NHL Playoffs 2014: High-Profile Stars Who Will Dominate Postseason

The pursuit of the Stanley Cup is a team endeavor. That task, however, is far easier if a team has a star leading the way with brilliance on the ice. 

There are plenty of stars in this postseason with the tools to lead their team to the title. 

The first round may already be underway, but any legacies carved in these playoffs will be written in future performances. Here are three players ready to add a great postseason to their resumes. 

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

USA TODAY Sports

The only thing that's slowed down Sidney Crosby in his nine NHL seasons is his health. Entering this season, he had played just 99 games over the last three seasons combined. 

He's enjoyed a run of health this year and managed to play 80 games. He scored 36 goals and earned 104 points in those games. 

His team currently is tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets at 1-1 in the first round. Crosby has yet to score, but he does have three points off of three assists. 

Not surprisingly, Crosby has spent most of his time in the first two games with an opposing player acting as his shadow. This isn't going to slow him down. 

Crosby, via the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan, offered up this on the differences of playoff hockey: 

"

“I think guys probably go the extra stride or two to finish their hit, and the after-the-whistle stuff they probably look for it a little more,” Crosby said after the Penguins practised at the Consol Energy Center on Friday.

“But as far as your typical end-to-end normal stuff, I don’t think it really changes a whole lot, no.”

"

With health on his side and a full season under his belt, Sid the Kid is not going to let this postseason opportunity pass without making his mark on the proceedings. 

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

Winslow Townson

It is a little harder to measure the impact of a defenceman. Still, Zdeno Chara will make his value readily apparent.

Especially when he is laughing off opponents who try to test his toughness, as he did in Boston's series against the Detroit Red Wings when Brendan Smith wanted to get in a little dust up.

Sporting News caught the moment: 

Eye on Hockey correctly points out that the expression often used to help people feel at ease can seem rather menacing on the face of the monstrous Chara:

During the regular season, Chara played 77 games. He had 17 goals and 40 points, but the real value of the 6'9", 255-pound rearguard is controlling the front of the net.

There is no one better at the job than Chara in the NHL, and he is going to prove that this postseason.

The Bruins and the Red Wings are tied at a game apiece. Boston won Sunday, 4-1. Chara scored the final goal of the game on a power play. 

Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins

Winslow Townson

If it wasn't clear after highlighting Chara, it should be now: I like the Bruins' chances this postseason.

Things got off to a rocky start, however, with a 1-0 loss to the Red Wings. It was actually my star here, Tuukka Rask, that allowed the late goal on a shot he could have stopped.

Still, don't expect many more blunders from Rask. For the season, Rask played 58 games and posted a 36-15-6 record with a goals-against average of 2.04, a .930 save percentage and seven shutouts.

He led the league in save percentage and shutouts.

In Game 1, although he will be lamenting the one he missed, he still finished with a save percentage of .958. In Game 2, his percentage was even better. He finished that contest with a save percentage of .971. 

Last season, Rask finished his postseason run with a 1.88 goals-against average mark and a tidy .940 save percentage. He will better those numbers this time around.