NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012: Teams Who Are Guaranteed to Be One-and-Done

After six long months, we've got 16 NHL teams easing into the starting blocks, ready to take their shot at Stanley Cup glory.

In just a couple of weeks, eight of those teams will be cleaning out their lockers and preparing to hit the golf course. All will be disappointed; some will be stunned.

Round 1 of the playoffs always produces some incredible hockey and some shocking results. Starting with the most likely, here's a look at the teams I expect will be one-and-done.

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are back in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Hope they enjoy it while they can, because they won't be around for long.

The Panthers are the reason that the debate about the NHL playoff format has been revived this spring. Not only did their division seeding allow them to finish third despite having 14 points less than the fourth-place Penguins, they did it with only 38 wins. Florida scrabbled together 18 points from overtime and shootout losses—the most in the league, including non-playoff teams.

Match up the Panthers against the experienced New Jersey Devils and one of the best goaltenders of all time in Martin Brodeur, and this one's a no-brainer. The Devils will be in tough in the East in later rounds, but they've got this series locked up.

Los Angles Kings

A week ago, there was much talk that the Los Angeles Kings could play spoiler in Round 1 of the playoffs. Their goaltending and defence were air-tight, and their offensive machine was ready to explode at any minute.

Then they lost their last two games of the season against San Jose and drew the top-seed Canucks in the first round. Never mind.

The Kings showed improvement this year, especially after Darryl Sutter took the reins in December. But they're not deep enough to compete with the Canucks. And other than Jonathan Quick, their best players aren't playing to their potential.

Mike Richards and Jeff Carter (if healthy) will provide a new dimension compared to the Kings team that the Canucks beat two years ago. But Vancouver has gotten better since then, while Los Angeles is still recovering from a step backwards.

They'll have more time to tinker in a couple of weeks, when their season comes to a close.

Detroit Red Wings

Don't look now, but the Nashville Predators have become an elite hockey club.

They've got top-notch goaltending from Pekka Rinne. Their defence is as intimidating as any in the league. And now they can score and have a wicked power-play.

Most importantly, the Preds have made the mental adjustment to 'winner.' They wanted this matchup with Detroit, they secured home-ice advantage and they're going to end the Red Wings' season.

Detroit is still a good team, but Jimmy Howard doesn't measure up in net, and at this stage, the Wings are just a little smaller, just a little older, just a little slower. Nashville beat Detroit convincingly at Joe Louis Arena with just a couple of weeks left in the season. The Wings enter this series as decided underdogs.

Expect to be watching the Preds for awhile this spring, after they hand Detroit their first Round 1 playoff loss since 2006.

Philadelphia Flyers

It's too bad this matchup comes in Round 1. The Flyers are fun to watch, and deserve more than two weeks of postseason action. But there's no way they'll get past the Penguins.

The Penguins beat the Flyers the last two times they went to the finals, including their Stanley Cup year in 2009, and their core is basically intact. The Flyers have a new profile after shipping out Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, and bringing in Jaromir Jagr, Scott Hartnell and Ilya Bryzgalov, among others. They've shown flashes of greatness and brought out the best in Claude Giroux, but it won't be enough this year.

With Evgeni Malkin playing the best hockey of his career and a secret weapon named Sidney Crosby, expect the Penguins to eventually waddle away from this series triumphant when all the dust has settled.

St. Louis Blues

It wouldn't be the playoffs without an upset. The San Jose Sharks are no strangers to the early playoff exit, but this year, they'll be the ones to knock off the No. 2 seed St. Louis Blues.

Ken Hitchcock deserves the Jack Adams trophy as Coach of the Year, hands down, for the way he's turned the Blues around. But this team's going to need at least another year before they'll be real contenders.

With Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner, they've got a couple of wily vets with three Stanley Cup rings between them. And they've got phenomenal goaltending from Jaroslav Halak, even if Brian Elliott's not ready to start the series. But they lacked killer instinct over their last few games, letting Vancouver steal the Presidents' Trophy and top seed in the Western Conference.

In contrast, the Sharks showed serious drive down the stretch run, especially in beating their rival LA Kings in the last two games of the season. They have a cup-winning goalie of their own in Antti Niemi. They're healthy, and with lower expectations accompanying their seventh seed, they're probably looser than they've been in years.

The Blues swept their regular season series against the Sharks and their tight defensive system is not a great matchup for San Jose's offensive attack. But in the end, the Sharks will prevail. St Louis has a strong foundation and will be able to build on this season in the years to come, but this year, once again they'll be singing the Blues.