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ESPN staff
We have reached the finals of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoff conference, with no shortage of star power in any series.
The Eastern Conference Finals begin Wednesday and include Hart Trophy candidate Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers against two-time defending Tampa Bay Lightning Cup champion. In the Western Conference Finals starting Tuesday, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and the rest of the Colorado Avalanche face the Edmonton Oilers, who have the most popular hockey line: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane.
The time has come for our experts to record their predictions about which teams will reach the Stanley Cup final, which returns to ABC this season.
Learn more: Full Playoff Schedule Conference Finals Preview Off-Season Keys for Eliminated Teams
Eastern Conference Finals
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Sean Allen: lightning at sixBlake Bolden: lightning at six Brian Boucher: lightning at sevenJohn Buccigross: lightning at seven Ryan Callahan: lightning at seven Cassie Campbell-Pascall: lightning at five Sachin Chandan: lightning at seven Chris Chelios: lightning at seven Linda Cohn : Rick DiPie: lightning in seven Lightning in six Ray Ferraro: Lightning in five Leah Hextall: Lightning in six Emily Kaplan: Lightning in seven Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in six Hilary Knight: Lightning in sixPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Rangers in six Steve Levy: Rangers in set Victoria Matiash: Lightning in six Sean McDonough: Lightning in six Messier: Rangers in set AJ Mleczko: Lightning in six Dominic Moore: Rangers in sixArda Öcal: Lightning in sixKristen Shilton: Lightning in six John Tortorella: Rangers in set Kevin Weekes : Rangers and setBob Wischusen: Lightning and six Greg Wyshynski: Rangers
Consensus Selection: Lightning, 20/28
Western Conference Finals
ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast first- and second-round matches, with a series of conference finals on ESPN and the Stanley Cup final on ABC.• How to look • Subscribe to ESPN +• Broadcasts the NHL on ESPN
Sean Allen: Avs at sixBlake Bolden: Avs at six Brian Boucher: Avs at setJohn Buccigross: Avs at set Ryan Callahan: Avs at six Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Avs at sixSachin Chandan: Avs at five Chris Chelios: Avs at sixLinda Cohn: Avs in set: Avs in setRay Ferraro: Avs in sisLeah Hextall: Avs in sisEmily Kaplan: Avs in sisTim Kavanagh: Avs in setHilary Knight: Avs in setPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Avs in sisSteve Levy: Avs in sisVictoria Matiash: Avs in set Sean McDonough : Avs in set Mark: Messier: Oilers in set AJ Mleczko: Avs in six Dominic Moore: Avs in sixArda Öcal: Oilers in sixKristen Shilton: Avs in set John Tortorella: Avs in set Kevin Weekes: Oilers in setBob Wischusen: Avs in set Greg Wyshynski: Avs and sis
Consensus choice: Avalanche, 25/28