 6-4 games in this series. I actually like the Leafs' defense and goaltending more. Leafs in 6.
Carolina vs. Pittsburgh: Could go either way. I think I'm going to ride with the Canes this year. Canes in 7.
Colorado vs. Minnesota: This will break their hearts but unless Colorado is still broke from ending the season on cruise control, this won't be close. Avs in 5.
Calgary vs. Edmonton: Canada is going to wet itself over this series, and no one in the states will care. Oilers in 6.

Conference finals:
Toronto vs. Carolina: This is the Leafs after all. I hope they have David Ayres drop the first puck. Canes in 5.
Colorado vs. Edmonton: This is the Oilers after all. Avs in 5.

Stanley Cup Final: It breaks this childhood Red Wings' fans heart, but this tournament is Colorado's to lose. Avs in 5, Mikko Rantanen is Conn Smythe.

 

[The Big Ragu]

EAST
A1 Florida vs. WC2 Washington - Maybe if Ovechkin comes back they win game 3 in DC. Otherwise, they're toast. Panthers in 5.
A2 Toronto vs. A3 Tampa Bay - Toronto's gift of self-sabotage is legendary, but I'm getting some serious 'out of gas' vibes from this Lightning group, at least in the short term. Leafs in 5.
M1 Carolina vs. WC1 Boston - This series will be a slobberknocker because every playoff series Boston has played in has been a slobberknocker in the last 10 years. Canes break through in the end. Canes in 7.
M2 N.Y. Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh - This might be Sid's last best chance at a Cup. He's got three, so I'm not going to feel too bad for the *******, but I think the Rangers aren't quite ready. Pens in 6.

WEST
C1 Colorado vs. WC2 Nashville - Sutter was right, especially if Saros is hurt. Avs sweep.
C2 Minnesota vs. C3 St. Louis - I'm in Minnesota. The irrational exuberance is very high. They haven't played well against St. Louis this year. Probably comes down to goaltending, at least two overtime games and some fluky bounces. Wild in 7.
P1 Calgary vs. WC1 Dallas - Calgary has won exactly one seven-game playoff series since the 2005 lockout. I think they're suspicious but not against this Dallas team. Flames in 6.
P2 Edmonton vs. P3 Los Angeles - Edmonton probably has more #narrative than even the Leafs but less publicity. That said, this LA team screams just happy to be here. Oilers in 6.

Semifinals
Florida vs. Toronto: There's gonna be some 6-4 games in this series. I actually like the Leafs' defense and goaltending more. Leafs in 6.
Carolina vs. Pittsburgh: Could go either way. I think I'm going to ride with the Canes this year. Canes in 7.
Colorado vs. Minnesota: This will break their hearts but unless Colorado is still broke from ending the season on cruise control, this won't be close. Avs in 5.
Calgary vs. Edmonton: Canada is going to wet itself over this series, and no one in the states will care. Oilers in 6.

Conference finals:
Toronto vs. Carolina: This is the Leafs after all. I hope they have David Ayres drop the first puck. Canes in 5.
Colorado vs. Edmonton: This is the Oilers after all. Avs in 5.

Stanley Cup Final: It breaks this childhood Red Wings' fans heart, but this tournament is Colorado's to lose. Avs in 5, Mikko Rantanen is Conn Smythe.

I didn't pick beyond the first round. But speaking as a fanboy, the Rangers are better than a lot of people who haven't watched them a lot realize, and it's not all Shesterkin, which became a narrative about them.

But the one team in the east I don't think they can (or will) beat is Carolina. Which is what makes it interesting to me seeing some people picking Boston in that first round series, or if they have Carolina, picking them in 6 or 7.

I think Carolina wins that series and the Rangers season ends in the Semis. For the East, I'd pick Tampa again. They will need to show me otherwise at this point, and as much as I think Igor is the best goalie in the world now, if I was playing one game that I had to win, I'd choose Vasilevskiy as my goalie until Igor has a chance to show something in big games. All of that said, I won't be surprised if Carolina is in the finals.

In the west, I think people can overthink this. I was blown away by Calgary this season and think they are built for the playoffs. So I think it will be Colorado and Calgary in the Western Conf final, and I think it can go either way. I'll pick Colorado as my Stanley Cup champion just because it feels like it's their year, but again, won't be surprised if it is Calgary getting to the finals. Just to go contrary to your pick, I'll go MacKinnon for the Conn Smythe.

 

[UPChip]

I didn't pick beyond the first round. But speaking as a fanboy, the Rangers are better than a lot of people who haven't watched them a lot realize, and it's not all Shesterkin, which became a narrative about them.

But the one team in the east I don't think they can (or will) beat is Carolina. Which is what makes it interesting to me seeing some people picking Boston in that first round series, or if they have Carolina, picking them in 6 or 7.

I think Carolina wins that series and the Rangers season ends in the Semis. For the East, I'd pick Tampa again. They will need to show me otherwise at this point, and as much as I think Igor is the best goalie in the world now, if I was playing one game that I had to win, I'd choose Vasilevskiy as my goalie until Igor has a chance to show something in big games. All of that said, I won't be surprised if Carolina is in the finals.

In the west, I think people can overthink this. I was blown away by Calgary this season and think they are built for the playoffs. So I think it will be Colorado and Calgary in the Western Conf final, and I think it can go either way. I'll pick Colorado as my Stanley Cup champion just because it feels like it's their year, but again, won't be surprised if it is Calgary getting to the finals. Just to go contrary to your pick, I'll go MacKinnon for the Conn Smythe.

I think a lot of people are down on the Canes in that matchup because the Bruins bounced them in 2019 and 2020. Some of those pieces (Marchand, Bergeron) are still there but some of them (Rask) aren't. Boston finished fourth in the division for a reason. I think they'll make it tough but Carolina will outlast them.

Most of my picking against the Rangers is based on a belief that Pittsburgh is overdue, but maybe the Rangers are ready. That's probably going to be one of those series that turns on one or two overtime games. Also, I didn't pick any other first round upsets and that seemed the most palatable.

My main dispute against Calgary is Edmonton. If they get momentum or confidence, look out. And playing an LA team that, on pure talent, is probably the weakest team in the bracket feels like a great runway for the Oilers to get up to speed and finally meet some of their potential. Also, this Calgary group has stumbled in this situation before.

 

[Cosmo]

The Pittsburgh net situation is a problem unless Jarry is on track to return, and I was under the impression that he’d miss significant time.

 

[OscarMadison]

Blue tells Don Cherry to sit down.
Hossa comes out of retirement to soul-kiss Bettman.
Nashville gets the hardware.
Y'all can go home now.

 

[jlee]

I’m 2.5 minutes into the playoffs and I’m already yelling at that flipping frozen puck transition graphic by ESPN.

 

[Moderator1]

I think a lot of people are down on the Canes in that matchup because the Bruins bounced them in 2019 and 2020. Some of those pieces (Marchand, Bergeron) are still there but some of them (Rask) aren't. Boston finished fourth in the division for a reason. I think they'll make it tough but Carolina will outlast them.

Most of my picking against the Rangers is based on a belief that Pittsburgh is overdue, but maybe the Rangers are ready. That's probably going to be one of those series that turns on one or two overtime games. Also, I didn't pick any other first round upsets and that seemed the most palatable.

My main dispute against Calgary is Edmonton. If they get momentum or confidence, look out. And playing an LA team that, on pure talent, is probably the weakest team in the bracket feels like a great runway for the Oilers to get up to speed and finally meet some of their potential. Also, this Calgary group has stumbled in this situation before.

Overdue for what? The Penguins have won two Cups fairly recently. Not saying that in a rag you kind of way. I'm genuinely curious.
That's a series where I'm pulling for both teams to lose.

As anyone who has paid attention knows, my strong rooting interest is always the Caps. I also always pick a for-the-playoffs-only team so I have a semi-rooting interest after the inevitable except for glorious 2018 Caps flameout. Not sure which team I will choose this year, I know which teams I won't. Ever.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

I think a lot of people are down on the Canes in that matchup because the Bruins bounced them in 2019 and 2020. Some of those pieces (Marchand, Bergeron) are still there but some of them (Rask) aren't. Boston finished fourth in the division for a reason. I think they'll make it tough but Carolina will outlast them.

... and I'm thinking, if nothing else, that because Tuukka Rask isn't between the pipes that Carolina has an advantage. Problem is, the Hurricanes don't have Andersen for Game 1 and probably Game 2, at least. And one of the reasons for the goalie overhaul last offseason was that Ned and Mrazek weren't considered the sorts to ride through the playoffs.

Boston is certainly a psychological barrier if nothing else until Carolina crashes through it. Thinking Tampa, Florida and Carolina are the three best teams ... and, regardless of regular-season record, the Lightning are still the standard in the East. If the last two postseasons didn't do it, then watch Vasilevskiy shut down your team for a series and watch a coach during postgame maintain his calm because he knew what the "X" factor was ... and, IMO, still is.

Yes, the Rangers have Shesterkin. But Tampa's skaters have shown to be better ... to date, anyway. Therefore ...

In the West, to date, everyone is lining up behind Colorado and Calgary. Will be watching Calgary as Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin were shipped out of Raleigh ... would have been nice to hang on to Adam Fox and Dougie Hamilton, but them's the breaks ... or something like that.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Toronto and Carolina have all the juice tonight
Tampa is really good, but great teams with a track record of success reach a point when they reach down and there’s nothing left
Too early to say if that’s Tampa but the Bolts are susceptible

 

[JC]

... and I'm thinking, if nothing else, that because Tuukka Rask isn't between the pipes that Carolina has an advantage. Problem is, the Hurricanes don't have Andersen for Game 1 and probably Game 2, at least. And one of the reasons for the goalie overhaul last offseason was that Ned and Mrazek weren't considered the sorts to ride through the playoffs.

Boston is certainly a psychological barrier if nothing else until Carolina crashes through it. Thinking Tampa, Florida and Carolina are the three best teams ... and, regardless of regular-season record, the Lightning are still the standard in the East. If the last two postseasons didn't do it, then watch Vasilevskiy shut down your team for a series and watch a coach during postgame maintain his calm because he knew what the "X" factor was ... and, IMO, still is.

Yes, the Rangers have Shesterkin. But Tampa's skaters have shown to be better ... to date, anyway. Therefore ...

In the West, to date, everyone is lining up behind Colorado and Calgary. Will be watching Calgary as Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin were shipped out of Raleigh ... would have been nice to hang on to Adam Fox and Dougie Hamilton, but them's the breaks ... or something like that.

Fox was never signing in Calgary and Lindholm has been great in Calgary.

 

[UPChip]

Overdue for what? The Penguins have won two Cups fairly recently. Not saying that in a rag you kind of way. I'm genuinely curious.
That's a series where I'm pulling for both teams to lose.

As anyone who has paid attention knows, my strong rooting interest is always the Caps. I also always pick a for-the-playoffs-only team so I have a semi-rooting interest after the inevitable except for glorious 2018 Caps flameout. Not sure which team I will choose this year, I know which teams I won't. Ever.

The fact that a team with Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin on it hasn't won a playoff series in four years seems aberrant, even if age and stuff makes that more likely than, say, five years ago.

 

[Shelbyville Manhattan]

Tampa Bay has looked tired for long stretches this year. Back-to-back seasons stretching to late September and July 7 tend to do that.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

And now the gloves are off and blood is on the ice in Toronto

 

[JC]

It’s one game.

 

[MTM]

Interesting stat: LA and Edmonton met in the playoffs seven times in 11 seasons between 1982 and 1992 but this series is their first since.

I wonder if 30 years is the longest time between playoff series for teams in the same conference.

The Oilers won five of the seven series, but the two the Kings have won were historic — 1982 when Edmonton was a huge favorite and 1989, Gretzky’s first season in LA, when Edmonton blew a 3-1 lead.