Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012: Power Ranking the Current Form of Every NHL Team

I got to believe that the NHL wants to see a New York, Los Angeles final.

The Rangers are an Original Six team in the league’s largest market and Los Angeles is one of the few Second Six non-traditional market experiments that worked out.

Both these two teams would generate large national interest in the Stanley Cup Finals.

While the league itself would benefit from having a Canadian market in the final, even if it were a smaller one like Edmonton or Calgary, these two teams have large fanbases and national appeal.

In no way am I seeking to bash the Coyotes or Devils.

The league has committed to keeping its teams put, at least for the time being, and while the Coyotes organization may be a giant black hole for the city of Glendale, it will be harder for the league to encourage other cities to support their NHL teams if they abandon Phoenix/Glendale a year after turning the Atlanta Thrashers into the Winnipeg Jets.

Dave Tippett is a model coach and the team has likable veterans (Shane Doan, Ray Whitney) to complement budding superstars (Martin Hanzal, Keith Yandle) and a stalwart goaltender (Mike Smith).

New Jersey may be the "other" team on the East Coast, meaning that they’re lost in a market dominated by the Rangers and Flyers.

Then again, the Devils have become a model franchise since moving from Colorado in the early ‘80s. The team has won three Stanley Cups and has 10 division titles since relocating to jersey and are in position to add another Cup to their gallery if they can defeat the mighty Rangers.

An LA, New York final would generate a lot of interest in the league, but there’s no harm in having arguably two of the most overlooked franchises in hockey.

4. Phoenix Coyotes

This is a little unfair to the Coyotes, as they are the losers of the first game and the Rangers and Devils have yet to play.

Still, they looked flat on Sunday and coach Dave Tippett did not mince words in the post-game presser, saying that “We got beat in every facet of the game.”

Phoenix needs a better showing in Game 2 if they want to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

3. New York Rangers

Facing a foe that had defeated them in two of the past three years, the Rangers were forced to play seven games to eliminate the pesky Capitals.

Many pundits, including SI’s Adrian Dater, argued that this team whimpered through a decisive Game 6 and made the series more difficult on themselves than they had to.

What did coach John Tortorella think of all that?

We may never know. The guy doesn’t seem to want to talk much.

If his team keeps playing the way they are, however, New Jersey may silence them once and for all.

2. New Jersey Devils

Excuse the pun, but the Devils are on fire.

They disposed the Flyers in five games (the team that defeated the mighty Penguins in Round 1), and look hungry for a fourth Cup.

This team has been there, done that when it comes to winning on a big stage and should come out roaring against the Rangers in Game 1.

1. Los Angeles Kings

It’s only one game, but the Kings looked like the superior team in their matchup with the Coyotes.

Dustin Brown is leading by example. Anze Kopitar is leaving defenders in the dust. Dustin Penner has yet to be mauled by a rogue pancake.

All is well for hockey fans in LA.

Tom Schreier is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. He covers hockey and baseball.

Follow him on Twitter @tschreier3.