NHL Playoff Predictions 2012: Underrated Teams Who Will Make Deep Runs

One of the best things about the Stanley Cup Playoffs is how each of the 16 teams have a real shot at winning it all.

We witness lower seeds in other sports make deep runs, but no sport consistently provides the surprises in the postseason like the NHL. 

This year's Stanley Cup Playoffs are stacked with under-the-radar teams who are poised to make deep runs. 

Here are the best of the underrated bunch in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

New Jersey Devils, No. 6 in Eastern Conference

It says a lot about the depth of the east that the Devils, who put together 102 points in the regular season, are all the way down at the sixth spot. 

There has not been a lot of fervor surrounding New Jersey, thanks in large part to New York and Boston finishing with better records. 

Don't underestimate the Devils. They got hot at the right time, finishing the season with a 7-2-1 record and six straight wins. Their goaltending is great and their ability to kill power plays is better than anyone else. 

A first-round matchup against an overachieving Florida team will be the perfect springboard for this squad to make a long run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Phoenix Coyotes, No. 3 in Western Conference

Despite getting the No. 3 seed in the west, the Coyotes were the sixth-best team with 97 points. The three-division format saved them, and it will be their saving grace en route to a deep playoff run. 

Waiting for the Coyotes in the first round is Chicago, a team that has had ups and downs this season and has struggled to find traction on the road. Considering the Blackhawks will play a maximum of four road games, things don't bode well for them. 

It takes great defense and goaltending to win a Stanley Cup, and the Coyotes do both very well. They won't "wow" you in one category, but play solid, fundamental hockey. 

Los Angeles Kings, No. 8 in Western Conference

Speaking of teams that have great goaltending, the Los Angeles Kings allowed the second-fewest goals in the NHL this season. 

The biggest knock against them is their inability to score, as they only put the puck in the net 194 times. Certainly, that could hand them a quick exit against the high-powered Vancouver Canucks. 

But if they are able to catch lightning in a bottle on offense, and Jonathan Quick controls the net like he did in the regular season, this team could be the surprise of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

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