NHL Playoff Predictions 2011: Upset Alert! Which 5 Series Are Prime for an Upset

The NHL regular season has finally concluded, and the 16 teams that will vie for Lord Stanley's Cup have been determined.

With the frenzy of activity that accompanied the final week of the season there are sure to be some fireworks in the first round of the playoffs, but the question is, which teams will be providing the sparks?

There are some old foes matching up again at a familiar time as well as some potential new rivalries in the making.

The only thing we know for sure is that only eight teams will remain standing, and here is a list of some underdogs that might just find themselves in the second round.

New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Chris Drury #23 of the New York Rangers skates against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The cast of characters that the New York Rangers are taking into the playoffs could be a formidable one if the likes of Marian Gaborik and Bryan McCabe find the form that made them superstars in this league just a few years ago.

Throw in a Stanley Cup champion coach in John Tortorella, and there is some potential here for a nice Cinderella run in the playoffs.

Truthfully though, this team makes the list because of who they are playing.

The Washington Capitals have a really nasty habit of getting in their own way in the playoffs, and until then they will carry that cross until they reach the Finals and win.

The addition of an experienced player like Jason Arnott, however, might help fight the mental demons that have haunted this Capitals team in the playoffs.

Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks

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ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 8: Ryan Smyth #94 and Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrate Smyth's fisrt period goal against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on April 8, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The acquisition of Dustin Penner at the trade deadline was a clear signal that the Kings are tired of waiting and are ready to try and break through to the NHL's elite.

Dustin Brown and the Kings were dealt a brutal blow when they lost Anze Kopitar, but their physical style should match up well with the size that the San Jose Sharks bring to the table.

What could be the fatal flaw of the San Jose Sharks? 

Joe Thornton was a magician in Boston during the playoffs, and what was his specialty? The disappearing act.

In his first postseason as the captain for the Sharks, Thornton will have to show a lot more in the way of leading his team by example if they hope to advance past the first round.

If the Kings get some momentum and a little confidence, the Sharks might get caught looking for leadership that just isn't there.

Phoenix Coyotes vs. Detroit Red Wings

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GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 01: Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Phoenix Coyotes during the NHL game against he Colorado Avalanche at Jobing.com Arena on April 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Avalanche defeated the Coyotes 4-3 in an overtime shoot out.

It is not very often that the Detroit Red Wings enter the playoffs and look across the ice at a more experienced and veteran goaltender, but Ilya Bryzgalov is the better goalie in this series.

Dave Tippett and the Phoenix Coyotes will once again face Mike Babcock and the Detroit Red Wings, and this time the Red Wings are a year older in a lot of positions and the Coyotes are a more experienced and polished squad then the one that took Detroit to a seventh game last season.

The weight of the world will be on both Jimmy Howard and Ilya Byzgalov, but the Red Wings reign could come to an abrupt end in 2011. 

Buffalo Sabres vs. Philadelphia Flyers

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BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 08: Players from the Buffalo Sabres skate to Thomas Vanek #26 after Vanek scored the game winning goal in overtime against Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers at HSBC Arena on April 8, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo wo

There might not be a hotter team rolling into the playoffs then the Buffalo Sabres, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games leading up to the beginning of the playoffs.

The Sabres will have a tall order trying to knock out the defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Flyers, who are solid in almost every phase of the game.

Still, the Flyers magical run last season came on the heels of great goaltending play from whoever was standing between the pipes for them.

Can they rely on that this season with Sergei Bobrovsky?

This could be the one series where the best team doesn't win, and if the Flyers get pushed early and fall down a game or two, then it's hard to imagine the train to not keep rolling for the Sabres.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks

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CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 23: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers at the United Center on March 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Panthers 4-0. (Pho

At times it wasn't always pretty, and until the last minute of the regular season, there was no guarantee that they would get the chance to defend their championship.

But make no mistake that when the Vancouver Canucks found out they were playing the Chicago Blackhawks, a collective groan was let out all over British Columbia.

Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks will face their playoff kryptonite in the first round of the playoffs, and winning this series might be the hardest mental task that the Canucks will face.

Simply put, the Chicago Blackhawks and Joel Quenneville have always had an answer for everything that Alain Vigneault and the Canucks have thrown at them.

The rosters are different than the other times these teams have faced off, but the jerseys are the same, and right now the Canucks should be very focused on this round because the team on the other side is the one who knows how to beat them, and not the other way around.