2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: New Contenders, Exciting Matchups, and Championship Predictions
The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs are fast approaching, with the first series set to kick off on Saturday, April 18. This year's playoffs are poised to see significant turnover, with the potential for half of the 16 spots to be occupied by teams that did not make the cut last year. The Florida Panthers' three-year reign was halted by injuries, paving the way for a new champion to emerge.
As the regular season winds down on Thursday, April 16, the Western Conference has already seen Central Division rivals Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, and Utah secure their spots, with the Avalanche clinching the Presidents' Trophy for home-ice advantage. In the Eastern Conference, Carolina, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Montreal, and Pittsburgh have punched their tickets to the playoffs, with the Sabres ending a 14-year postseason drought.
The playoff format sees the top three teams from each division qualify, with the remaining spots going to the next two highest-placed teams in each conference. The first round matchups will pit the top-seeded teams against the wild-card teams, setting the stage for an exciting postseason.
The Stanley Cup favorites heading into the playoffs are Colorado, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Dallas, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The road to the Stanley Cup will be broadcast nationally in the U.S. on ESPN and Turner networks, with TNT's coverage extending to truTV and Max's B/R Sports Add-On. Canadian viewers can catch the action on Sportsnet and CBC.
With star players like Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Tage Thompson, and Nikita Kucherov leading their teams into the playoffs, hockey fans can expect a thrilling postseason filled with intense matchups and standout performances. The Stanley Cup Final is set to begin in early June, with the potential for a Game 7 showdown as late as June 21.