NHL: Top 10 Players Key to Their Team's Playoff Success

With one week left in the NHL season, I thought it would be the right time to look at the top 10 players that are integral to the success of their teams.

Without these 10 players performing at their highest level, their respective teams will struggle to make it to the finals to play for the most prized trophy in all of sports.

Feel free to comment on who you think is the most important player to their team's success in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

10. Pekka Rinne, G, Nashville Predators

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 31: Goalie Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators defends the goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 31, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Rinne had 27 saves as the Nashville Predators defeated the Colorado Avalan

Talk about a one man team.

The Predators are 25th in goals scored, but are third in GAA, which is a testament to how great Rinne has been this season.

He has a GAA of 2.14 and a save percentage of .929, good for second in the NHL in both categories.

Furthermore, the Predators leading scorer (Martin Erat) only has 50 points, signifying their reliance on defense.

Every year, one goalie gets extremely hot and carries a team deep in the playoffs (a la Jaroslav Halak last year for the Canadiens).

Could Rinne carry the Predators deep into the playoffs this year?

If the playoffs started today, they would play the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round.

9. Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay Lightning

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 02: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates during an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 2, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

For the first three months of the season, Stamkos was in the argument for the Hart Trophy and was neck and neck with Sidney Crosby for the Maurice Richard Trophy.

While Stamkos has remained in the race for the Richard, he no longer is the most valuable player on even his own team (that would be Martin St. Louis).

What remains true is that the Lightning's success will be tied to how well Stamkos performs come playoff time.

The Lightning rely heavily on playing an up-and-down game that goes chance for chance, as evidenced by their +1 goal differential even though they are fifth in the Eastern Conference with 99 points.

For the Lightning to go deep into the playoffs, they need to be firing offensively on all cylinders, and that starts with Stamkos.

The Lightning are slated to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.

8. Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens

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MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 5: Michael Frolik #67 of the Chicago Blackhawks shoots the puck wide past Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the

Another team that is offensively anemic.

Montreal is just 24th in the league in goals scored, but Price still is tied for the NHL lead in wins with 37.

Price very well could be a candidate for the Hart Trophy, as he is another goalie that has carried his team to the playoffs.

Price has played in 71 games already this year, so he may run out of gas come playoff time, but it appears that the Canadiens have no other alternative.

Canadiens fans hope that Price can channel his inner Jaroslav Halak from last season and take the Canadiens deep into the playoffs.

Montreal would play the Boston Bruins in an epic first round match-up if the season ended today.

7. Antii Niemi, G, San Jose Sharks

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Goaltender Antii Niemi #31 of the San Jose Sharks makes a save against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Another year, another monster San Jose team that racks up a ton of points in the regular season.

Sharks fans hope though that it doesn't have the same abysmal ending that it does every year.

Niemi brings with him a Stanley Cup ring from last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, providing confidence and experience that the Sharks need to take it to the next level.

Niemi has only played in 58 games this year, so he should be fresh for the playoff run.

The Sharks are solid offensive and defensively, ranking 6th and 8th respectively in the NHL.

Scoring has always been there for the Sharks, and if they hope to finally make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, Niemi is the key.

If the season ended today, the Sharks would play the Anaheim Ducks.

6. Tim Thomas, G, Boston Bruins

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins makes the split save against the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden on April 4, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Talk about a crazy season for Tim Thomas.

Two years ago, Thomas was the go-to-guy for the Bruins, yet was replaced last year by Tuuka Rask.

This year, Thomas has reemerged as the top goalie for the Bruins, and rightfully so.

He leads the league with a 2.02 GAA and a .938 Save Percentage.

Thomas has also only played in 52 games this season, as he shares the load with Rask, which will leave him fresh.

Many experts consider Thomas to be the leader for the Vezina Trophy, and Bruins fans hope that his regular season success can carry over to a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Bruins would play the aforementioned Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

5. Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Philadelphia Flyers

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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 29: Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers protects the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on March 29, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Talk about a fall from grace. The Flyers have been in a massive slump lately, and have lost their lead in the Eastern Conference to the Washington Capitals after holding it for the better part of the season.

No one denies the offensive fire power of the Flyers. They have six 20-goal scorers, and Ville Leino has 19.

What has been a constant struggle is their goaltending.

Living in Philadelphia, all I ever hear on sports talk radio is about how "Bob" needs to pick up the slack and become the goalie everyone thought he would be when he started off the season with a 3-2 win against the Penguins.

The rookie may be starting to feel the pressure though, as there have been talks to recall Michael Leighton and use Brian Boucher more.

Needless to say, the Flyers hopes of returning to the Stanley Cup finals rest on the back of the man they call Bob.

The Flyers would play the Buffalo Sabres if the season were to end today.

4. Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 18: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 18, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. The Capitals shut out the Devils 3-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Ovechkin's stats are severely down for the season relative to years past, but he is an integral part to the team's success.

There was a long stretch during the season where Ovechkin went goalless, and the Capitals struggled as a result.

There may only be one man more important to his team offensively than Ovechkin, who we will see later on this list.

The Capitals have become the San Jose Sharks of the East; they rack up a ton of points in the regular season, yet they cannot translate that success to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

If the Capitals are to make a deep run, Oveckhin has to score and score plenty. As Ovechkin goes, the rest of the Caps go.

Washington would play the New York Rangers if the season ended today.

3. Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Detroit Red Wings

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DETROIT, MI - MARCH 30: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings looks on the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena on March 30, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Soon to be 41 years old, Lidstrom keeps on performing at the highest level.

Considered by many to be the top candidate for the Norris Trophy again, the Red Wings have not missed the playoffs since Lidstrom joined the team full-time.

And not only does Lidstrom play the most minutes on the team (23:32 average ice time), he is second on the team in points and assists. 

This is remarkable considering the offensive fire-power that Detroit carries.

On a team that battled all year with injuries, it has been the elder Lidstrom that has been the backbone of the team, and will continue to be come playoff time.

Detroit is on pace to play the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs.

2. Roberto Luongo, G, Vancouver Canucks

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 25: Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks makes the kick save in the third period as Andrew Ladd #16 of the Atlanta Thrashers is tripped up in front at the Philips Arena on March 25, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Canucks defeated

It seems like we have this conversation every year: Roberto Luongo is the key to the Vancouver Canucks success.

And every year they miss out on the Stanley Cup Finals.

Vancouver ran away with the West this year and won their first President's Trophy.

They are second in goals scored and first in GAA, but that won't mean anything if the Canucks don't at least make the Stanley Cup finals.

Yes, the Canucks have the Sedin twins, Kesler, and others, but they will only go as far as Luongo takes them.

The Canucks are scheduled to face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs.

1. Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

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UNIONDALE, NY - DECEMBER 29: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on December 29, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 2-1 in the shootout. (Photo by Bruce B

No player will determine the outcome of their team's Stanley Cup dreams more than Sidney Crosby will for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Having watched every Penguins game, it is dramatic to see the shift of the Penguins' style of play since Crosby's concussion. The Penguins have transformed into an extremely defensive hockey team that relies on manufacturing goals.

Much has been written about the injury woes of the Penguins throughout the season—losing Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Brooks Orpik, and others for an extended period of time.

But the team continues to win and is only one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the Atlantic Division lead, which is remarkable.

The Penguins now make a living winning 2-1 or 3-2 games, which is key when it comes playoff time, but the fact of the matter is that they will only go deep into the playoffs if Crosby returns.

Most people wrote of the Penguins following Crosby and Malkin's injuries, but the Penguins battled through adversity to make it this far, winning numerous shootouts along the way (only 38 non-shootout wins, less than Montreal).

Yet, shootouts don't exist in the NHL playoffs, and they need to score goals.

And no one does that better than Crosby in the NHL today.

One final telling stat, Crosby has only played in 41 games this year (half of the season). He continues to lead the team in goals (32) and points (66). He was on pace for 64 goals and 132 points, which would clearly make him a Hart Trophy lock.

Even though Crosby has only played half the season, he still is 11th in the league in goals, and has one more goal than Alexander Ovechkin.

If the Penguins hope to hoist another Stanley Cup, they will only go as far as the formerly-concussed Crosby can take them.

Let me know you thoughts below and follow me on Twitter @BFlow82.