Over the next 48 hours, countless amateur and professional bloggers and analysts will break down the first round of the NHL Playoffs, complete with match up statistics, the role each club’s stars will have on the series outcome, and bold predictions, many of which will soon be spoiled by everything that is great about playoff hockey where anything can happen.  During that same timeframe, the Rink Round Up will take a slightly different look at what is to come as we watch the game’s greatest athletes compete at the highest level through round one and beyond.

For me, the playoffs have always been about who is playing the best team hockey going in to and building on that momentum throughout the post season, the magical storylines we can hope for and those that inevitably develop and become part of the games great history, and the unsung heroes who may have little household name recognition today but could come to live on forever in the hearts of their dedicated fan base after a surprising or heroic post season run.

Today, we will start in the East and continue on with the Western Conference tomorrow as we take a look at each team’s recent play, key role players, and what a playoff run may mean for the franchise and its more recognizable members from a historical standpoint.

New York Rangers-

Last 10

The Rangers wrapped up the Eastern Conference crown early this Spring and as a result didn’t need to win out as they coasted to a 6-4 finish in their final 10 games and lost their final two.  The Presidents Trophy found it’s way out of Manhattan and back to Vancouver for the second straight year, but the Rangers should remain confident in their level of play down the stretch as they head in to their first round match up with the Sens.

Storylines

Lets start from the top.  Glen Sather’s success in Edmonton in the 80’s is well documented.  Today, he has assembled a Rangers squad with the talent to take a serious run at their first Cup since Messier willed them to victory in ’94.  His place in the game’s history is already secure, but the legend would obviously grow with another ring in another city.  Head Coach John Tortorella will also look to help lead his second franchise to a Stanley Cup after being behind the bench with Tampa in ’04.  Brad Richards was a part of that Lightning championship run and will try and prove that the off season’s biggest free agent acquisition was capable of living up to the hype and worth every penny.  Finally, Henrik Lundqvist may very well win his first Vezina Trophy this season.  A run at the Cup would help solidify his efforts to be known as the best goaltender in the world today.

Unsung Hero?

At 33 years old, Ruslan Fedotenko has played more playoff games than any other Ranger and is one goal shy of Brad Richards for most career playoff goals (20) among those on the Rangers playoff roster.  His feet and production have slowed over the years and he hasn’t scored a playoff goal in either of the past two post seasons, each of which saw his club eliminated in the first round, but Rangers fans can’t count him out yet.  Fedotenko was an integral part of Cup runs in both Tampa and Pittsburgh tying for the playoff team lead in ’04 with 12 goals and posting 7 goals and 7 assists for the Pens in ’09.  Time will tell if he has enough left in the tank to contribute at key moments for the talented Rangers club this post season.

Boston Bruins

Last 10

The defending Stanley Cup Champions entered the 2011 playoffs having gone 6-3-1 in their final 10 games of the regular season.  This year, they have closed with a 7-2-1 mark, the third best record over that stretch in the League.  This is a club that didn’t lose a game in November, so it would be tough to say they are playing their best hockey right now, but it’s still pretty darn good.

Storylines

The days of the NHL dynasty appear to have come and gone (for now), but the Bruins will look to become the first team to repeat as Cup champs since the Detroit Red Wings pulled off the feat in 1997 and 1998.  Tim Thomas carried the B’s to their first Cup since 1972 with an incredible regular and post season run last year and will look to continue his unlikely late career pattern of dominance this Spring after an interesting season on and off the ice.

Unsung Hero?

Brad Marchand became a Boston folk hero  last season after recording 11 playoff goals including 5 in the Cup Finals and expects to be a key part of any run the Bruins hope to make again this year, but the talented and versatile Rich Peverley is also a player to keep an eye on.  Peverley can and does play in all situations for Coach Claude Julien and is as comfortable on the top line and PP unit as he is on the 3^rd line and PK.  Look for him to be a major presence for the Bruins in the coming weeks.

Florida Panthers

Last 10

The Panthers had the 6^th highest point total in the Eastern Conference, eight points fewer then the New Jersey Devils team they will host as the three seed since Florida won the relatively weak Southeast Division.  Florida struggled to a 2-3-5 finish, the worst final 10 games of any team in the League…

Storylines

Regardless of how the post season plays out, Dale Tallon’s overhaul and subsequent division title have to make this year a success if you are a Panthers fan who has suffered through years of playoff-less hockey.  Tallon took any and all leftover pieces of the Chicago Blackhawks 2010 championship squad that then Thrashers Executives Don Waddell and Rick Dudley hadn’t already scooped up, added a few other key components, and has earned the organization at least a few more meaningful games.  Stephen Weiss is the only member of the club remaining from the pre lockout days and will get his first taste of playoff action after 637 regular season games.

Unsung Hero?

Plenty of players to choose from on a roster where no players scored more then 61 points this season.  While the playoff’s will be a new experience for many young Panthers fans after a decade long absence, forward Mikael Samuelsson is plenty familiar with the NHL post season having played in 92 playoff games including 11 last year as part of the Canucks club that went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.  If the Panthers hope to advance, his play could be the difference.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Last 10

The Pens finished the season 6-4 in their last 10 with three quality wins against the Bruins, Rangers, and Flyers to close it out.

Storylines

Evgeni Malkin finished the regular season with 109 points in 75 games.  Sidney Crosby had 37 points after injuries held him to just 22 games.  Both appear healthy and have combined for 21 points in their last 5 games.  Good luck to all opposing defenders.  Dan Bylsma will look for the second Cup of his young coaching career and Jordan Staal will look to take sole possession of bragging rights on the Thunder Bay farm if he can become the first Staal brother to capture two Cups.

Unsung Hero?

With all the focus on Malkin and Crosby, it can be easy to forget about some of the other potential game breakers in the Penguins line up.  Remember that when the Pens did win the Cup in ’09, it was not either of the big two, but Max Talbot who scored both goals in the game seven victory.  Talbot has moved on to the rival Flyers, but there is sure to be another role player who will step up if the Pens hope to make a run.  Pascal Dupuis seems like a likely candidate coming off a career year with 25 goals and 59 points.

Philadelphia Flyers

Last 10

The Flyers wrapped up their season 5-4-1, including a split in two April games against first round opponent Pittsburgh.

Storylines

Like Tortorella, Peter Laviolette will look to lead his second franchise to a Stanley Cup after turning the trick with Carolina in ’06.  If the Flyers hope to return to the Cup Finals (they last won the East in 2010 before losing a hard fought series to the Blackhawks), they will need to do so without Chris Pronger who was shut down for the season after just 13 games due to concussion symptoms.  The story in Philly in the playoffs always seems to be about the goaltending, and this year will be no different as Ilya Bryzgalov will look to earn his keep after signing a monster contract this past off season.

Unsung Hero?

James Van Riemsdyk had 7 goals in 11 playoff games last season but hasn’t played a game since March 1^st due to injury.  Fortunately, Wayne Simmonds has enjoyed a breakout year in his first season with the Flyers and seems to have a game that will suit him and the Flyers well this time of year.

New Jersey Devils

Last 10

Nobody comes in hotter than the Devils having gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 and winning a League best 6 straight to close out the 2011-2012 campaign.  Scary thought for their first round opponent Florida Panthers who as mentioned finished the season ice cold.

Storylines

Martin Brodeur’s 40^th birthday will be May 6^th.  That is a fact.  Whether or not the Devils will still be in the playoffs is yet to be determined.  The Devils have assembled their best team in a few years and this could be the last shot at a real run for one of the game’s all time greats.  He is already in any and all greatest of all time goaltending discussions, and a fourth Cup would only add credibility for some and remove all doubt for others.

Unsung Hero?

Wait, when did David Clarkson score 30 goals?  And if you scored 30 goals, can you really be eligible for a breakout performer or unsung hero status?  For the purpose of this piece, I will say yes since really all I was looking for were players outside of their team’s top three in scoring who have the potential to put up some timely playoff goals and someone who we don’t always think of to deliver regularly or in the clutch.  Apparently pucks have been going in off Clarkson all season, so I certainly won’t bet against that trend continuing just because the weather is getting warmer.  Plus his grit and style are perfect for the brand of hockey that will be played this time of year.

Washington Capitals

Last 10

A 6-2-2 finish was enough to help sneak the D.C. club that had for the most part underachieved throughout the year in to the 7^th spot and give the Caps a shot at the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Storylines

Dale Hunter will make his NHL Playoff coaching debut after taking over for the discarded Bruce Boudreau and helping guide an often misguided group into the playoffs, but there is really just one storyline that matters in Washington; Can Alex Ovechkin win a Stanley Cup?  Following the lockout Ovechkin and Crosby were sold as the faces of the game, but while both have put up impressive numbers over the years, Ovechkin’s points per game have declined and the battle with regards to leading their teams to success has become increasingly one sided.  This year #8 had a career low 65 points and one year removed from a regular season Eastern Conference leading 107 points, the Caps finished 7^th with just 92.  All of this will be forgiven and forgotten if OV and his club can keep up their hot play as of late and make a run to the Cup Finals, but as of now, his inability to lead his team to a Championship has defined his career and if continued will overshadow his immense talents.

Unsung Hero?

Joel Ward is almost a point a game playoff performer for his career including 13 points in Nashville’s 12 game run last season, so we expect good things from him, but for the purpose of this blog and the sake of argument, I will take Brooks Laich to have a big playoff for these Caps.  After signing a inflated contract in the off season, Laich had his worst offensive season in four years (a common theme with this group’s forwards), but he is willing to go in the areas many players won’t, and those are the areas playoff goals are often scored.

Ottawa Senators

Last 10

Despite going just 4-6 in their last ten games and dropping each of their last three in regulation, the Sens couldn’t quite play their way out of playoff hockey and on to the golf course by early April this time around.

Storyline

Ok, that was a bit of a harsh lead in and unnecessary jab considering Sens fans should be celebrating the return of their club to the post season after painful 82 games last year (I am a Sabres fan and still a bit bothered by their inability to snag that 8^th spot!).  Anyway, two things to consider when looking at this Ottawa club…. Daniel Alfredsson is 39 years old and while he can clearly still play the game at a high level (27 goals and 59 points this season), he won’t be playing it forever.  It would be nice to see one of the classier players in the game get one more run at the Cup this season or next if he chooses to return.  The other storyline is the Sens representation of Canada.  The NHL now fields seven Canadian franchises with the return of the Jets last Summer.  Only two of those clubs (Canucks and Sens) earned a spot in the 2012 Playoffs.  For the most part, the other 5 were either disappointing or just plain awful. Regardless of your allegiance of lack there of to any or all of the teams north of the border, the game seems to be better when Canadian clubs are involved, so having the country’s lone Eastern Conference representative win a few games wouldn’t be such a bad thing for Commissioner Bettman and company.

Unsung Hero?

I’ll go off the board a bit here with Colin Greening.  The 6’3 St. Johns native had 17 goals in his first full NHL season and has never been scared of the physical part of the game.  If the Sens hope to advance, they will need substantial contributions from players not named Spezza and Alfredsson and Greening falls in to that category.