NHL Power Rankings: Top Second Round storylines

In this week’s edition of the NHL Power Rankings we start getting you ready for the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs by looking ahead to some of the top storylines that will be playing out.

We have rivalries, rematches, and teams looking to break through to the Conference Finals, as well as Tampa Bay looking to continue its quest for a third consecutive championship.

Which storylines are we looking forward to?

1. Florida rivalry renewed. It may not get the respect of other long-time NHL rivalries because they are “non-traditional markets,” but make no mistake here: Tampa Bay and Florida is as intense as it gets, especially now that both teams are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. It is so good, and featuring two teams of such high quality, that it gets the top spot here. Yes, even over the Battle Of Alberta. Their playoff matchup a year ago was absolute mayhem and the Panthers would love nothing more than to break through to the Eastern Conference Final by ending Tampa Bay’s three-peat bid.

2. The Battle Of Alberta. When the NHL implemented its divisional playoff format this is probably the type of matchup they had in mind. Edmonton and Calgary will be meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 1991 and a trip to the Western Conference Final is on the line. It will be chaotic, heated, hateful, and hopefully awesome. There will not be a better atmosphere than these two buildings.

3. Colorado looking to break through the Second Round wall. The Avalanche have been one of the league’s best teams for four years now and odds on Cup favorites for the past three. They keep running into a wall in the Second Round, having lost here three years in a row. Eventually teams like this start to feel heat and