NHL Playoff Predictions 2012: Underdogs That Will Advance to Second Round

The 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs are just around the corner—are you ready?

Last year's playoffs produced some of the best hockey in recent memory, as the Boston Bruins gutted the Vancouver Canucks in a thrilling seven-game series for Lord Stanley's Cup.

The first round of the playoffs last year was arguably the most exciting, as four series went the full seven games.

These low-seeds will make some trouble against top competition and advance in a series that they have been forgotten about in.

No. 6 New Jersey Devils over No. 3 Florida Panthers

It's hard to call the Devils an underdog in this matchup, as they have more points this season than Florida, but winning your respective division has its perks.

The Devils should be able to flex their strong defense and take advantage of Florida's lack of an elite scoring forward. They only gave up 209 goals on the season. 

Martin Brodeur may not be the goalie he used to be. But this is the playoffs, and he will reign supreme. 

Florida has had a surprisingly good year behind strong goaltending and won their division, but the Devils boast more talent and are peaking at the right time offensively. They're 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.

They have three 30-goal scorers—Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and David Clarkson—who know how to tickle the twine.

New Jersey also boasts the No. 1 penalty kill in the league with an 89.6 efficiency rate. They also led the lead with 15 shorthanded goals.

No. 7 San Jose Sharks over No. 2 St. Louis Blues

The Sharks' high-powered offense will lead them past the NHL's best goaltending team. 

San Jose has the ability to shock teams by displaying virtually two top lines capable of scorching the scoreboard. 

Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau team up on the team's first line, and Thornton has done a good job of facilitating and making opportunities. Pavelski had his first 30-goal season, and Marleau has reached the 30 mark in six of his last eight seasons.

Antti Niemi's Stanley Cup experience will boost the Sharks past St. Louis. He's the only goalie in the Western Conference to win a Cup (Chicago in 2010), and he had another solid year that's been overlooked by such outstanding goaltending this year.

The Sharks have been to the conference finals each of the last two years, and they have their sights set on reaching the Stanley Cup. The Blues won't be able to stand in their way.