I posted my predictions above, but these are the power rankings that I have for the 16 teams who made it.
1. Vancouver Canucks
This team won the President's cup trophy, and have dominated the regular season. Can they handle the pressure of being the best team? They're fighting demons of the past with a Blackhawks team who beat them the past two postseasons. Luongo, Kesler, the Sedin twins and Ehrhoff need to show they're for real now.
2. Boston Bruins
Despite what the Bruins have done this regular season, they are loaded with good goaltending, and can defend well. Their offense is ranked high as well, but it can be rather streaky. They take on their biggest rival in the Canadiens.
3. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks ended this regular season on a very hot surge. Can they do it in the playoffs when it matters? Antti Niemi has been a force for the 2nd half. Is there a choke factor against the Rival LA Kings?
4. Washington Capitals
The Capitals have the best seed in the East, and have also ended well, but they have been injured and the inexperience at goaltender is a light concern. Will the Capitals, much like the sharks play to their best ability for the playoffs behind Ovechkin against the Rangers?
5. Philadelphia Flyers
For a team that is loaded with skaters, they lack goaltending. Bobrovsky started well, but has been average as of late. Boucher is also average. The Flyers ended the season on a cold note, and will that play a factor for the playoffs facing a hot Buffalo Sabres team?
6. Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings have made the playoffs for 20 straight years now. They're expected to make a run again with their Core from the previous years still there. Like Javier Zanetti, Niklas Lidstrom is a machine despite his age. They play in the 1st round against Phoenix, who they beat in 7 games last year.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have been playing without their stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for some time. But they're still finding ways to win thanks to Marc-Andre Fleury and coach Dan Bylsma. Bylsma should be a coach of the year candidate with the way he's found ways to win this season despite being short handed. Many other players have stepped it up against a young but talented Lightning team.
8. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks are on fire to end the season. Despite the controversy at goaltender, the offense has been clicking. Corry Perry is a legit Hart Trophy (MVP) Candidate. How will the Ducks offense matchup with the Predators defense?
9. Nashville Predators
Great season by coach Barry Trotz for this team. Pekka Rinne is a strong goaltender and the team will be relying on defense with Shea Weber for this team to make a run. (See Anaheim Ducks above, but defensive minded.)
10. Phoenix Coyotes
This team has overachieved once again like last season. Dave Tippett has done a remarkable job. Will Ilya Bryzgalov get hot enough to carry this team? We'll also see how good Keith Yandle will be in the first round against Detroit.
11. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are back in the playoffs after a few years hiatus. Steve Yzerman as a GM has done a fantastic job acquiring Dwayne Roloson as a goaltender, and Steve Stamkos along with Marty St. Louis are still lighting up the scoreboard. Look for Lecavalier to be on a mission as well in their opening series against the Penguins.
12. Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres are also on fire despite the slow start to the season. Team USA Goalie Ryan Miller needs to carry this team, while the offense needs to stay hot with Vanek. The Sabres are a trendy pick to upset the Flyers.
13. Montreal Canadiens
The Habs have been struggling bigtime on offense, but the defense and goaltending from Carey Price have been so valuable. Price will need to stand on his head, but they have a solid special teams if they want to pull the upset on Boston.
14. Chicago Blackhawks
The defending champs waited and waited to see if they'd make the playoffs and they did. It wasn't pretty, but the inconsistent blackhawks get to face the Canucks in the opening round. Jonathan Toews is still consistent, and can Corey Crawford stand on his head for the team? The Blackhawks have been injured and struggling all season long with ups and downs.
15. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings were a team that was considered loaded, to one that barely limped into the playoffs. This was thought to be their year to overtake the sharks in the pacific division. Kopitar's injury has to hurt. The talent in LA is there, with guys like Dustin Brown and Doughty, but it needs to come together for such a young team. Jonathan Quick is a streaky one, but the 2nd known team who plays in the Staples Center will need some kind of defense to beat the sharks. They still have a chance to overtake their division rivals.
16. New York Rangers
Like the Blackhawks, the Rangers had to wait to know what their fate would be. Thanks to the Hurricanes losing, this young team coached by Tortorella is in. This 2nd known team who plays in Madison Square Garden has been a blue collar group of hard workers. They really have nothing to lose, and this is practically house money they're playing with for this postseason. They do matchup well with the Capitals, beating them 3-1 in the regular season series. Can they pull the upset on them behind 2006 Gold Medalist Henrik Lundqvist? Marian Gaborik needs to step it up in place of the injured Ryan Callahan.
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