2013 NHL Playoffs: Ranking the Top Matchups We Want to See in Later Rounds

The Stanley Cup playoffs are always dramatic and exciting. In the first couple of weeks of the postseason, fans often have four games per night to keep them occupied. But while you wait for games to be played that night, you contemplate the possible matchups for the second round and beyond. All fans do it.

Coaches, general managers and players do it as well, although they won't acknowledge it. They don't want to be accused of losing focus or concentration, and that's why the "next" game is the only one that matters.

We are under no such constraints.

Here's a look at the matchups we would like to see in the upcoming rounds.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings

When: Western Conference semifinals or finals

Strength vs. Strength: The Kings are the defending champions, and they bring an indomitable will, a heavy and physical game and clutch scoring.

The Blackhawks are probably the most skilled all-around team in the league. They know how to hold on to the puck and make plays when other teams panic.

Secondary Story: How will Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford stand up to a competition with Jonathan Quick, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy last year? Crawford has had a brilliant season, but he has had problems with playoff overtime.

Likely Outcome: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith lead the Blackhawks to a six-game victory.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals

When: Eastern Conference finals

Lingering Hate: A few years ago, a matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals featured a battle of wills and talent between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. That rivalry has been derailed in recent years because of Crosby's concussion-related health problems and a downturn in Ovechkin's production.

Crosby was sensational this season before suffering a broken jaw in late March. He's back in the lineup now. Ovechkin has returned to his role as a dominant goal scorer.

Watching these two players compete when they are both at or near their best gives the NHL a marquee matchup.

Secondary Story: The Penguins have a slew of superstars who can back Crosby. When you can throw Evgeni Malkin, Jarome Iginla, Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang on the ice, you can fill up the net. The Caps have a lot of excellent effort/depth players, but they can't match the Penguins in talent. However, Braden Holtby has an edge over Marc-Andre Fleury in the net.

Likely Outcome: Crosby and Ovechkin don't like each other, but there is some mutual respect. The Caps have surged after an awful start, while the Penguins have been consistent all season. Pittsburgh is the slightly better team, and the Penguins win in seven games.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings

When: Western Conference semifinals or finals

Backyard Brawl: This is a fight that has stewed for years. The Ducks and the Kings have never met in the playoffs, so this would be an emotional and physical matchup.

The hockey establishment tends to notice West Coast hockey only when it is forced to, but the Ducks have had a stellar season thanks to Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry and their solid goaltending. It had to be difficult for them to watch their neighbors lift the Stanley Cup last season.

The Kings have the heavy game down low to push the Ducks hard. When Dustin Brown goes to the net, it's hard to knock him off stride and keep him from scoring clutch goals. This could be the most physical series in the playoffs.

Secondary Story: The Kings have a solid and mobile defense. However, they tend to make some mistakes, and the Ducks will have to take advantage of all their opportunities. The Ducks can beat anyone when they play their best game. They have not shown great consistency in the first round against Detroit, and it may be difficult for them to string great games together.

Likely Outcome: Darryl Sutter of the Kings may have the personality of broken glass, but he will get the most out of his team. Bruce Boudreau is in over his head. The Kings win in six games.

Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers

When: Eastern Conference semifinals or finals

Ancient Rivals: The Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers had a great rivalry in the early 1970s when the Bruins were led by legendary D-man Bobby Orr and high-scoring forward Phil Esposito, while the Rangers had Eddie Giacomin in goal, Brad Park on the blue line and the classy Jean Ratelle at center. (Esposito, Park and Ratelle would eventually switch sides in this blood rivalry.)

The teams met three times in four playoff seasons between 1970 and '73, with the Bruins winning two of those series—including the '72 Stanley Cup Final—but they have not met since.

The Bruins can roll four-line depth, have a strong and nasty defense and a fine goaltender in Tuukka Rask. The Rangers are a hard-skating, shot-blocking team with perhaps the best goalie in the world in Henrik Lundqvist.

Secondary Story: Both teams play the same kind of grind-it-out game, but the Bruins are bigger, stronger and perhaps a tad more skilled.

Likely Outcome: Don't ever underestimate the impact of Lundqvist in net. He has been dominant against Boston. This series goes seven games—Lundqvist and the Rangers come out on top.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings

When: Western Conference semifinals 

Star Power:  The Red Wings may have lost Nicklas Lidstrom to retirement at the end of last season, but they still have the stars to give them the gravitas needed in a matchup with the best team in the league.

The Red Wings can throw out Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on a nightly basis. When both are at their best, they are almost impossible to control.

The Blackhawks have the best all-around player in the game in Jonathan Toews and also have Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith.

Youngsters like Brendan Smith and Damien Brunner are impact players for the Red Wings, while Chicago's Brandon Saad seemingly gets better every game.

Secondary Story: The coaching matchup would be one of the best in the game. Mike Babcock knows how to squeeze every drop from his team, while Joel Quenneville will not let up on the gas pedal. Although it's a close call, Babcock gets a slight edge.

Likely Outcome: Look for the Red Wings to push the Blackhawks harder than any of the experts think possible, but Chicago eliminates Detroit in six games.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

When: Eastern Conference semifinals or finals

Hockey Royalty: This matchup looked like it would come to fruition in the first round, but when the Canadiens took the Northeast Division title, they ended up facing the seventh-seeded Ottawa Senators instead of the fifth-seeded Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs would attack the Canadiens with speed and an explosive offense, while the Canadiens have a structured defense, significant offensive skill and the ability to score clutch goals.

Secondary Story: This is the matchup that all of Canada has dreamed of since the two teams last met in a 1979 playoff series. The Canadiens swept that series in four games. Montreal has won 24 Stanley Cup titles, while the Leafs have won 13.

Likely Outcome: The Canadiens had the better regular season, but goalie Carey Price has been woeful in the last few weeks. If they can get by Ottawa in the first round, it seems probable that Price will have rebounded from those difficulties. That means he would be out of his slump, and he would lead the Canadiens to a six-game triumph over the Maple Leafs.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins

When: Stanley Cup Final

Speed vs. Strength: This would be another Original Six matchup, but once you got past the history and tradition of these two franchises, you would have a classic battle between speed and skill vs. power and strength.

The Bruins have plenty of skill, but they want to win by playing a heavy game and using the powerful bodies of Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton and Zdeno Chara to pound opponents into submission.

The Blackhawks can play with toughness and attitude, but it's the skill and timing of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith that overwhelms the opposition.

Secondary Story: How will the goaltending hold up? Corey Crawford and backup Ray Emery had stellar seasons, but Crawford has had some problems in playoff overtime games. Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin may be just a bit more resilient.

Likely Outcome: The Bruins are a relentless, hard-hitting and mean team. If they can survive the Eastern Conference playoffs, they will come at the Blackhawks in a punishing style and outlast the Presidents' Trophy winners in seven games.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

When: Stanley Cup Final

NHL Heavyweights: This is the matchup hockey fans have dreamed of this season.

The Blackhawks and the Penguins were the dominant teams in their respective conferences this season. A matchup between the top seeds in the Eastern and Western Conference is quite rare in the NHL.

It hasn't happened since the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils in the 2001 Stanley Cup Final in seven games.

Both teams have incredible star power that would bring the NHL outstanding television ratings. The idea of Sidney Crosby going at it for the Stanley Cup against Jonathan Toews should be spectacular.

The Penguins probably have more superstars, but no team has played with more cohesiveness than the Blackhawks.

Secondary Story: Both teams will need their goaltenders to be at their best. While Crawford has had problems from time to time, he has never been awful the way Marc-Andre Fleury was last year against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Blackhawks have the defensive edge.

Likely Outcome: The Blackhawks find a way to win this classic, outlasting the Penguins in seven games.