NHL Playoff Predictions 2011: 5 Most Dangerous Playoff Teams

The NHL regular season is now over and it is almost time for the most exciting couple of months in hockey.

The playoffs are right around the corner and there are a few teams that standout from everyone else in the NHL because of how dangerous they can be in the postseason.

Here are the five best teams going into the NHL's postseason.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins

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DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 16: Jordan Staal #11 of the Pittsburgh Penguins is congratulated by his teammates for his second period goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on February 16, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Gett

The Pittsburgh Penguins are still dangerous, even without their superstar captain Sidney Crosby.

The Penguins finished with 106 points in the Eastern Conference and ended up second in the Atlantic Division, losing a tiebreaker to the Flyers.

The Penguins scored 238 goals this season, but found their success by having the best penalty kill in the NHL.

The defense, along with Marc-Andre Fleury, have been a key to the Penguins 2010-2011 achievement.

Sidney Crosby only played in 41 games this season, and still leads the team in points and goals.

Coach Dan Bylsma has stated that he does not expect Crosby to be in the lineup for the team's postseason opener, but if Crosby can come back for the second round and so on, the Penguins quickly become the most dangerous team in the postseason.

Pittsburgh will host the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.

4. Detroit Red Wings

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NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 02: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 and Brad Stuart #23 of the Detroit Red Wings congratulate Jonathan Ericsson #52 on scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators on April 2, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by

It is no surprise that the powerhouse team from Detroit is one of the most dangerous teams heading into the postseason.

The Central Division champions finished with 104 points and ended up in third place in the loaded Western Conference.

Detroit scored and incredible 261 goals this season and also had one of the leagues best power plays.

Henrik Zetterberg has been the anchor for this team consistently throughout the year.

The Red Wings face off against the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round. 

3. Philadelphia Flyers

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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 29: Braydon Coburn #5 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates his first period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on March 29, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

After being in first place in both their division and the Eastern Conference for the majority of the season, the Philadelphia Flyers are the third most dangerous team heading into the playoffs.

The Flyers ended up winning 47 games this season and finished with a total of 106 points.

Philadelphia has one of the best offenses in the NHL, scoring the most goals in the Eastern Conference by lighting the lamp 259 times.

Led by right winger Claude Giroux and center Jeff Carter, the Flyers ended the year with the same amount of points as their state rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Atlantic Division.

The Flyers won the tiebreaker and were named Atlantic Division champs. Philadelphia ended the year in second place in the competitive Eastern Conference.

Last season's Stanley Cup runner-ups look ready to make another deep run in postseason play.

Philadelphia hosts Buffalo in the first round.

2. Washington Capitals

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Alexander Semin #28 of the Washington Capitals and teammate Alex Ovechkin #8 skate off the ice before playing the Carolina Hurricanes at the Verizon Center on March 29, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals are the second best team heading into the postseason.

Alex Ovechkin and his Capitals finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference, ending with 48 wins and 108 points.

The Capitals achieved success this season not because of their offense, but because of goaltenders great play and their defense.

The Capitals had the fourth best defense, only allowing 2.3 goals a game. They also had the fourth best penalty kill in the league.

Alex Ovechkin has been to the postseason many times, but has never been able to take his team all the way to the Stanley Cup finals.

Two years ago he was bested by Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last season his team was upset early by the historic goaltending of Jaroslav Halak and the surprising Montreal Canadiens.

Capitals fans all over hope this will be the year that he will be able to hoist Lord Stanley's cup.

Washington faces the New York Rangers in the first round.

1. Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - FEBRUARY 12: Kevin Bieksa #3 and Mason Raymond #21 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrate teammate Mikael Samuelsson's #26 goal against the Calgary Flames during the second period in NHL action on February 12, 2011 at Rogers Arena in Vanco

The Vancouver Canucks were the leagues best team for the entire season.

The team ended with an incredible 117 points and the President's Trophy.

Vancouver finished with an astounding 54 wins and scored 262 goals, the most goals in the entire NHL.

The great goaltending by Roberto Luongo and the offensive numbers that the Sedin twins put up make this team so dangerous.

Vancouver has been surprisingly eliminated from postseason contention early the last several years they have been to the playoffs.

However, this team is different and fully capable of dominating in the playoffs and making it very far.

Vancouver hosts the defending champions in the first round.