Special guest John Buccigross Long-time studio host and Play-by-Play man for the NHL on ESPN  joins us to cover the Stanley Cup Playoff Preview Show. Focus is on the teams strengths, weaknesses, and key factors that could influence the outcomes, such as coaching styles, player performances, and injuries. 

Predictions for each series and in depth discussion on the New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders, Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche. Potential upsets, and standout players are shared alongside the analysis of team structures, and goaltending merits. They end with rapid fire questions and who they are predicting to win the Stanley Cup. 

So buckle up, hockey fans and don’t miss this action packed episode! 

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• [02:10] Rangers vs. Capitals: Strategies and Expectations
• [12:09] Carolina vs. Islanders: Analyzing Strengths and Weaknesses
• [19:37] Panthers vs. Lightning: A Battle of Skill vs. Grit
• [27:55] Bruins vs. Maple Leafs: A Historic Rivalry Rekindled
• [39:40] Jets vs. Avalanche: Analyzing the Central Division Showdown
• [43:44] The Great Goalie Debate: Hellebuyck vs. Georgiev
• [44:30] Colorado's Determination and Goaltending Dilemma
• [48:22] Vegas Golden Knights: From Champions to Underdogs
• [49:00] Dallas Stars: A Deep Dive into Their Strengths
• [56:14] Vancouver vs. Nashville: An Intriguing Matchup
• [01:04:12] LA Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers: A Tough Battle Ahead
• [01:12:59] Playoff Predictions and Final Thoughts

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• Across different playoff series, strategic matchups are crucial. For example, in the Carolina-Islanders series, Carolina's strong special teams, particularly their power play, could pose a significant challenge for the Islanders' weaker penalty-killing unit.
• Some series, like Florida vs. Tampa Bay, showcase a clash of styles. Florida's physicality and depth against Tampa Bay's skill and playoff experience create an intriguing matchup. The outcome might hinge on factors like power play success and bottom-six contributions.
• The coaches' influence on their respective teams is significant, particularly in terms of adapting strategies and motivating players. Knobloch's structural changes with the Oilers improved defensive numbers and goaltending, showcasing the impact a new coach can have mid-season.
• The path to the Stanley Cup Finals is critical. Teams like Edmonton and Florida are favored due to their potentially favorable matchups in the early rounds, providing them with a smoother path to the Conference Finals.
• Players who could unexpectedly shine in the playoffs, like Michael McCarran of Nashville or Tomasz Hurdl of Vegas, could significantly impact their teams' playoff runs. Identifying these potential breakout performers adds an element of unpredictability to the postseason.

RESOURCE LINKS 

John Buccigross Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buccigross/

John Buccigross Website- https://www.bucciot.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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BIO:

John Buccigross is part of ESPN’s NHL team as a play-by-play commentator for select NHL games. He also hosts The Point, a weekly hockey-focused studio show on ESPN2. In addition, Buccigross is an occasional host of SportsCenter, a program he anchored on a regular basis prior to ESPN’s re-acquiring of NHL rights.

Buccigross joined the company as an ESPNEWS anchor in 1996, prior to the launch of the 24-hour sports news network. He was the primary host of NHL 2Night, ESPN2’s 30-minute program dedicated to hockey highlights and news from 1998-2004.

He currently serves as the play-by-play voice of the NCAA Hockey Championship (Frozen Four). “Bucci” also sometimes fills in as host of the nightly hockey highlights program In the Crease on ESPN+.

Before joining ESPN, Buccigross had been at WPRI-TV in Providence, R.I. He started as the station’s weekend sports anchor in 1994, and later was named weekday anchor. Before WPRI, Buccigross worked at a local news network, Cape 11 News, in Massachusetts from 1989 to 1994.

Buccigross also authored a book entitled,” Jonesy: Put Your Head Down and Skate: The Improbable Career of Keith Jones.”

Buccigross, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., received a communications/theater arts degree from Heidelberg University.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Save the Date for the VIP Kickoff Virtual Event celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the New York Rangers' historic Stanley Cup Win! This exclusive event, hosted by none other NHL Wraparound Podcast hosts Neil Smith and Vic Morren, will be filled with nostalgia, camaraderie, and celebration. Date: June 6th Time: 6:00 PM EDT Location: Zoom (Sent to you privately) Register: www.subscribepage.io/NHLWraparound