2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Boston Bruins vs. 4. Florida Panthers

Players to Watch: G Linus Ullmark and F Matthew Tkachuk

Who Wins: Bruins in 5 games

2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning

Players to Watch: F Auston Matthews and F Nikita Kucherov

Who Wins: Lightning in 7 games

Metropolitan Division

1. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 4. New York Islanders

Players to Watch: F Sebastian Aho and G Ilya Sorokin

Who Wins: Hurricanes in 6 games

2. New Jersey Devils vs. 3. New York Rangers

Players to Watch: F Jack Hughes and G Igor Shesterkin

Who Wins: Rangers in 6 games

Western Conference

Pacific Division

1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 4. Winnipeg Jets

Players to Watch: G Jonathan Quick and G Connor Hellebuyck

Who Wins: Golden Knights in 6 games

2. Edmonton Oilers vs. 3. Los Angeles Kings

Players to Watch: F Connor McDavid and F Adrian Kempe

Who Wins: Kings in 7 games

Central Division

1. Colorado Avalanche vs. 4. Seattle Kraken

Players to Watch: F Mikko Rantanen and D Vince Dunn

Who Wins: Avalanche in 5 games

2. Dallas Stars vs. 3. Minnesota Wild

Players to Watch: F Jason Robertson and Goalies Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury

Who Wins: Stars in 6 games

American League West

* – indicates new to team

+ – indicates injury

1. Houston Astros

Even with the loss of Justin Verlander to free agency, their depth is so good that it won’t affect them much at all. Adding Jose Abreu was a shrewd move on their part.

2. Seattle Mariners

They finally got back into the Postseason, but fell flat. Bringing in Teoscar Hernandez and Kolten Wong brings added experience for October.

3. Los Angeles Angels

All eyes will be on this franchise and whether they extend, trade or eventually let superstar Shohei Ohtani test free agency after the season.

4. Texas Rangers

It was another spending spree of an offseason for this franchise; mostly focused on their pitching staff. The real focus is on who they hired to be their manager as Bruce Bochy makes his return.

5. Oakland Athletics

The clock is ticking on whether they stay in the Bay Area or make an eventual move to Las Vegas.

Player to Watch: P/DH Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Angels

Best Acquisition: P Jacob deGrom – Texas Rangers

New Kid on the Block: C Logan O’Hoppe – Los Angeles Angels

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Stanley Cup Prediction

Eastern Conference

1. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 4. New York Rangers

2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 3. Washington Capitals

1. Boston Bruins vs. 4. Florida Panthers

2. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 3. Toronto Maple Leafs

Western Conference

1. Colorado Avalanche vs. 4. Winnipeg Jets

2. Minnesota Wild vs. 3. Dallas Stars

1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 4. Edmonton Oilers

2. Calgary Flames vs. 3. Los Angeles Kings

Conference Finals

Hurricanes over Lightning

Avalanche over Kings

Stanley Cup Finals

Hurricanes over Avalanche

2022 MLB All-Star Teams

For the 92nd year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball goes to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in LA was in 1980. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either, nor the commissioner’s office. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 32 players for each league.

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Stanley Cup Conference Finals Preview

Eastern Conference

2. New York Rangers vs. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning

Players to Watch: G Igor Shesterkin and G Andrei Vasilevskiy

Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games

Western Conference

1. Colorado Avalanche vs. 2. Edmonton Oilers

Players to Watch: D Cale Makar and F Connor McDavid

Who Wins: Avalanche in 6 games