The Rink Round Up’s two part look at the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues with a look at the storylines and players that could make this year’s  edition special….

Vancouver Canucks

Last 10

The Canucks closed the year with an 8-1-1 mark, best in the League over the final 10 games, and did so without one half of their dynamic duo as Daniel Sedin has been sidelined with a concussion since that stretch began on March 21^st.  While the record certainly is impressive and helped wrap up their second straight Presidents Trophy, their schedule during that time was relatively weak with just one of those wins (a 1-0 victory over first round opponent Los Angeles) came against a playoff team.

Storylines

The League’s undisputed best regular season team over the past two years will look to take the next step this Spring in their quest to take the ultimate prize.  Their run to the brink of the Cup last season was well documented, as was their perceived lack of sufficient playoff grit that many feel cost them in the end.  A deadline deal that sent rising star Cody Hodgson to the Sabres in return for Zach Kassian was an effort to help add some toughness specifically for this time of year.  Daniel Sedin’s pending return and ability to get back up to speed quickly will be a key factor in the club’s chance at success in a season in which only a Stanley Cup victory will be considered acceptable.

Unsung Hero?

The Canucks played 25 playoff games last year yet only 4 forwards posted more then 3 playoff goals.  One of those four players was offensively gifted forward Chris Higgins.  Higgins has shown 20+ goal potential in the regular season throughout his career and will need to provide secondary scoring again this year for Vancouver if they hope for another run.

St. Louis Blues

Last 10

One of the season’s best regular season stories, the Blues finished the year on a 4-3-3 run.  Fortunately for the Blues, the shootout won’t be a deciding factor in the playoffs and the ability to grind out OT wins in those types of games could be the difference in their winning or losing in the coming weeks.

Storylines

A veteran of over 1,000 NHL games coaches, Ken Hitchcock found himself without a group to lead during the 2010-2011 season.  After a slow start in St. Louis this year, he was given another chance and has not disappointed guiding the club to a 42-14-10 record over the final 66 games of the season and a second seed in the 2012 Playoffs.  Like Laviolette and Tortorella, “Hitch” will be looking to guide his second organization to the NHL promise land after doing so with the Dallas Stars in ’99.  The team appears to be built for playoff hockey with a stout defense and solid goaltending, but with just two 20 goal scorers, will have to hope for a continued balanced attack and contributions from everyone if they hope to advance.  Veteran forwards Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason Arnott are no strangers to playoff success and will be counted on to provide leadership for a group that is for the most part not all that familiar with post season hockey at this level.

Unsung Hero?

While the Blues had just two 20 goal scorers in the regular season, they did have 9 guys finish in double digits, including Andy McDonald despite and injury shortened season.  McDonald has 13 playoff goals in 43 career games including 10 in helping the Ducks to their Stanley Cup championship in ’07 and will have to continue that clutch play if the Blues hope to advance.

Phoenix Coyotes

The Yotes finished red hot going 7-1-2 including closing the year on a five game win streak to beat out the Kings and Sharks and wrap up the Division title.  Those efforts helped secure home ice in the first round, but the road remains tough as they draw the talented Chicago Blackhawks in round one.

Storylines

While Phoenix finished the year in a pleasantly unfamiliar spot in the Division standings, the organization was all too familiar with where they finished in the League attendance rankings, dead last with just over 12,000 fans a night.  Hopefully they find a way to fill that building and support the overachieving club from the get go against the Hawks.  Mike Smith carried the load between the pipes appearing in 67 games this year for the Coyotes, but isn’t exactly playoff tested having played just 3 post season games in his career when the Lightning found themselves with a goaltending controversy against the Bruins last season.  Captain Shane Doan has shown his loyalty over the years staying with the organization since the move from Winnipeg to the desert in the mid 90’s and will look to experience the second round of the playoffs for the very first time this season.

Unsung Hero?

Raffi Torres has appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals including his role in Vancouver’s run last season.  After a 15 goal regular season, the gritty forward will look to continue to bring his physical play and toughness around the net to help set the tone for a relatively inexperienced playoff squad.

Nashville Predators

The Preds finished the season 6-4 including 3 straight victories to secure home ice against what seems to be their perennial playoff riva, thel Detroit Red Wings.

Storylines

This organization just seems to get the most out of the resources they have and will look to take their play to new heights this season.  First round knockouts had become the norm for the Preds over the years until last season when they finally broke through to the second round when they defeated the Anaheim Ducks to advance.  Despite earning home ice this year, they will still have a tough road ahead after drawing the experienced Red Wings in the first round.  Many key pieces will be looking at their options outside of Nashville when this season wraps up, and a deep playoff run could help sway their decisions to potentially remain in Music City.  All eyes will be on recent returnee and KHL standout Alexander Radulov when the Predators take the ice for round one.

Unsung Hero?

Like the Blues, the Preds boast just two 20 goal scorers, so plenty of choices here for a breakout performance.  I will go with Matt Halischuk who netted 15 goals in his first full NHL season.  Halischuk has some playoff experience, though mostly at the OHL level, most notably as a member of the League Champion Kitchener Rangers in ’08 when he finished with 16 goals and 32 points in just 20 playoff games.

Detroit Red Wings

Last 10

Injuries slowed the Wings over the final two months of the season and they found themselves missing out on home ice in the first round after a 4-4-2 finish.

Storylines

When all is said and done, Nicklas Lidstrom should be regarded as one of the ten best players ever to don a National Hockey League uniform.  In his 20 seasons, the Wings captain has earned four Stanley Cups and seven Norris Trophies as the League’s top defenseman.  Lidstrom certainly has the game to play on beyond this season and the Wings would love to have him back, but at 41 years old, he may decide this Spring is his last go ‘round with the only club he has ever played for.  A fifth Cup would cap off one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen.

Unsung Hero?

I love Daniel Cleary’s game this time of year.  In ’09 as the Wings went to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final, Cleary was a key component with 9 playoff tallies.  His production was down significantly this year, but a few clutch post season performances would help ease that pain.

Chicago Blackhawks

Last 10

Like their last 3 seasons as a whole, this year was full of ups and downs for a Blackhawks club that closed 6-1-3 in their last 10.  If they continue that play they should be the League’s biggest threats among teams not starting the Playoffs with home ice.

Storylines

After bringing a long awaited Cup to the Windy City in 2010, the Hawks were unable to advance in last years Playoffs after a first round loss to Vancouver.  Jonathan Toews is battling injury but hopes to be ready to go for game 1, a status that could go a long way in determining the club’s shot at long term success.  The fire power is there, the blue line is filled with talent, the story in Chicago will be all about goaltending and whether or not Corey Crawford and/or Ray Emery have what it takes to lead a team deep in to the post season.

Unsung Hero?

Dave Bolland has experienced playoff success at almost every level and with 14 goals in 43 career playoff games has proven his worth when it matters most.  Look for some timely scoring from the Hawks center if the club hopes to make another run.

San Jose Sharks

Last 10

The Sharks were winners of their final four games and 7-3 in their last 10 as they locked up another playoff berth with the 7^th seed in the West.

Storylines

Getting there hasn't been an issue for this club of late.  Advancing and proving they can do it on the game’s biggest stage has been.  They will not have the luxury of home ice they have become accustomed to in recent years with their typical regular season dominance, but remain a threat.  Joe Thornton has just better then a point per game throughout his career in the regular season but will continue to have his skeptics until he is able to lead the talented clubs that have been built around him to a Stanley Cup.

Unsung Hero?

The Sharks had three players hit the 30 goal plateau this season and should have plenty of fire power, though will be tested against a strong defensive club in St. Louis early.  I suppose with 14 goals over the last two playoff seasons and 20 in his career, a productive post season from Joe Pavelski would no longer qualify as a surprise to anyone.  Same goes for the Sharks Ultimate Warrior Ryan Clowe.  I will go with a timely goal or two from Torrey Mitchell as the surprise the Sharks will need to move on.

Los Angeles Kings

Last 10

The Kings have been in “playoff” mode for weeks and finished 5-2-3 to "secure" the 8^th spot and earn the chance to take on the regular season League champs.

Storylines

Few have made more bold moves over the past nine months then Kings GM Dean Lombardi, all with hopes of bringing the club a shot at their first Stanley Cup victory.  He unloaded plenty of young talent last summer to acquire former Flyers captain Mike Richards and followed that up before the deadline by moving the young and talented Jack Johnson to Columbus in exchange for Richards' old running mate Jeff Carter.  Lombardi’s legacy in L.A. will likely be defined by the team’s play (or lack thereof) over the next two months.

Unsung Hero?

When you consider the Kings iced just 4 players with more then 10 goals this season, it’s pretty impressive they are playing this Spring at all.  Someone, or more likely multiple players, will need to step up BIG if they hope to knock off the Canucks in round 1.  I say it starts with power forward Dwight King who has 14 points in 27 games since joining the big club in February.