TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings

Head into the playoffs with three straight wins, all against Eastern Conference playoff teams, and now that they are as healthy as they've been all season, the Penguins have to be considered Cup favourites, which puts more than a little pressure on G Marc-Andre Fleury, who needs to perform at a higher level if those expectations are going to be met.
Key Injuries: None.

Lost three of four to wrap up the regular season, finishing in second place overall, but good enough for first seed in the Eastern Conference. Their fate in the postseason will be closely tied to the play of G Henrik Lundqvist, because the rest of the team is good, yet Lundqvist at his best, is the difference-maker.
Key Injuries: None.

Only four wins in the last dozen games but, to be fair, there were only four regulation losses (and four shootout losses) in those dozen games. The Blues have the grind-it-out defensive game to compete, but having David Perron, Alex Steen and Andy McDonald all healthy and in the lineup gives St. Louis more offensive punch.
Key Injuries: None.

Won eight of nine to finish the season and capture the Presidents' Trophy for the second straight season. With Daniel Sedin expected to return for the playoffs, the Canucks should be better-equipped to make another run to the Final, but to make a run that deep again, Vancouver will need more than just the top line producing.
Key Injuries: None.

One regulation loss in the last nine games has the Bruins entering the postseason in a solid position to defend the Cup. If G Tim Thomas can hold it together (and facing Washington in Round One does offer more potential distraction than some other opponents), then there is still sufficient depth throughout the lineup for the Bruins to compete with any team in the playoffs.
Key Injuries: C Marc Savard (concussion), RW Nathan Horton (concussion).

Won four of five to finish the year and are as strong heading into the playoffs as ever, but it's never easy, as the Predators get a Detroit team in Round One that has had its share of postseason success too. This would be an ideal time for Alexander Radulov to show that he can be an impact NHL scorer.
Key Injuries: None.

Maybe the Red Wings were resting their veterans and getting healthy for the playoffs, but five regulation wins in the last 22 games isn't indicative of a team ready to compete with the league's best. At the same time, if they get sufficient goaltending, it's impossible to ignore the playoff track records of Henrk Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen and Nicklas Lidstrom.
Key Injuries: None.

If G Ilya Bryzgalov can play at the level he has for the second half of the season, he'll give the Flyers a chance to win what may be the most highly-anticipated match-up of the first round. If their young players rise to the challenge, the Flyers have the depth to go a long way, if only they can somehow manage to get past the Penguins.
Key Injuries: D Chris Pronger (concussion), LW James van Riemsdyk (foot), D Andrej Meszaros (lower body).

The Blackhawks suffered two regulation losses in their last 18 games and are expected to get C Jonathan Toews back for the playoffs. Given their Cup-winning core, there is enough on hand for Chicago to make noise, provided that G Corey Crawford plays like he has over the last month (1.85 GAA, .921 SV%, 11 GP).
Key Injuries: None.

Perhaps he liveliest underdog of the lower seeds, the Kings struggled to score goals for much of the year, yet were bailed out by the exceptional play of G Jonathan Quick. Since acquiring Jeff Carter, though, the Kings have scored 64 goals in 21 games (3.05 per game), a rate that only three teams topped over the course of the entire season, so they could give the Canucks fits right out of the gate.
Key Injuries: LW Simon Gagne (concussion).

It's already been a miracle season for the Senators to be in the playoffs, given their preseason expectations, but they also have a chance to make some noise if their best players come up big against the Rangers. C Jason Spezza and D Erik Karlsson have been outstanding all year and if G Craig Anderson can do his part, then maybe the Sens could surprise (again!).
Key Injuries: None.

Seven wins in the last nine games secured the Sharks' playoff spot and their talent can't be ignored, but it does feel like it's been a generally underwhelming season for a team that had more than this year's 96 points in each of the last seven seasons.
Key Injuries: None.

Won five straight down the stretch, with G Mike Smith allowing just two goals, to not only clinch a playoff spot, but also to win the Pacific Division. They don't have the firepower of other Western Conference foes, but if Smith keeps stopping 93% of the shots sent his way, the Coyotes could leave Phoenix with some fond memories.
Key Injuries: None.

Enter the postseason with a six-game winning streak and a favourable match-up against third-seeded Florida. If G Martin Brodeur can play the way he has in the second half (2.05 GAA, .921 SV%), then the Devils might be able to make some noise in the East because they do have enough scoring to compete. Trouble is, their defence is not yet championship calibre.
Key Injuries: D Henrik Tallinder (leg).

Two regulation wins in the last dozen games cost the Stars their spot in the playoffs but, in the grand scheme of things, it was a pretty good season. If ownership is willing to spend some money for next season, the Stars have core pieces, like G Kari Lehtonen, C/LW Jamie Benn, RW Loui Eriksson that they can build around.

Winning the Southeast Division and getting into the playoffs for the first time since 2000 is victory enough, but the Panthers also needed a win on the final day of the season to clinch that spot after going nine games without a regulation win.
Key Injuries: None.

With one regulation loss in the last 10 games and the return of C Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals have some momentum going into the postseason, but they're also going with third-string G Braden Holtby, who has shown promise, but is unproven and only playing because of injuries to Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth. A strong showing from LW Alexander Ovechkin against the Bruins would be a good start to salvaging a down season for OV and the Caps.
Key Injuries: G Tomas Vokoun (lower body), G Michal Neuvirth (lower body).

Nearly recovered from a terrible start to sneak into the playoffs, but managed just one win in the last five games to assure the season remained disappointing. There are some pieces in place, but an infusion of youth seemed to do the Sabres some good when the season appeared lost and could help right from the start next season.

Hung around the fringe of the playoff race for a good portion of the season and 84 points represents the franchise's best finish since 2006-2007. The development of RW Blake Wheeler, LW Evander Kane, D Zach Bogosian are reasons to be optimistic for the future, but they'll need more help for the Jets to take the next step in terms of being a playoff-competitive team.

Like the Jets, the Avalanche stayed in the playoff picture for much of the season, but six losses in seven games to finish the year assured another year out of the postseason. There were promising signs, like Ryan O'Reilly's breakthrough and rookie Gabriel Landeskog's immediate impact, but the Avs needed more from Paul Stastny and Matt Duchene's year (28 points, minus-11 in 58 games) was worse than anyone could have reasonably expected, so Colorado will have to keep building.

After putting themselves into a playoff spot in mid-March, the Flames dropped eight of nine (before a couple of late-season wins) to ensure a third straight season out of the playoffs, prompting talks that it might be time to go through a full rebuilding process, which could mean exploring trades for RW Jarome Iginla and G Miikka Kiprusoff.

Much more competitive in the second half of the season, the Hurricanes have enough talent on hand (after several re-signings) that they can expect to be playoff contenders next season, but they're still operating with a thin margin for error, so upgrades will be welcome.

The Ducks' season was a disappointment and while there were many factors, the most glaring was the drop in production from their big guns. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and Lubomir Visnovsky combined for 112 fewer points than they accumulated in 2010-2011 and it's tough for players lower on the depth chart to make up for that deficit.

The Islanders have some interesting young players yet, as seems to be the case every year, they need to provide more support for their promising players and that may require spending some money because this year's 30th-ranked payroll wasn't enough to lift the Isles to an 80-point season, a threshold they haven't crossed in five years.

Leafs GM Brian Burke noted that they were in sixth place in the East on February 6, sporting a 28-19-6 record, but the bottom fell out after that, with the Leafs picking up three regulation wins in the final 29 games. They should be busy this summer, trying to upgrade goaltending and add size to the roster, but there doesn't appear to be a quick remedy at hand.

A tough season for the Habs, but all hope isn't lost. Presuming that Carey Price's late-season concussion isn't a long-term problem, Montreal has a young core that includes Price, D P.K. Subban and LW Max Pacioretty around which to build. That said, there is work to be done, providing more skilled players up front, a need that might be addressed by their lofty draft position.

Goaltending and defence remain areas of need for the Lightning because they have to be able to provide more support for C Steven Stamkos, the most dangerous goal-scorer in the game, who leads a Lightning forward group that boasted five 20-goal scorers.

The rebuilding process may be taking longer than expected, even though the Oilers have had back-to-back first overall picks and had the second-worst record this season. They will be able to add more talent, but it's soon going to be time to see results instead of teasing with potential.

After rising to the top of the league with a 20-7-3 record after 30 games, the Wild had seven regulation wins in the last 52 games of the season. Of those seven wins only two came by a margin of more than one goal (not counting empty-netters), so there is much room for improvement. Fortunately for the Wild, they have a strong crop of prospects on the way up.

A disastrous season right from the get-go, with off-season acquisitions Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski suffering injuries and suspensions early, digging a hole from which the Blue Jackets couldn't climb out and now they head into the summer preparing to trade Rick Nash, their franchise players, but admittedly for a franchise that has only played four playoff games in 11 seasons.