The NHL playoffs start on May 2nd. The last time a Finn won the Stanley Cup in 2017.
In the hockey NHL, the playoffs are clear and the regular season has been played without a single match.
Seattle and Winnipeg are still facing, but neither team is playing in the playoffs.
The chase for the Stanley Cup begins on May 2 with four battles: Carolina – Boston, Toronto – Tampa Bay, Minnesota – St. Louis and Edmonton – Los Angeles.
Toronto, Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Washington are the only teams where no Finns play.
Barkov leads a herd of panthers
The story includes Finnish players who have played more than nine matches in the NHL this season.
The Florida Panthers were the best team in the regular season. Team captain Alexander Barkov going on a championship yacht for a great season below. Barkov scored 88 points in 67 games and was second on the Finnish points exchange.
The Stanley Cup in the No. 1 team in the regular season is also aiming Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Petteri Lindbohm.
Florida will face Washington in the first round.
Florida also plays a really interesting name: Joe Thornton. The 42-year-old Canadian has played 1,714 regular season matches, but the championship is missing.
Big quarterback Jumbo Joe moved from San Jose to Florida this season in hopes of the Stanley Cup.
Thornton ranks 12th in the NHL’s all-time standings with 1,579 points. The foreman is ahead of the all-time stock market Raymond Bourquewho started the playoffs in the same situation in 2001.
Bourque won the Stanley Cup at the age of 40 in his final game. See a similar story this year?
Colorado is expected to be tough
Colorado, which ranks second in the NHL regular season, also shows strong Finnish expertise.
Striker Mikko Rantanen scored the most points among Finns in the regular season. 92 points is the best reading of Rantanen’s career so far.
In Colorado, Finns who play in the middle of the season also play Artturi Lehkonen and Sampo Beachwho has played 10 matches with binoculars.
Colorado will face Nashville in the 1st round. The Avalanche has last reached the finals in its 2001 championship season.
Nashville Eeli Tolvanen and Mikael Granlund hit the man in the final round. Keeper Juuse Saroksen game condition is a big question mark.
Carolina Hurricanes, who finished third in the regular season, has a strong power duo in the attack: Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Sharp.
Aho was second on the Finnish Stock Exchange (83 points) and Teräväinen Fifth (65).
Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored 29 points in 66 matches. Antti Raanta plays as a second goalkeeper.
Carolina will face Boston in the 1st round. Boston striker Erik Haula got into a great mood after the middle of the season.
Dallas, which has only secured its place in the playoffs in the last rounds, is teeming with Finns. The team is playing Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Jani Hakanpää and Joel Kiviranta.
Hintz was fourth on the Finnish stock exchange with 72 points.
Dallas will face Calgary in the 1st round
Boston Bruins: Erik Haula.
Calgary Flames: Juuso Välimäki.
Carolina Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teräväinen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, goalkeeper Antti Raanta.
Colorado Avalanche: Mikko Rantanen, Artturi Lehkonen, Sampo Ranta.
Dallas Stars: Jani Hakanpää, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Joel Kiviranta, Esa Lindell.
Edmonton Oilers: Jesse Puljujärvi, Markus Niemeläinen, goalkeeper Mikko Koskinen.
Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, Petteri Lindbohm.
Los Angeles Kings: Rasmus Kupari, Olli Määttä.
Nashville Predators: Eeli Tolvanen, Mikael Granlund, goalkeeper Juuse Saros.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Kasperi Kapanen.
St. Louis Blues: Niko Mikkola, goalkeeper Ville Husso.
Olli Määttä is the previous Finnish Stanley Cup winner from 2017.