NHL Playoffs 2011: The Vancouver Canucks and Other Teams Under the Most Pressure

The 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs start Wednesday night. With the NHL postseason comes a lot of pressure on teams who have failed to get the job done in years past.

If a proven team like Pittsburgh, Chicago or Detroit fails to win the Stanley Cup this year, it's understandable; Chicago won it last year, Detroit seemingly wins it every year and Pittsburgh has had a great season without their best players.

But for some teams, it's all or nothing this year. They've been favorites year after year, yet they fail to win when it counts most.

Here are the top five teams who will be most heavily scrutinized if they don't go far this year.

5. New York Rangers

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers gets set for the opening faceoff against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on April 4, 2011 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Bruins 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Get

It doesn't matter if you're the eighth seed in the NHL playoffs because teams still have a very good shot to knock out the No. 1 seed and make a solid run in the postseason. We saw it last year with Montreal and in 2006 with Edmonton.

The New York Rangers know they can be that team this year.

Henrik Lundqvist needs to get rid of his playoff hex though.

In 2009, versus the same Washington Capitals team he will be playing against this week, Lundqvist was pulled twice in the series. He allowed four or more goals in three of those games.

After getting past New Jersey in 2008, Lundqvist was shellacked by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who scored five goals on him twice and sent the Rangers to the golf courses in five games.

Lundqvist was disastrous in his 2006 postseason debut versus New Jersey, and in 2007—despite putting up some solid performances—he was not able to get past the second round.

Obviously it's not all Lundqvist's fault he hasn't able to advance; hockey is a team sport. But the pressure resides on his shoulders, and he needs to win a series on his own in order to get the Rangers far. If he doesn't, questions will arise if Lundqvist is the goalie of the future in New York.

Prediction: The Rangers lose to the Caps in seven games.

4. Nashville Predators

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NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 08: Matt Calvert #11 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against Cody Franson #4 of the Nashville Predators on April 8, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

The team from the Music City does not have the biggest fanbase, but they've been awfully good since 2004, making the playoffs every year but one.

They have failed to win a series or take a team the distance though.

Granted, two of the last three seasons the Predators lost to the eventual NHL champions in the first round. This year, Nashville gets a more favorable draw in the Anaheim Ducks. They have a very strong defensive corps led by Shea Weber and solid goaltending with Pekka Rinne. That alone could lead the Predators past Anaheim in the first round.

In fact, if Rinne gets hot, Nashville could go a lot further, but the organization is really just hoping for a decent run that could generate more fan interest in the Sun Belt area. If they lose again in the first round, fans could get tired of one-and-dones, and this could easily make the team irrelevant in a town dominated by SEC football and the NFL.

Prediction: The Predators defeat Anaheim in five games through solid goaltending, but fall to Vancouver in the second round.

3. San Jose Sharks

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 26: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 26, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-1. (Photo by Christian Pe

The Sharks won the Pacific Division for the fourth consecutive year. They've advanced to the conference semifinals five of the last six seasons, but they've only reached the Conference Final twice (2004, 2010).

Every year the Sharks are one of the favorites to win the West,—and perhaps the Cup—but each year they fail to come through. Most recently, they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.

The Sharks enter the postseason with seven 20-goal scorers, but an indefinite shutdown pair defensively. They do have last year's Stanley Cup-winning goaltender in net, but it's unclear how far he can carry the Sharks this season.

San Jose historically seems to defeat teams they need to beat in the playoffs, but struggle against the big dogs of the West (Chicago in 2010, Detroit in 2007). This year they draw the L.A. Kings in the first round, a team they had success against during the regular season. But it is a California rival that can give them a lot of trouble, as the Kings have the goaltending and defense to shut down San Jose's scoring punch.

The Sharks have had better teams in year's past, but have failed to reach the Cup Final. It's going to be a difficult task for Jumbo Joe and his hungry fish. They will have to play like a hungry team to avoid scrutiny in the Bay Area as the "playoff chokers."

Prediction: The Sharks defeat the Kings in seven games, but lose to the Red Wings in seven.

2. Washington Capitals

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Verizon Center on March 29, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals' playoff struggles have been well-documented ever since they lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games in 2008. They also lost to Pittsburgh in seven games in 2009, and last year—after winning the President's Trophy—they fell to Jaroslav Halak's Montreal Canadiens in seven games.

Washington's goaltending has been very shoddy in the playoffs recently. Although Semyon Varlamov has great numbers in the playoffs (2.53 GAA in 2009 and his 2.41 GAA in 2008), he has failed to come through during any Game 7 situation.

Washington's star-studded offense has had power outages when it matters most too.

With President's Trophy numbers in the regular season and world class players like Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin, the Capitals are expected to at least reach the Conference Final, but they've failed to do so.

This year they've adopted a defensive system to which they've adjusted well, but can their young goaltending with Michal Neuvirth and Varlamov help them get past big-time opponents such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia? Can Ovechkin alter his reputation in big games after his poor Olympic performance with Russia and Washington's constant playoff struggles?

The Caps play a Rangers team they struggled against in the regular season, so it won't be easy for them. Then they face the possibility of playing Pittsburgh in the second round, and Sidney Crosby may be back for the Penguins by then.

Prediction: The Capitals defeat the Rangers in seven games and defeat Buffalo in five during the second round, but lose to Boston/Pittsburgh in the East Final.

1. Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MARCH 31: Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by Henrik Sedin #33 and Victor Oreskovich #38 after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period in NHL action on March 31, 2011 at Rogers Arena in

Like the Sharks and Capitals, the Vancouver Canucks have fantastic regular seasons and fail to get past the semifinals.

However, Vancouver takes it to another level.

They've posted 100+ point seasons in six of their last eight years and have failed to advance to the Conference Final in any of those seasons.

This year they had the best record in the NHL and a pair of Swedish twins looking to dominate. Roberto Luongo posted another season of dominance in net.

We've seen it all before though.

Dominance in the regular season. Failure in May.

Luongo's postseason GAA last year was over three, after posting Vezina-like numbers during the regular season. In a pivotal Game 6 against Chicago in 2009, Luongo allowed seven goals to lose the series.

If there's been a flaw with the Canucks in recent years, it's been their defense. However, this year for the first time since 2004, they allowed less than 200 goals (180, to be exact). Their defense has improved, they have great goaltending and their offense is poised and ready to dominate.

Prediction: The Canucks win the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup.