Hey, hockey fans! It’s that time of year again - playoffs are just around the corner, and everyone is getting hyped up for another season of hard-hitting action on the ice. And of course, everyone’s trying to predict who’s going to come out on top.
Predictions are in!
The experts have spoken, and the predictions are in. It’s going to be a tight race this year, with a lot of talented teams vying for the top spot. But there are a few teams that seem to be rising above the rest.
The Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are the defending champions, and they’ve been showing no signs of slowing down. With superstars like Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos leading the charge, they’re definitely a team to watch this year.
The Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche have been playing some seriously impressive hockey lately, and they’ve got a roster full of talent to back it up. Nathan MacKinnon is one of the most exciting players in the league, and he’s just one part of a deadly Colorado lineup.
The Toronto Maple Leafs
It’s been a while since the Leafs have made a deep playoff run, but this just might be their year. Auston Matthews is a scoring machine, and their defense has been surprisingly solid this season. If they can keep up their momentum, they could be a serious contender.
The Vegas Golden Knights
The Knights have only been in the league for a few years, but they’ve already established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Their speedy, high-scoring offense is led by the likes of Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, while Marc-Andre Fleury is still one of the best goalies in the game.
The Boston Bruins
The Bruins might not be the flashiest team in the league, but they’ve got a balanced, hard-nosed approach that’s served them well in the playoffs. With Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron leading the way, they could definitely make some noise this year.
The Florida Panthers
The Panthers have been a bit of a surprise this season, but they’ve got a lot of talent on their roster. Aleksander Barkov is one of the most underappreciated players in the league, and Jonathan Huberdeau is a dangerous scorer. If they can keep up their momentum, they could be a dark horse in the playoffs.
Of course, anything can happen come playoff time, and there are plenty of other teams that could surprise us all. But based on the current standings and the predictions from the experts, these are the teams to watch. Who do you think will come out on top in the 2022 NHL playoffs?