NHL Power Rankings: The 20 Most Clutch Players Among Playoff Hopeful Teams

Playoff time is just around the corner, and that means the biggest players are going to have step up for their respective teams.  Not just when the playoffs start, but before the playoffs even begin.

Both conferences have several teams that could just manage to squeeze into the playoffs if their top performers are just that.  But this is also the time of year when some new heroes manage to step into the limelight.

In this article, we're going to take a look at the top 20 most clutch players who could help push their teams into the playoffs.

1. Vancouver Canucks: The Sedins

Breaking the rules right from the beginning, this is two players instead of one, but if you ever watch these guys play, it is truly a thing to behold.

Not to play too much on the whole identical twin vibe, but these guys play like they share a brain, which is why I'm counting them as one person.  Each of them knows exactly where the other is going to be in every single situation that any hockey player could imagine, and even a few that only they can think of.  This isn't so much the result of sharing identical genes as it is having always played on the same team on the same line for their whole lives, though the genes thing probably doesn't hurt.

These guys are definitely the most clutch players on their team.  It's hard to pick one over the other as the most clutch, because it seems like whenever one of these guys scores, the other is part of the equation as well.  Daniel currently has a few more points than Henrik, but the incredible similarity in point totals illustrates this point very clearly. 

The Canucks are definitely the odds-on favorite to take the whole thing this year, but that is never any guarantee.  In the past several seasons, the President's Trophy winners, the team that finishes the regular season with the most points, seem to come up empty handed far more often than they have won the whole thing.

It's obvious that the Sedins are going to get the absolute best from every single team, which is why they are going to have to be at their best.  In order for the Canucks to win, both of these guys will need to contribute and continue to play at the same high level that they have shown during the regular season.

2. Detroit Red Wings: Nicklas Lidstrom

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 05: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 5, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Red Wings 5-4 in an overtime sh

One distinct thing to remember as we go through this list: Clutch does not necessarily mean that you are a goal scorer.  People most readily identify clutch with the guy who always manages to score when his team needs one, and understandably so.  But you can never forget about the guy who just always makes the play that needs to be made when his team needs it.

Enter Nicklas Lidstrom.  Hard to believe that this guy wasn't even drafted until the third round in 1989, but it's true. 

At the age of 40, he continues to defy father time as he always shows up in the discussion for the Norris Trophy.  Lidstrom is always matched up against the opponents' No. 1 scorers and he has to shut them down.

He has a perfect blend of physical strength, skill and craftiness that can only come with 21 years of experience in the league.  There isn't a single situation that he hasn't faced and it shows in how calm he is in every situation.

Forgetting that he is one of the best defensive players to ever lace up the skates, he also chips in offensively at very important moments.  He has tallied 14 goals this season, and his goals seem to show up in big moments.  They are big-time goals that really shift the momentum in games.

What makes him so clutch is his skill in every zone.  If there's a big moment for your team, Lidstrom is easily the first name that you would want to see out on the ice.

Johan Franzen is another player that could make this list, as he definitely comes up with goals in huge moments for these Wings.  One could easily argue that he is the most clutch player, but I feel that Lidstrom's presence in every zone and in every single situation puts him over the top. 

3. San Jose Sharks: Joe Pavelski

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PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 23: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks during the NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on February 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Sharks defeated the Penguins 3-2 in overtime. (Photo b

I may take a bit of flack for this particular pick, but I'm OK with that.  Joe Pavelski just really stands out as the most clutch player on the Sharks.

This really started last year during the Shark's playoff run, when Pavelski was always the guy who got the Sharks what they needed.  He was Mr. Clutch for them.

His numbers aren't horribly gaudy, by any stretch of the imagination (17 goals and 41 assists), but when he chips in, they are big-time points.

What makes Pavelski so big for the Sharks is that he's the guy everybody seems to forget about.  When teams are planning to play the Sharks, they plan for Thorton, Marleau and Heatley.  They spend so much time worrying about how to slow down that big line that, by the time they remember about Pavelski, he's already put a few in the back of the net.

If San Jose is to repeat last year's run to the conference finals, count on Pavelski being a huge reason why.

4. Phoenix Coyotes: Keith Yandle

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 05: Keith Yandle #3 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Jobing.com Arena on March 5, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Red Wings 5-4 in an overtime shoot

The Coyotes are a team that is really tough to figure out.  They have 11 people who have scored 10 or more goals, but not a single person who has scored more than 20.  So it really isn't one person who is clearly getting the job done. The whole team is definitely chipping in.

Keith Yandle, however, stands out for his contributions.  He is leading the team in scoring with 57 points (11 goals and 46 assists) and he has a really good chance at winning the Norris Trophy this year as he is tied for the lead in scoring among defensemen. 

Shane Doan is right behind him for the points total on the team, but you expect that kind of production from Doan.  Yandle is an offensive-minded defenseman, but 57 points is rarely something that you expect from those types of players. 

Similar to what happens with Pavelski, Yandle gets forgotten about in game planning.  He's very crafty and finds the right times to get involved in the play.  Before you know it, boom, there is big No. 3 right in front of your net, and the Coyotes are celebrating.

He's also very solid defensively.  He's a big body, with a great shot, he knows how to get involved in the play, and he really makes everybody on the ice a threat.  If that doesn't spell clutch, I don't know what does.

5. Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Quick

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DETROIT, MI - MARCH 9: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings gets his stick on a shot in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on March 9, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Kings defeated the Wings 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/G

Again, several people may disagree with me on this one, and that's fine.  Quick, again, just is the first player that comes to my mind when I think of the Kings.

Quick has great numbers this year.  He's a 30-win goalie, with a save percentage at .920.  Looking at those numbers, it is very obvious that he is more than doing his job to give his team a chance to win every night he's in net.

He is also one of those goalies who has the capability of winning a game for his team.  In his young career, he already has a few games where he has faced 50-plus shots and single-handedly won the game for his team. 

The reason why I pick Quick over Kopitar is simple.  Yes, Kopitar has shown himself to be a superstar in the league, but we haven't yet seen Kopitar take this team on his back in the same fashion that Quick has.  Until Kopitar is able to do that, Quick will continue to be the most clutch player on the team, and the Kings will continue to exit the playoffs in the second round.

This could be the year that Kopitar becomes that guy for his team.

6. Dallas Stars: Brad Richards

Sure, Richards was the center of the most trade hype during the season this year, but there is no denying what he is capable of doing for his team. 

One of the things you constantly hear about players who are referred to as great is that they make everybody on the ice better when they are out there.  Richards is one of those type of players.

Everybody becomes a threat because he is that magical with his passing abilities.  He also has the type of shot that finds its way on net no matter where he takes it from.  He quarterbacks the power play and he really is the catalyst for the Stars' success.

His value can't be understated, either.  Though he spent a decent amount of time out of the lineup with a concussion, he still leads the Stars in points scored with 67. 

Dallas faces a very difficult decision regarding what to do with Richards at the end of this season, as he is going to be an unrestricted free agent.  Another team may gain this extremely clutch player.

7. Chicago Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 20: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates up to a face off against the Phoenix Coyotes during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on March 20, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

You have to love it when your best players also end up being your most clutch players.  That is definitely the case with Jonathan Toews.

Toews is another player who is just a threat in every facet of the game.  He scores 30-plus goals a year, but also has a magical passing touch. The defender really has two choices.  First, you can commit to taking the shot away from Toews, and then he finds an open teammate for a scoring chance.  Then again, you take away the pass, and give Toews a clean shot on net.  It's a pick-your-poison situation.

He is also fantastic in his own zone.  His plus-24 rating shows that pretty clearly as well.  This is a guy who just doesn't make mistakes, and he always makes teams pay for the small mistakes that they make whenever he's out on the ice.

If the Hawks are going to have a shot at making another strong run at the Cup, Toews will have to continue to be at his best in the clutch.

8. Nashville Predators: Pekka Rinne

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NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 17: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators makes a save on a shot by Michael Ryder #73 of the Boston Bruins on March 17, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

There is only one goalie in the league who is having a better year than Pekka Rinne, and that is Tim Thomas.

Rinne's numbers are insanely good: 2.09 goals-against average, save percentage of .930, six shutouts, and only three wins away from a 30-win season. 

Nashville is a team that isn't really offensively powerful, so they rely on their goalie playing well night in and night out.  Rinne has more than lived up to that particular challenge. 

It is possible that Rinne will give Thomas a push for the Vezina Trophy this year.  Their numbers are almost identical, and one could easily argue that Rinne is more valuable to his team because of how little offensive support Rinne usually has on his side. 

It will be interesting to see how Rinne handles the heat in the playoffs this year, as the Predators could definitely do some serious damage.  If Rinne continues to play as well as he has during the regular season, the Predators could definitely give somebody a run for their money. 

Of the teams on the bubble, Rinne gives his team the best chance to get into the playoffs, and he will have to stay on top of his game to get them into the playoffs.

9. Anaheim Ducks: Corey Perry

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ANAHEIM, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Goaltender Peter Budaj #31 of the Colorado Avalanche lunges to make a save as Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks pursues at Honda Center on February 27, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

It's very interesting to note that every single team in the Pacific Division is a factor in this playoff race.  That is definitely a testament to how deep this division is.

For the Ducks, their most clutch player has really emerged as a dominant player this year.  Corey Perry has become one of the elite power forwards in the game today.  Perry is having a career year and will probably break the 40-goal mark.

The thing that makes him clutch is that he is really capable of scoring every type of goal.  He can make the strong power move to the front.  He can plant himself in front of the net and use his strength to get to rebounds.  He can finesse around defensive players and score the pretty goal.  He can also bomb a slap shot past the goalie from any spot in the offensive zone.

With 37 goals to this point, Perry has been scoring all of these types of goals for the Ducks in all types of situations and he is showing that he cannot be stopped.  That is what makes him the most clutch Duck.

10. Calgary Flames: Jarome Iginla

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 10: Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames in action during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Flames 3-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Get

This is one of the biggest no-brainers of the whole lot.

Jarome Iginla has been the most clutch member of the Calgary Flames for years now.  He is a perennial All-Star player who always does what is absolutely necessary for his team.

Sometimes that's scoring a goal.  Sometimes it's him getting a big hit on somebody.  Sometimes it's even dropping the gloves and going toe-to-toe with anybody who gets in his way in order to give his team a spark.

For a guy who has always been so integral to the success of his team, it always surprises me how many times he gets mentioned in trade rumors.  The Flames should never let this guy go because he always gets things done for the Flames whenever they need it.

11. Philadelphia Flyers: Jeff Carter

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 12: Jeff Carter #17 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Atlanta Thrashers on March 12, 2011 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Carter was recently rewarded for his play by the Flyers when he signed a 10-year extension with the team. 

He has shown them that their faith in him is well-founded.  He currently leads the team in goals, with 33, and he is second on the team in points, with 62.

He also benefits from playing on one of the lower lines.  Again, people make plans to stop Danny Brier and Mike Richards, and then they get surprised by a third-line right winger who is scoring 30 goals. 

He's absolutely the kind of player who you would expect to see on the Philadelphia Flyers.  He's big, physical and scores his goals from the tough spots.  He's not the type to get a lot of the prettier goals, but last time I checked, any style of goal still counts on the scoreboard.

12. Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin

This is another one of those no-brainers. 

Ovechkin has shown, since the moment that he stepped foot in the NHL, that he is the type of player who will step up when he needs to.  He will place a team on his back and take a game over.

Another thing that makes a player clutch is that he manages to find himself in the right spots to make the plays.  Some announcers say that the puck just manages to find him.  Ovechkin definitely has that kind of magnet in him.  He finds the dangerous areas on the ice, and the puck just shows up on his stick.

The other part of that is that he converts these moments when the other teams give him the opportunity.  Some players will shoot it wide or put it right in the chest of the goalie.  Not Ovechkin.  If he is given even the slightest opportunity, he will bury it.  That is the mark of a truly clutch player.

13. Boston Bruins: Tim Thomas

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UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 11: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins tends net against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on March 11, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Tim Thomas is a pretty easy choice for the Bruins.  He just lets his numbers speak: 2.08 goals-against average, .940 save percentage, only 100 goals against all season long, seven shutouts. 

Thomas is almost a shoe-in for the Vezina Trophy, and he may even lock up the Hart Trophy with his play as well. 

Thomas's acrobatic style of goaltending allows him to make some amazing saves that nobody has any business making.  It's pretty easy for a team to win the division when the goalie rarely gives up more than two goals a game. 

14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury

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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 13: Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends the net against the Edmonton Oilers on March 13, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Fleury has already proven that he is a big-time goalie, and he has a Stanley Cup to prove it.

This particular season has turned into one in which he has had to be even more of a factor for his team's success than ever.  With team captain Sidney Crosby out and Evgeni Malkin also out for the remainder of the season, Pittsburgh's offensive fire power has been greatly diminished.

For a little while, it seemed like Pittsburgh might be on the list of teams that would be lucky to make the playoffs this year, but Fleury has turned his game up a notch.

He is once again over 30 wins, he has a 2.35 goals-against average and he has a very impressive save percentage, at .918.  Obviously these numbers aren't quite on the out-of-this-world level of Thomas and Rinne, but Fleury is single-handedly holding his team in the playoff race.

If Fleury keeps his outstanding play up, it is entirely possible that he could play the Penguins into another divison title.

15. Tampa Bay Lightning: Steven Stamkos

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 29: Martin St. Louis #26 and Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning look on during the Honda NHL SuperSkills competition part of 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend at the RBC Center on January 29, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Ph

This was another hard one, and I decided to go with Stamkos on this one, but I could also go with St. Louis.

Stamkos is the choice simply because of the types of goals that he scores.  He is one of those players who has that unstoppable shot that he unleashes in big moments.

When there is a time that the Lighting need to have a big goal, guess who will be out on the ice.  When there is a situation in a game in which a goal or a couple of strong scoring chances might change the momentum of the game, guess where the puck is going.  Stamkos can change the entire course of a game with one of his monstrous one-timers. 

He's not as wildly unpredictable as St. Louis, but the effect that he has on a game is just as great, if not greater.

16. Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price

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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 12: Goaltender Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens plays the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 12, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

They are singing a different tune in Montreal these days.  After trading last year's playoff hero, Jaroslav Halak, to the St. Louis Blues, people all over the hockey world were calling it a terrible decision to leave Carey Price in the No. 1 spot.  Boy has he proved them wrong this year.

Price currently leads the NHL in wins, with 34.  He has a more-than-respectable 2.38 goals-against average, a very good .922 save percentage, and he is second in the NHL with eight shutouts.  Price has put up these fantastic numbers while facing the second most shots in the NHL, as only Cam Ward has faced more.

He has proven his worth to the whole hockey world this year with his fantastically clutch play.  Only a true leader would be able to take that type of beating in the press and not let it affect him in a negative fashion.  Rather than sulking, he went out and proved to everybody that Montreal chose the right goalie to keep. 

If that isn't clutch, then I don't know what is.

17. New York Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist

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NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers guards the net against the Montreal Canadiens during their game on March 18, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Lundqvist is another goalie who plays on a team that isn't really that offensively dynamic.  A lot of the success of the Rangers depends on whether or not Lundqvist has his game going on a given night.  Lucky for the Rangers, he usually does.

Another 30 game winner, Lundqvist is one of the few goalies in the league who can claim to have a statistic that is better than Tim Thomas.  Lundqvist has built up nine shutouts this season, which is tops in the league.  He's started 57 games.  That means that in nearly 20 percent of the games he has started this season, he has blanked his opponents.

He's another goalie who has an amazing ability to scramble to make saves.  If the Rangers can ever put together a complete team in front of Lundqvist, they may have a very strong shot at the Stanley Cup.  Until then, they must continue to rely on their goalie to carry them through the regular season.

18. Buffalo Sabres: Ryan Miller

There are a lot of goalies in the Eastern Conference finding their way onto this most clutch list.  With all of the talent that is in this conference, it says a lot about the caliber of goalies, and Ryan Miller is another perfect example.

Ryan Miller is another one of those special goalies who doesn't need a lot from his offense in order for him to win the game. 

He's positionally fantastic, and he is able to scramble with the best of them.  Miller has proven his worth to this team year in and year out, and then he proved it to the world by backstopping the U.S. men's hockey team to a silver medal, being voted the tournament MVP in the last Olympics. 

Miller's play is one of the things that has helped the Sabres claw their way back into playoff contention after it looked like they were going to sink in the Eastern Conference.  Without his clutch saves in huge times, the Sabres might not even be a part of the conversation.

19. Carolina Hurricanes: Eric Staal

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NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 16: Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 16, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Carolina has a roster that definitely doesn't yield a lot of star power, so Staal finds himself in the position of not only being the best player on the team, but also being expected to make the biggest difference for his team.

Staal has not disappointed, either.  He currently leads the team in both goals and assists (29 goals and 35 assists) and he is one of the biggest reasons the Hurricanes find themselves just a couple of points out of the playoff position.

Staal will definitely have to continue his clutch play in order for Carolina to squeeze in. 

20. Toronto Maple Leafs: Phil Kessel

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UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 08: Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on March 8, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Im

I can hear the Leaf nation right now.  Phil Kessel?  Brian Burke's biggest mistake?  Calm down folks.  Allow me to justify myself.

First, looking at the Leaf's roster, there aren't a lot of players who stick out as clutch players, the types of players who make their money by pushing their team over the top.  Kessel has some shortcomings, but he is definitely the most clutch that I can find on the roster.

Second, I readily acknowledge that Phil Kessel is one of the streakiest players in today's game.  That cannot be denied.  What also cannot be denied is the effect that the goals he scores has when he is scoring.

Lately, Kessel has been on his game and he is putting the puck in the back of the net.  As a result of that, the Leafs have been winning games. When Kessel isn't scoring, that's when the Leafs tend to struggle the most. 

The effect that they have on the game is one of the things that spells clutch to me, and there is no denying that Kessel's goals have a strong effect on whether or not the Leafs win or lose.