Which is one reason (of many) why goal scoring went so cuckoo-bananas. By the end of the season there were 1,004 skaters and an NHL-record 119 goalies who played at least a game this season. Hundreds of players and coaches entered the league's COVID protocols after positive tests, especially when the omicron variant arrived. Which it was: 131 games were postponed and rescheduled this season. Although the NHL and its players collectively bargained to allow them to play in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, there was an out clause if the 2021-22 season was materially impacted by the COVID pandemic. Sadly, they did not, although our loss was Slovakia's gain. NHL players didn't go to the Olympics, did they? The only thing abnormal about the 2022 playoffs is that they're starting on May 2, because of the Olympic break this season. Although we miss that all-Canadian division, this means we're back to the wild-card conference playoff format the NHL has used since 2014. All four divisions back to their traditional configurations after last season's COVID-necessitated realignment. No neutral-site "bubble" cities for the playoffs. It was a full 82-game season in the NHL for the first time since 2018-19. Ranking players that need a Cup Are the Stanley Cup playoffs finally back to normal?Īs normal as a two-month battle of attrition that can be upended by a hot goaltender can be. The lapsed fan's guide to the 2022 NHL playoffs: Top storylines, Stanley Cup favorites, key playersĪs a service to fans who have a general interest in the National Hockey League but have no idea what's happened since the Tampa Bay Lightning raised the Cup for the second straight postseason, we're happy to provide this FAQ as a guide to the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs. And for you die-hard puckheads, here is your official refresher before the games begin. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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