10 Burning Questions Heading into the 2013 NHL Conference Finals

In the 2013 NHL conference finals, the Boston Bruins will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference, while the Los Angeles Kings will face the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference.

Interestingly enough, the final four teams are the last four Stanley Cup winners.

How long will Tomas Vokoun's leash be against the Bruins? Can the Blackhawks solve Jonathan Quick? With both series starting on Saturday, here are 10 burning questions heading into the 2013 NHL conference finals.

How Long of a Leash Will Tomas Vokoun Have Against the Boston Bruins?

Marc-Andre Fleury imploded against the New York Islanders, and Tomas Vokoun came to the rescue for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since that point, Vokoun has posted a record of 6-1-0, with a 1.85 GAA and a .941 save percentage.

While it is unlikely that he will suddenly collapse, if he does struggle, how long will his leash be? Will the Penguins go right back to Fleury after a loss, or will they let Vokoun rebound?

A goaltending controversy would make headlines, and it could cost the Penguins a chance at competing for the Stanley Cup.

Can Jonathan Quick Beat the Blackhawks?

Jonathan Quick is becoming a money playoff goalie, but can he beat the Blackhawks? Last year, Quick had a magnificent playoff run in which he went 16-4 with a .946 save percentage and a 1.41 GAA. This postseason, Quick is 8-5 with a .948 save percentage and 1.50 GAA.

Right now, he is simply in the zone, and he is making big saves at the right times. However, Quick has not had good numbers against the Blackhawks as of late. This year, Quick went 1-2 with a 4.05 GAA and a .857 save percentage in three contests versus Chicago.

Quick has been playing great hockey, but can he elevate his game even more against a team he's struggled against in 2013?

What Will the Boston Bruins Do with Their Defense?

During the Boston Bruins' series against the New York Rangers, a duo of young defensemen stepped up and played extremely well. Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski made an impact in the lineup while the Bruins dealt with injuries, but now the team is getting healthy.

According to The Boston Globe, Andrew Ference has returned to practice, and that put Claude Julien in a tough situation. Should the Bruins keep a winning lineup together, or should they scratch one of their rookies in favor of a veteran like Ference?

Will Mike Richards Shut Down Jonathan Toews?

The Detroit Red Wings neutralized Chicago's Jonathan Toews as a threat for most of their series because of Henrik Zetterberg.

During the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, one of the most interesting matchups involved Toews and Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards.

In the upcoming Western Conference Finals, these two players will likely do battle again. Both are skilled two-way players who are valuable to their teams, and Richards will have a tough task.

Richards is a feisty two-way center who likes to play a physical game, but can he shut down "Captain Serious"? It will be an interesting matchup to watch, and Richards will certainly have his work cut out for him.

How Hostile Will Jarome Iginla's Reception Be in Boston?

Twitter exploded when news broke that Jarome Iginla would head to the Boston Bruins. A tweet from Aaron Ward of TSN confirming the trade went viral.

Then, everything changed. News emerged that Iginla instead would move to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and things got even crazier.

The long story short, according to Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli, is that a deal was in line for Iginla to join the Bruins, but Iginla chose Pittsburgh at the last minute. Bruins fans are probably very angry that Iginla spurned their team's offer, and it will be interesting to see how hostile his reception will be at TD Garden in Boston.

Will the Offense Come Alive for the Kings and Blackhawks?

During the playoffs to date, both the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings have not had their top guns firing on all cylinders.

While the Kings' Jeff Carter and Mike Richards have played well, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown have not matched that effort. On the Blackhawks' side, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp have been standouts, but Toews and Brandon Saad have not.

This series could come down to tight goaltending, so the key players for each side will need to step up during this series. A clutch goal could be the deciding factor in who advances to the Stanley Cup Final, but will each team's top players be able to play at a high level in this series?

Can Tuukka Rask Stand Tall Against the Penguins Offense?

During the first round, the Penguins did a good job decimating Evgeni Nabokov. It was assumed by some fans that if the Penguins played a team with a solid goalie, the offense would slow up. That wasn't the case against Craig Anderson and the Ottawa Senators.

The Boston Bruins will have the tough task of shutting down Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Penguins lineup. The Pens feature offensive weapons like Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Jarome Iginla and Kris Letang, and they may prove to be too much for Tuukka Rask.

The Penguins' power play could also be a key factor during this series. With that in mind, can Rask stand tall against the Penguins offense?

Which Coach Will Have the Edge in Each Series?

An amazing coach stands behind the bench for each remaining playoff team. Each has won a Stanley Cup, and each is widely respected by his peers. The Eastern Conference final will feature Dan Bylsma vs. Claude Julien, and the Western Conference final will pit Joel Quenneville vs. Darryl Sutter.

Each coach has a different background and special skills, but which coach will have the edge in each series?

Eastern Conference

In the East, Bylsma was a minor league hockey coach who jumped to stardom when he replaced the fired Michel Therrien. He led a star-filled roster to Stanley Cup glory, but since then, he hasn't been as successful.

Julien has been a coach for nearly two decades and has coached in the QMJHL, the AHL, the NHL and internationally for Canada. He is a tactician and a very smart coach who should be able to match wits and lines with Bylsma.

Julien has more experience than Bylsma, and it will be intriguing to see how they match up in this series.

Western Conference

In the West, two veteran head coaches will clash in a very exciting series. Joel Quenneville has won over 600 games as a head coach, and he has had success at multiple levels. He was a journeyman in various leagues as a player, and he's been an NHL head coach since 1996.

He will match Sutter, a veteran coach and player who entered the NHL as a Chicago Blackhawk back in 1978. Sutter is a member of the historic Sutter family, and his resume in the hockey world is well known. Both coaches have similar resumes and experience and are the same age.

The coaching battle should be very interesting in the West because of how each coach plays close to the vest. This will be a true battle of wits.

How Will Sidney Crosby Do Against the Bruins' Physical Bottom Six?

The Boston Bruins have one of the deepest teams in the NHL. The "Merlot" line played wonderfully against the New York Rangers, and they were effective at wearing down players such as Rick Nash.

Sidney Crosby no longer has to wear a special helmet, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against the Bruins. Bench boss Claude Julien is masterful at matching lines, and you can almost guarantee that he will have his bottom six key in on Crosby.

Heading into this series, how will Crosby fare against the Bruins' depth, and can he be knocked off his game?

Will the Officiating Decide Games?

During the second round, there were a number of calls that had an impact in games. Whether it was non-goal calls against the Blackhawks or the Kings, the standard of officiating during the second round was not up to par.

With only two series left, there will be fewer referees, so hopefully the remaining officials will not make calls that impact a game's outcome. The Blackhawks overcame a bad call in the third period of Game 7 against the Red Wings, but there would have been serious repercussions if they went on to lose in overtime.