2022 NHL Playoffs: Western and Eastern Conference Finals Preview
The NHL playoffs are heating up as the final four teams battle it out for a chance to lift the Stanley Cup. The Colorado Avalanche, the No. 1 overall seed, will face off against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals, while the Carolina Hurricanes will take on the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference finals. Both series promise to be exciting matchups.
The Golden Knights have been led by Mitch Marner, who is leading the playoffs in scoring, and Pavel Dorofeyev, who leads in goals. Coach John Tortorella has the team playing well, but they face a tough challenge in the Avalanche, especially with Mark Stone sidelined. The Conn Smythe candidates for the Golden Knights are Marner and Dorofeyev.
The Canadiens have been impressive, beating two 100-point teams to reach the conference finals. Players like Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Ivan Demidov have been key contributors, with Alex Newhook scoring seven goals, including two Game 7 winners. The Conn Smythe candidates for the Canadiens are Newhook and Jakub Dobes.
The Hurricanes are on an eight-game winning streak, with goalie Frederik Andersen playing well and the line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, and Jackson Blake providing offense. Coach Rod Brind'Amour is looking to lead the team to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. The Conn Smythe candidates for the Hurricanes are Andersen and Stankoven.
The Avalanche were dominant in the regular season and have continued their strong play in the playoffs, averaging over four goals per game. However, there are concerns about Cale Makar's shoulder injury. The team will rely on stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Scott Wedgewood to lead them to the Stanley Cup.