NHL Playoffs Begin Today with Exciting Matchups (NHL.com, USA Today, CBS Sports)
The 2023 NHL Playoffs begin today, April 19, with four exciting games to kick off the postseason (USA Today). Experts from USA Today have given their picks for each series, with the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets as the predicted winners in their respective matchups against the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators (USA Today).
Meanwhile, the Central Division still has a couple of meaningful games left to be played on the last day of the 2022-23 NHL regular season, as playoff seeding is still up for grabs (CBS Sports). Fans can also look forward to the return of true overtime hockey with sudden-death rules in place, signaling an exciting finish to each game (Yahoo Sports).
In other NHL news, the NHL Central Scouting has released its final draft rankings, with four University of North Dakota (UND) commits and two Warroad players on the list (Grand Forks Herald). Jayden Perron and Andrew Strathmann, both Fighting Hawks commits, have been listed as potential second-round picks (Grand Forks Herald).
In a throwback moment, today marks the 24th anniversary of Wayne Gretzky’s last NHL game as a New York Ranger and professional hockey player, where he played in front of a packed crowd (New York Post). NHL prospects are also gearing up for the playoffs, with Iowa recently clinching a trip to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second time in franchise (NHL.com).
Overall, the start of the NHL playoffs is a thrilling time for hockey fans, and these exciting matchups and playoff scenarios are sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
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