The 2022 NHL playoffs felt different from the jump. You had the Tampa Bay Lightning trying to cement a literal dynasty with a three-peat, something we haven't seen since the Islanders' heyday in the early '80s. Then you had the Colorado Avalanche, a team that had spent years "knocking on the door" only to trip over the threshold in the second round. Honestly, by the time the 2022 NHL playoff bracket was finalized, the tension was basically vibrating off the ice.
It wasn't just about the heavyweights, though. We saw the Florida Panthers snag the Presidents' Trophy with 122 points, only to find out the hard way that regular-season dominance doesn't always translate to June hockey. The bracket was a minefield of overtimes, "Battle of Alberta" chaos, and goaltending meldrice.
The First Round: Close Calls and Sweeps
The Eastern Conference was a total bloodbath. If you looked at the 2022 NHL playoff bracket in early May, you probably didn't expect three of the four series to go the full seven games. The most agonizing one? Definitely Toronto. The Maple Leafs had the two-time defending champ Lightning on the ropes, leading the series 3-2. But Tampa is Tampa. They clawed back, won Game 6 in overtime, and then took Game 7 in Toronto. It was a brutal reminder of how thin the margins are.
Meanwhile, the New York Rangers were busy pulling off a miracle against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were down 3-1 in that series. Most people had written them off. Then Igor Shesterkin found another gear, and Artemi Panarin called game with a power-play goal in Game 7 overtime.
Over in the West, things were a bit more lopsided for the top seed. The Colorado Avalanche basically treated the Nashville Predators like a speed bump.
- Game 1: A 7-2 blowout.
- Game 2: A tighter 2-1 OT win.
- The Result: A clean four-game sweep.
The Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars gave us the opposite—a low-scoring, grind-it-out defensive struggle that ended with Johnny Gaudreau scoring a legendary Game 7 overtime winner. It set the stage for one of the most anticipated matchups in years.
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Round Two: The Battle of Alberta Returns
For the first time since 1991, we got the Flames versus the Oilers in the postseason. If you like defense, this series was a nightmare. If you like goals, it was heaven. Game 1 ended 9-6 for Calgary. Nine to six! It felt like 1985 again.
But Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were on another planet. Draisaitl ended up with 17 points in just five games against Calgary. That's not a typo. He was playing on essentially one leg due to an ankle injury and still dismantled the Flames' defense. The Oilers took the series 4-1, effectively breaking that Calgary core.
The Lightning Strike the Panthers
While the West was high-scoring, the East saw a tactical masterclass. The Florida Panthers, the highest-scoring team in the league, ran into the Tampa Bay wall. Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed only three goals in the entire series.
- Game 1: 4-1 Tampa
- Game 2: 2-1 Tampa
- Game 3: 5-1 Tampa
- Game 4: 2-0 Tampa (The sweep)
The Rangers continued their "cockroach" routine against Carolina. The Hurricanes hadn't lost a home game all playoffs, but the Rangers walked into Raleigh for Game 7 and smoked them 6-2. Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad were clutch, but Shesterkin was the real reason they advanced.
Conference Finals: Speed vs. Experience
The Western Conference Final was a track meet. Colorado vs. Edmonton. MacKinnon vs. McDavid. On paper, it was supposed to be a long series. In reality, the Avalanche were just too deep. They swept the Oilers, outscoring them 22-13 over four games. Cale Makar was everywhere, cementing his status as the best defenseman in the world.
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The Eastern Conference Final was way more dramatic. The Rangers actually took a 2-0 series lead over Tampa. People were starting to wonder if the Lightning were finally tired.
Nope.
Tampa won the next four straight. Steven Stamkos scored both goals in a 2-1 Game 6 win to send the Bolts to their third straight Final. It was a clinic in playoff poise.
The Stanley Cup Final: Dethroning the Champs
The 2022 NHL playoff bracket culminated in a collision of styles. Colorado was pure speed and transition. Tampa was structure and legendary goaltending.
Game 2 was the turning point that no one expected. Colorado didn't just win; they embarrassed Tampa 7-0. It was the kind of loss that makes you question everything. But the Lightning are resilient. They won Game 3 at home 6-2.
The most controversial moment came in Game 4. Nazem Kadri, returning from a broken thumb, scored the overtime winner. The puck got stuck in the net, and for a few seconds, no one knew it was in. Tampa fans argued there were too many men on the ice for Colorado during the change, but the goal stood.
The Clincher
Game 6 in Tampa was a tense, claustrophobic affair. Stamkos scored early, but Nathan MacKinnon tied it in the second. Then, Artturi Lehkonen—the guy Colorado traded for specifically for this reason—scored the go-ahead goal. The Avalanche defense, led by Makar and Josh Manson, shut things down in the third. They limited Tampa to just one shot on goal for a huge chunk of the final period.
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When the horn sounded, the Avalanche had their third Cup in franchise history. Cale Makar took home the Conn Smythe Trophy after putting up 29 points in 20 games.
Why This Bracket Mattered
This postseason proved that the "window" for a championship team isn't just about talent; it's about health and deadline acquisitions. Colorado getting Lehkonen and Manson pushed them over the top. Tampa’s run ended not because they choked, but because they finally ran into a team that could outrun their system.
If you’re looking to apply these lessons to future seasons or your own hockey analysis, keep these specific triggers in mind:
- Watch the Second Round: This is where the true contenders separate from the "regular season heroes" (like the 2022 Panthers).
- Goalie Fatigue is Real: Vasilevskiy was incredible, but the sheer volume of games over three years finally caught up to the Lightning’s depth.
- The Trade Deadline Wins Cups: Look for the "glue guys." Lehkonen wasn't a superstar, but he scored the most important goal of the season.
You can still find the full archived game-by-game stats on the official NHL records site if you want to geek out on the Corsi numbers or high-danger chances from that Avalanche run.
Check out the current season standings to see which teams are mirroring the 2022 Avalanche's statistical profile before the next bracket drops.