NHL: What Each Team's Fans Will Need to Make It Through the Playoffs

The NHL Playoffs can be an intense experience—especially if your beloved team is in the mix. The playoffs provide euphoric highs and devastating lows. A moment of rage can quickly be followed by a moment of bliss, and a grown man can be turned into a sobbing child with a single hit.

This roller coaster of emotions can often be too much to handle for fans who are not prepared. I felt it would be useful to let fans of the 16 playoff teams know what they will need most to make it through the next number of weeks without being committed to a mental institution.

What Capitals Fans Need: Pie

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WASHINGTON - APRIL 22: A disappointed fan of the Washington Capitals comes to tears with a overtime loss against the Philadelphia Flyers during game seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 22, 2008 at t

Humble pie, to be precise.

It's important to not get too arrogant, because should your team lose in the first round to the eighth-seeded team, it makes the loss that much harder. So, stay humble. Cheer on your team, but don't get cocky. Anything can happen in the postseason.

What Rangers Fans Need: Confetti

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Confetti falls during pre-game ceremonies before the 2007 NHL All-Star game January 24, 2007 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Photo by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Rangers fans, your team got in by the skin of their teeth. Not to say that upsets don't happen, but you should be treating this as your big victory. So go celebrate like it's 1994.

What Sabres Fans Need: Boxing Gloves

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Greg Inglis of the Storm wears boxing gloves during a Melbourne Storm NRL training session at Gosch's Paddock on July 20, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Playing the Flyers can be a very frustrating experience. It's almost certain that, at some point during the series, every Sabres fan will have punched a table, a wall, a loved one or a fish while screaming "Damn you, Pronger!"

Boxing gloves will protect your hands from the all-but-certain abuse you will inflict on them.

What Flyers Fans Need: A Shower

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ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 8: Luca Sbisa #5 of the Anaheim Ducks chases the puck around the net in a shower of ice against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center on April 8, 2011 in Anaheim, California. The Ducks won 2-1 to clinch a berth in the playoffs. (Phot

Seriously. Yikes.

What Bruins Fans Need: A Michael Bolton CD

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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: A paddle boarder in action at sunset on Brighton Beach on March 21, 2011 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

For Bruins fans, playing the Canadiens in the playoffs can bring back some painful memories. That's why it's important to relax and not get too stressed about it just yet. Throw on some Michael Bolton, light some candles and have a calm, relaxing moment before each game.

What Canadiens Fans Need: Security

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MONTREAL- MAY 12: Riot police begin to disperse the crowd after several stores were looted in downtown Montreal during street celebrations after the Montreal Canadiens defeat of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals

This isn't just for Habs fan; this is for anyone near them. Canadiens fans are infamous for their rioting abilities. They lose, they riot. They win, they riot. They finally find that sweater they lost weeks ago, they riot.

Get the tear gas ready. The Habs are looking for another run at the Cup.

What Penguins and Lightning Fans Need: Cough Drops

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: A fan yells at referee Brian Pochmara #43 during the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers on October 25, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Penguins in the shootout by a

This is likely to be a very exciting series featuring two very talented teams. So, whether you're at the games or watching on TV, it's likely that you'll be doing quite a bit of yelling. Better take care of your throat, because this series could be a long one.

What Blackhawks Fans Need: Beer

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LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 1: A fan of the Los Angeles Kings sports a 'beer helmet' during the Kings game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Staples Center on February 1, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

You've had to trade a lot of your good players away, and you barely sneaked into the post-season. But you've got your cup. Have some beer, sit back and enjoy.

What Canucks Fans Need: Ritalin

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VANCOUVER, BC - APRIL 13: A young Vancouver Canucks fan cheers during the game against the Dallas Stars during game two of the 2007 Western Conference Quarterfinals on April 13, 2007 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Sta

Calm down. Everyone, just calm down.

Okay, we've got the number one team in the league, great depth, individual award winners and our best prospects to win a Cup in years.

But chill.

Yes, we've never won a Cup, and we're starting to get a little antsy, but chill. Deep breaths. If we expect the Canucks to play into June, we can't be losing our minds and screaming every day. Save it for game day.

What Sharks Fans Need: A Sense of Humour

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 18: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks looks down late in the third period before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 18,

Great teams, bad results seems to be San Jose's claim to playoff fame. Sharks fans, maybe the hockey gods just don't want you to win. So try to not be too serious about it.

What Kings Fans Need: Voodoo Dolls

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Alexander Steen #20 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates his second period goal as dejected fans of the Los Angeles Kings react at the Staples Center on January 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty

With some key injuries up front, the Kings are facing an uphill battle. Fans better get out their voodoo dolls in hope of leveling out the playing field.

What Red Wings Fans Need: Nothing

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DETROIT - APRIL 16: Fan Mo Cheese of the Detroit Red Wings cheers in the stands against the Columbus Blue Jackets during Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 16, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, M

You've been down this road before. Playoffs and the Red Wings go together like golfing and the Maple Leafs, or complete apathy and the Thrashers. Enjoy the playoffs. You can handle this.

What Coyotes Fans Need: Tickets

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 26: Fan of the Phoenix Coyotes holds up a sign during the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Jobing.com Arena on March 26, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Imag

Your team may be leaving soon, so you might as well go see them while you still can. Although, if you had been doing that all along, they probably wouldn't be leaving...

What Ducks Fans Need: The Mighty Ducks Trilogy on DVD

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JUNE 9: Paul Kariya #9 of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim looks to pass against the New Jersey Devils in game seven of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals at Continental Airlines Arena on June 9, 2003 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils

This is actually a must for all hockey fans. I'm really hoping that a "Flying V" chant starts at least once during the playoffs.

What Predators Fans Need: Barbecues

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CALGARY, ALBERTA - APRIL 21: Calgary Flames fan Nikzad Kassam barbeques up some chicken and sausages for his friends during the pre-game party in the parking lot of the Pengrowth Saddledome before the Flames take on the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in Game 1 of

You're in tailgating country, might as well take advantage of it! Cook up some steaks and hot dogs so you can thoroughly enjoy your team not making it near the Stanley Cup!