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2021 NHL playoff series previews: First-round matchups, picks
The playoffs are here! Get caught up with position-by-position breakdowns of all the first-round series before the puck drops Saturday.
GOALIE RANKINGS
Goaltender Confidence Index: Ranking all 16 NHL playoff teams by their tandems
How good should each team feel about its netminders? We rank them here, with insights analyst Steve Valiquette.
Top Headlines
PLAYOFF CENTRAL
2021 NHL Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, scores, highlights, analysis
From the first round all the way through the Stanley Cup Final, ESPN has you covered. Check out the full picture and coverage on each team.
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
NHL Playoff Watch Daily: Avalanche eye No. 1 overall seed
With a victory Thursday night, Colorado will win the West Division and be the top seed in the playoffs. Get caught up on everything here.
LOOKING AHEAD
Keys to the offseason: Free-agency, draft plans for the 15 non-playoff teams
We explore the next moves each non-playoff team should make this offseason and forecast their 2021-22 outlook.
THE NEXT WAVE
The top rising candidates for NHL coach, GM jobs
Hiring season will be upon us before you know it. We polled 22 people in front offices around the league to find the next wave of candidates.
INSIDE HOCKEY'S GENDER GAP
How the pandemic widened the gender gap in hockey
From infrastructure to resources to promotion, the stage is far from even. and COVID-19 has made it even worse.
PLAYOFFS APPROACH
The people (and things) we're rooting for in the Stanley Cup playoffs
From Joe Thornton to Rod Brind'Amour to Bill Foley to Nassau Coliseum, here's who (and what) makes the list for 2021.
Top Headlines
- Sharks not eyeing rebuild after missing playoffs
- Islanders sign F Newkirk to entry-level deal
- Kraken's first signing a 3-year deal with Henman
- Sabres GM says Eichel hasn't requested trade
- Rangers fire coach Quinn to continue upheaval
- Finally at '100%,' Ovechkin returns in Caps' win
- In rarity, Lightning start three Black forwards
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More than just a building (ESPN+)
- Greg Wyshynski/ESPN
Inside the New York Islanders' new UBS Arena, built for the NHL's COVID-19 era
From the brick exterior inspired by neighboring Belmont Park to state-of-the-art tech inside, here's what Isles fans can expect next season.
Execs rank NHL's top 10 centers
- ESPN Illustration
Ranking the NHL's top centers for 2021: Execs, coaches, players debate the top 10
A trio of young perennial MVP candidates tops our list. Where does 33-year-old Sidney Crosby finish?
Stream the NHL on ESPN+
- NHL on ESPN+
Stream game replays and analysis
Replay NHL games during the Stanley Cup Qualifiers and Playoffs, and join Linda Cohn, Barry Melrose and Nabil Karim daily on In The Crease for full highlights and analysis.
