2011 NHL Playoffs: Ranking the Most Compelling Postseason Series

If you are a hockey fan, you will feel like a kid in the candy store right about now.  We sit on the eve of the 2011 NHL playoffs, and everyone is eager to see how some of these first-round matchups shake out.   However, not all are created equal, and some have more of a draw than others.  There are some splendid storylines this season, and puck drop can't come quick enough.

Let's take a closer look at which ones will be must-see television and which ones we'll catch on the highlights.

8: San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings

Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 24: Goaltender Antero Niittymaki #30 of the San Jose Sharks stretches at center ice during warm-up prior to the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on March 24, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Kings defea

Under normal circumstances, this matchup would easily be higher on the list.  The battle of California will still have some intrigue because of the geographic proximity of the teams and the fact that they are division rivals, but the moment Anze Kopitar went down with a broken ankle that required surgery, the appeal of the Kings dropped down the proverbial totem pole.

This doesn't mean that the series will be boring, but San Jose is the most heavily favored team of round one, and its firepower just seems like it will be too much for the Kings to handle.   There is also the San Jose Sharks choke factor.   Can this team finally put it all together and win the Cup?  Will it take them six or seven games, or will they dust off the Kings in four or five?

Thumb up: Division rivals, two California teams, San Jose Sharks choke factor

Thumbs down: No Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams

7: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

The problem with this series is two-fold.  One, there is the obvious lack of star power without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.  Two, there is a lack of rivalry between the teams.  On top of this, Matt Cooke is suspended for the series, so we can't even tune in to see what bonehead play he will do next.  On the flip side, Steve Downie seems to have been reigned in by the new system of power, and he isn't likely to make any headlines of his own either.

On the bright side, we get to see Steve Yzerman's new look Lightning Bolts take to playoff ice for the first time under his watch.  How will Steven Stamkos perform under the bright lights?  Does Vincent Lecavlier have anything left in the tank?   Will Dwayne Roloson provide the kind of goaltending that Tampa Bay need?  Can the likes of Chris Kunitz, Jordan Staal and James Neal provide enough offense to keep this ship afloat?

Thumbs up: Stamkos debut

Thumbs down: No Crosby, Malkin

6: Detroit Red Wings vs. Phoenix Coyotes

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 05: Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings battles for a loose puck with Michal Rozsival #32 of the Phoenix Coyotes during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on March 5, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Red Wings

The good news in this series is that the Coyotes should get some much-needed revenue from their playoff home games.  The bad news is they don't have much of an appeal outside the state of Arizona.  The bright spot here is that they played a hard-fought seven-game series last season, but the real intrigue will come from the Detroit side of things.

When will Henrik Zetterberg be back?   Can Pavel Datsyuk provide enough offense?  Which Jimmy Howard will we see?  Can the Red Wings play dominant hockey at home ever again?  Who will Darren Helm shut down considering that there are no 20-goal scorers on the Coyotes?   Will IIya Bryzgalov steal the series?

Thumbs up: Rematch from last year, Red Wings mystique

Thumbs down: Zzzzz Phoenix Coyotes

5: Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers

This is where it begins to get difficult.  I put this series in the five spot only because the other four are more compelling and not because there is anything wrong with this one.  There is plenty of drama waiting to unfold between these two teams. 

How will the new-look defensive Washington Capitals fare this time around?  Will Henrik Lundqvist Jaroslav Halak them?  Will Marian Gaborik show up and earn his pay cheque?   Can Dan Girardi and Marc Staal shut down Alexander Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom?   How will the New York Rangers do without their heart and soul leader, Ryan Callahan?   Will Karl Alzner and John Carlson become an elite pairing right before our eyes?  Will Michal Neuvirth live up to his hype or will Bruce Boudreau have a happy trigger finger?

Thumbs up: New-look Capitals, revitalized Rangers

Thumbs down: No Callahan

4: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 08: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres gets the puck behind Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers for the game winning goal in overtime at HSBC Arena on April 8, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo won 4-3 in overtime. (Ph

This series has no shortage of front page storylines.   Front and center is the health of Chris Pronger.   Daniel Briere might have let it slip that Pronger would be out for the first round, but do we take him at his word and believe he was joking?   Which Philadelphia Flyers goaltender will survive the series?

Can Ryan Miller regain his 2010 form and stifle the vaunted Flyers attack?  Will Mike Richards ever be the rough and tumble leader that he was in years past?   As you can see, there are burning questions galore.  Can Thomas Vanek be the difference maker that he wasn't able to be last year due to injury?  Can Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe survive the rigors of the Stanley Cup playoffs?   What does Tyler Myers have for an encore?

Thumbs up: Philadelphia unknowns, Buffalo riding high

Thumbs down: No hate between the clubs...yet

3: Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 24: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks watches a puck shot by teammate Teemu Selanne #8 get past Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators for a goal on March 24, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by F

Some might be surprised that I put this series so high, but I did so because it is by far the hardest one to handicap.  I loved both teams to be upset specials in round one, so I am a bit disappointed that they meet to kick things off.   Instead, we get a fascinating series to watch.   Nashville might not have the most glamorous names up front, but they have been one of the most dominant teams coming down the stretch, and watching Pekka Rinne play goal is a treat to watch.

Will Pekka Rinne, Ryan Suter and Shea Weber be able to shutdown the Corey Perry line?  Can Teemu Selanne continue his unexplainable play?   How will Cam Fowler hold up in his first playoff action?  Will Sergei Kostitsyn take his game to new heights?   Who will emerge as the Ducks goaltender?  Does Jonas Hiller still have vertigo?  Will Nashville finally see its team win a series?  Did I mention Dan Ellis is facing his former team?

Thumbs up: Classic offense vs. defense, Rinne, Perry, Selanne, Predators' playoff starvation

Thumbs down: Jonas Hiller?

2: Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 24: Mike Cammalleri #13 of the Montreal Canadiens passes the puck as Johnny Boychuk #55 of the Boston Bruins defends on March 24, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

I expect to get a lot of flak for putting this series second, but before I get a bunch of hate mail, have a drink and relax.  I understand the compelling nature of this series due to the history and what happened in the regular season, but let's get real shall we?  The Boston Bruins are going to take this series convincingly, and this is coming from a Habs fan.  Carey Price might have had a great season, but how will he do once the bullets fly for real?  The Bruins have the edge in almost every conceivable category with the exception of speed. 

If Montreal had a real chance to win this, I would have put it number one, but most people will still have the BCW ("bathroom-can-wait") attitude for the matchup.  However, at the end of the day this series will just be great hockey within the confines of a great rivalry.  Those of you expecting a bench-clearing brawl need to tune into the first matchup between these teams next season, because the fights will be few and far between this postseason.

Thumbs up: History, regular-season spillover, tradition

Thumbs down: Lopsided matchup, lack of fighting

1: Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks

I'm not sure about you, but I cannot wait for this series to start.  The drama is going to unfold at a lightning pace.  Last year's dominant Stanley Cup champions face off against the team they have completely owned for over two seasons.  Chicago barely made it into the big dance with a big thanks to the Minnesota Wild, and it now enters round one with the psychological edge.  On the down side, they no longer have playoff heroes Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd.  Dave Bolland is battling concussion symptoms, and Antti Niemi is starting for the Sharks.

On the other side of the coin, we have the President's trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks. They dominated the regular season and almost every meaningful statistical category.  They lost Manny Malhotra, but got Alexander Edler and Dan Hamhuis back.  Roberto Luongo is playing at the top of his game, but the critics persist.  The fans in Vancouver wanted this matchup, but is it a case of be careful what you wish for?  What will happen if they get down in game one or worse, down in the series?  Will Cody Hodgson become a factor?  Who will step up to fill Malhotra's spot?  Will Joel Quenneville out-coach Alain Vigneault?  Can the Canucks stay disciplined? 

No series in the first round comes close to this one, and with the help of the hockey gods, it will go seven games.

Thumbs up: Grudge match, Luongo questions, Chicago defends its title, heavy expectations in Vancouver

Thumbs down: That it will eventually end