NHL regularly! The long-awaited playoffs starts, where already in the first round of the eastern conference we are waiting for fiery matches. And Alexander Ovechkin and Washington will try to take revenge from the team of the main talent of Russia.

Eastern Conference

“Washington” – “Montreal”

The best scorers: Dylan Strog (“Washington”) – 82 (29+53) points, Nick Suzuki (“Montreal”) – 89 (30+59) of productive points.

The best snipers: Alexander Ovechkin (“Washington”) – 44 washers, Cole Cofield (“Montreal”) – 37 goals.

Goalkeepers: Logan Thompson (Washington)-43 matches (31 victories-6 lesions-6 lesions in from), .910% of the reflected throws, Samuel Montembo (Montreal)-62 games (31-24-7), .902%.

Forecast: “Washington” 4-1 “Montreal”

On the Washington paper, a clear favorite and should easily move “Montreal” in the first round. And the point is not only in the standings, although the Spencer Carberi team sophisticatedly held a “regular woman”. Capitals prematurely won the metropolitan division, and then the Eastern Conference. Canadiens became the last club to receive a ticket to the playoffs.

Almost all Washington leaders are in fiery uniform, if not the best in the career. Several hockey players immediately updated personal records for points: Tom Wilson (65), Strum (82), Alexey Protas (66), Pierre-Luke Dubois (66), Connor McMaikl (57), Jacob Chicran (47), Rasmus Sandin (30), Nick Daud (27). Absolutely incredible progress is demonstrated by different players at Karberi.

Interestingly, at once the six defenders scored more than 20 productive points in the season! And, of course, the greatest sniper Alexander Ovechkin, who recently overtook Wayne Gretzka, is in the fire.

Alexander Ovechkin (in the foreground) / Photo: © Patrick Smith / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

In addition, Washington will be charged on revenge for a sensational departure from Montreal in the 2010 playoffs. Then Capitals won the Presidential Cup in the “regular game” and were almost the main favorites in the struggle for the main trophy of the League. But Canadiens went on. Capitals faced the terrible implementation of the moments: only Alexander Semin threw 44 times on the target for seven matches, but did not mark goals!

Montreal will have a chance if the goalkeepers of Washington float. For example, Thompson, after signing the contract, cannot boast of convincing statistics (9-4-3), and its percentage of reflected throws leaves much to be desired-88.4%. And recently, Canadiens had a trump card – Ivan Demidov, who already scored two points in the first match.

“Carolina”-“New Jersey”

The best scorers: Sebastian Aho (“Carolina”) – 74 (29+45) points, Yesper Bratt

(“New Jersey”)-88 (21+67) of productive points.

The best snipers: Seth Jarvis (“Carolina”)-32 goals, Niko Khishir (“New Jersey”)-35 goals.

Goalkeepers: Peter Kochetkov (“Carolina”)-47 matches (27-16-3), .898% of the reflected throws, Yakub Markest (“New Jersey”)-49 games (26-16-6), .900%.

Forecast: “Carolina” 4-1 “New Jersey”

Sheldon Kif was fired from Toronto due to the fact that he could not achieve high results with the Canadian club in the playoffs. But with the New Jersey, most likely, he is waiting for a departure already in the first round. “Devils” would have been outsiders, so the key players who dropped out of the composition – Jack Hughes and Jonas Zigigentler. At the same time, Hughes will definitely not play, but by the state of Siegentaler nothing is known yet.

Nico Khishir and William Carrier / Photo: © Bruce Bennett / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

But even with Hughes, the Kifa team looks weaker. “Carolina” is traditionally one of the best teams in the league in the game in the “5 to 5” format. And at first glance, New Jersey has nothing to propose aggressive pressing “Hurricanes”. And the depth of the composition of the Brindamora genus is better.

“Devils” remains to be hoped that in equal compositions it will be possible to restrain the onslaught of the opponent, as well as try to win the series due to the implementation of the majority. But for this, it is necessary that Markestem won the goalkeeper duel, and Jesper Bratt overshadow Sebastian Aho. However, Carolina has everything to easily go to the next round.

Toronto – “Ottawa”

The best scorers: Mitchell Marner (Toronto) – 102 (27+75) points, Tim Stuetsle (Ottawa) – 79 (24+55) of productive points.

The best snipers: William Nylander (Toronto) – 45 goals, Braden Tkachuk (Ottawa) – 29 goals.

Goalkeepers: Joseph Wall (Toronto)-42 matches (27-14-1), .909% of the reflected throws, Linus Ulmark (Ottawa)-44 games (25-14-3), .910%.

Forecast: “Toronto” 4-3 “Ottawa”

The battle of Ontario for the first time since 2004! Ottawa for the first time since the 2016/17 season entered the playoffs. Hungry to the victories in the Stanley Cup “Senators” will try to arrange a zarub from Toronto. Moreover, in the “regular season” the “senators” won all three matches at the “Lifs”.

However, under Craig Birubi, Toronto began to play more rigidly and aggressively. At the same time, the team has many masters who can at any time change the course of the meeting. At a global rate on the power pressure, William Nylander, Mitchell Marner and Oston Matthews can always surprise the opponent with a non -standard game. Yes, and Birubi’s depth is better: at once the six forwards scored 20+ goals in the regular season. According to goals, when playing “5 to 5”, the team takes 14th place in the league, Senators-the 30th.

Stephen Lorenz and Nicholas Matinpalo / Photo: © Michael Chisholm / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

“Lifs” look brighter not only in the attack, but also in defense. Yes, and the goalkeeper line Joseph Wall – Anthony Stolarz looks more stable. Ottawa will have to wait for the talented Linus Ulmark will show the best game in the playoffs. The hopes “Senators” are also associated with Braden Tkachuk, who is able not only to score, but also to bring rivals from themselves.

On paper, Toronto, which has a more starry and skillful composition, is suitable for the series in the status of a favorite. However, Ottawa is a daring and unyielding team capable of stretching the confrontation for seven matches.

“Tampa” – “Florida”

The best scorers: Nikita Kucherov (“Tampa”) – 121 (37+84) point, Sam Rainhart (Florida) – 81 (39+42) productive score.

The best snipers: Braden Point (Tampa) – 42 goals, Sam Rainhart (Florida) – 39 goals.

Goalkeepers: Andrei Vasilevsky (Tampa)-63 matches (38-20-5), .921% of the reflected throws, Sergey Bobrovsky (Florida)-54 games (33-19-2), .906%.

Forecast: “Tampa” 3-4 “Florida”

The battle of Florida! For the first time in the playoffs, the teams met in 2021 in the first round, then Tampa won, and then won the Stanley Cup. A year later, Florida lost already in the quarter -finals, and Lighting made a champion take. Last season, Panthers first took a convincing revenge, and then the main trophy of the league.

Nikita Kucherov and Evan Rodriguez / Photo: © Julio Agular / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

In this draw, the fans are again waiting for the goalkeeper duel between Vasilevsky and Bobrovsky, who gains a fantastic form in the flight matches. Much will depend not only on the goalkeepers, but also on the battle of leaders. Alexander Barkov will have a difficult task – to block the air of Nikita Kucherov, who is in a fiery form. If we talk about defense, then Florida has a more reliable line. Yes, and Brad Marshan, who moved from Boston, has a tremendous experience of performing in the playoffs, which Panthers will undoubtedly help. In general, a long series of seven matches is planned, which Panthers are quite capable of picking up.