Start in round one: The heart of the east beats in Florida

Florida Panthers - Washington Capitals

The starting point: with 122 points Florida first won the Presidents' Trophy as a point best NHL team of the main round in the club history - thanks to an almost irresistible offensive with 340 goals, a goal difference of +94 and a whopping 34. All best values in the league.

• Florida Panthers - Washington Capitals
• Carolina Hurricanes - Boston Bruins
• Toronto Maple Leafs - Tampa Bay Lightning
• New York Rangers - Pittsburgh Penguins

The master from 2018 from Washington, although at the end with 100 points the worst play-off team in the strong Eastern Conference, also qualified confidently for the final round, but despite enormous experience in the squad, it no longer radiates the offensive lightness earlier Years.

The staff: Not only quite ice hockey miami looks at Aaron Ekblad. Florida's number-one defender, who had already missed parts of the season in 2020/21, trains again with the team after a two-month injury break and could possibly return to game one.

What Ekblad at the Panthers applies to Alex Ovechkin near Washington. The super goal hunter injured himself in the gang in the shoulder area shortly before the main end, but despite the injury is probably ready for game 1. Only in what constitution? The Capitals season has already ended due to an eye injury for veteran Carl Hagelin.

The main round: All three games that the two teams carried out within four weeks between the beginning of November and early December ended - and each went to the home team. Florida won twice with 5: 4 (once to Overtime), Washington 4: 3.

Florida tip: Florida wins in six games.

Carolina Hurricanes - Boston Bruins

The starting point: The core still young hurricanes won the Metropolitan Division when points (116) third -best team in the league behind Florida and Colorado, ultimately quite confident. In particular thanks to the best defensive of the NHL with by far with only 202 goals.

Strong 107 points would have been enough for the play-off-experienced and deeply occupied Boston in the west for fourth place, but only for seventh-class rank in the first Wild-Card Square.

The staff: The only Hurricanes failure particularly hurts. The Danish number one goalkeeper Frederik Andersen, who, together with Backup Anti Raanta, won the William Jennings Trophy for the lowest goal goal cut during the main round, injured himself around two weeks before Play-off start and will not be there at least at the start.

At Boston, on the other hand, all regulars were ready for use before game one.

The main round: fear opponent Carolina? Boston clearly lost all three games of the season, two of them even at home (1: 7, 0: 6) and in Raleigh 0: 3. In three games, the bruins scored only one goal against the Hurricanes.

Florida tip: Boston wins in seven games.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Tampa Bay Lightning

The starting point: Mode and Quality of the Atlantic Division wants it that Maple Leafs (115) and defending champion Lightning (110) two of the league -like at points of eight best teams in the main round will meet in round one.

While Tampa has been targeting the first title of title in the NHL since the 1980s, Toronto is fighting against its own play-off demons. Because since 2004 the "maple leaves" have not won a single round, despite the last five play-off participation in a row and strong main round results.

The staff: At Toronto, top rookie Michael Bunting (63 scorer points) is at least as well as defender Rasmus Sandin and the regular backup goalkeeper Petr Mrazek.

Master Cooper Jon Cooper, on the other hand, does not plague personnel worries at Tampa.

The main round: The Maple Leafs should still remember April 22, because on that day they lost 1: 8 in Tampa. Overall, however, the 2021/22 balance is balanced. Toronto had only won 6-2 in Florida a few weeks earlier and narrowly won the first home game against Lightning (2-1 OT). The defending champion, in turn, won the second home game in Canada 5: 3.

Florida tip: Tampa Bay wins in seven games.

New York Rangers - Pittsburgh Penguins

The starting point: The up-and-coming Rangers won their most since 2014/15 and only moved into the play-offs for the second time in the past five years.

The Penguins for the never-tired Sidney Crosby (34) are for the 16th time in a row of the final round, but only won a play-off round since the title defense in 2017. Most recently, Pittsburgh even left round one three times in series.

The staff: with the long -term injured Samuel Blais and initially also an obligation Tyler Motte are missing two strikers from the back rows.

In addition to striker Jason Zucker, Pittsburgh must continue to do without number one-goalkeeper Tristan Jarry, who injured his foot in the final phase of the main round. The main round: All four games of the divisional rivals only took place between February 26 and April 8. The Penguins initially won 1-0 through a goal from Evgeni Malkin. The other three games then went to the New Yorker (5: 1, 3: 2, 3: 0). Florida tip : The Rangers win in six games. Also read: The play-off preview for the West Draisaitl wants to build on old times with the oilers