NHL Playoff Predictions 2012: Henrik Lundqvist and Goalies with Most to Prove

You cannot win the Stanley Cup without good goaltending throughout the NHL playoffs, and this season, there are several goaltenders who have a lot to prove in the postseason.

Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers is just one star goalie who must prove that he can shine just as bright in the playoffs as he can in the regular season.

The playoffs are the biggest stage in hockey, and the high expectations can often force goalies to crumble under pressure.

Let's look at three goalies with the most to prove in this year's NHL playoffs.

Ilya Bryzgalov, Philadelphia Flyers

Bryzgalov was disappointing for much of the first few months this year, but he's been playing well for the Flyers since the All-Star break in late January.

Over the last two seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes, Bryzgalov is 3-8 in two first-round-series losses. For his career, he is 12-13 in the playoffs.

To be fair, Bryzgalov was very tired in those two series because he had to play so much during the regular season for the Coyotes.

In this year's playoffs, Bryzgalov will have to battle very high expectations instead of fatigue. The Flyers gave him a massive nine-year contract last summer to solve their goaltending issues and get the franchise back to the Stanley Cup.

Bryzgalov's struggles this season proved he's had a difficult time handling the high pressure and expectations that playing in a major hockey market presents.

Since March 1, Bryzgalov is 11-3-1, so he is playing well and bringing lots of confidence into the playoffs. However, Bryzgalov will have to battle the pressure of leading the Flyers on a deep run and knocking off the rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.

That's a tough challenge for him, but if he's successful, Flyers fans will forget his early-season troubles.

Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

The past playoff failures of Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo are well-known. Last year, he was shaky in the first-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks, but was able to win Game 7 of that series. However, in the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins, Luongo allowed a total of 14 goals in three defeats in Boston, while also allowing three goals in a Game 7 loss at home.

Luongo is under more pressure than any other goalie in this year's playoffs. He has to prove he can win important road playoff games, because if he does not, the Canucks' Stanley Cup drought will extend and Luongo's future with the team will be a hot topic of the summer.

If Luongo struggles early in the first round, expect backup goalie Cory Schneider to take over. Luongo will be on a very short leash in Round 1.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

The Rangers' star goalie is a legitimate Hart and Vezina Trophy candidate this season, but he has yet to find much playoff success throughout his NHL career.

In 35 career postseason games, Lundqvist is 15-20 with a .909 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA. In his last two playoff series, Lundqvist is 4-8 in two first-round exits against the Washington Capitals.

Lundqvist needs to prove he can win in the playoffs, or there will be serious questions surrounding his ability to be a Stanley Cup-caliber goalie.

A collapse in the first round with a tremendous Rangers team in front of him would damage Lundqvist's reputation as an elite goaltender.

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Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.