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NHL Power Rankings: Playoff Edition - Rangers in pole position

Jared Silber / National Hockey League / Getty

1) New York Rangers 

Why they'll win it all: That deep, fluid, well-to-do back end

Glen Sather has invested quite a bit in his defensive corps. He's overpaid, sent away first-round picks, etc. But this group is unparalleled.

With three capable shut-down defenseman and three mobile puck-movers, the Rangers have the deepest, most-balanced unit in the tournament and the roster to deploy an unmatched transition style. 

Why they won't: They haven't been all that fancy

Will trading all them SATS at a deficit this season bite the Blueshirts? Don't count on it.

The Rangers are just barely a top-20 team in shot-based possession, but have made significant strides in terms of efficiency. They led the league with 179 goals at 5-on-5 this season, 42 more than they gave up.  

Last year, when SAT-ing at a top-10 rate, they were only plus-11 at evens.

2) St. Louis Blues

Why they'll win it all: Weight

This team is hella heavy. I mean, if you're not 6 feet and 200 pounds, you're not really a Blue. (Bulk up, Jaden Schwartz).

And this will wear on teams. Big bodies constantly leaning, pushing, pulling and asserting. There are other big teams, and smaller ones that have beat them before, but this is the strongest group we've seen in St. Louis - in more ways than one.

Why they won't: The net

In the postseason, though, performance in goal carries the weight. 

The decision hasn't been made between Brian Elliott and Jake Allen, who have stopped pucks at a middling rate all season - and it's easy to understand why. 

Elliott has a sub-.900 save percentage in his 18 playoff starts. Allen has never made one. 

3) Tampa Bay Lightning

Why they'll win it all: Team speed

Those who don't see the Lightning are taken back by the Lightning. They spill off the boards with all four lines and take their opponent through a high-intensity workout every single night.

But it's not just the sprint. It's a full-on track meet. They are versatile enough to play smart with the Detroit Red Wings, small with the Montreal Canadiens and of course, fast with the Rangers.

Why they won't: A built-in excuse

Steve Yzerman echoed throughout the year that Tampa Bay is not ready to contend.   

If you say it enough ...

4) Minnesota Wild

Why they'll win it all: Belief

It wasn't so long ago now, when Mike Yeo was zapping his team of the rest of their waning belief with a mid-practice tirade. But since acquiring Devan Dubnyk, they have become as sure in themselves as they are in their goaltender.

Why they won't: Fatigue

Dubynk made 38 consecutive starts since his acquisition until Yeo threw Darcy Kuemper a bone in the second-to-last game of the season. It's been an incredible, bordering on inhumane workload, and we'll see if it takes a toll.  

5) Washington Capitals

Why they'll win it all: Team balance

Sixth in goals for, fifth in goals against and first on the man advantage, the once discordant Capitals have found their tune under Barry Trotz. They are quick, potent, heavy and secure.

Why they won't: Scoring imbalance

It's OK to have roles - players who score, players who check, players who defend. But it doesn't leave much room for error. Can anyone provide an offensive kick should Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom stumble?

6) Chicago Blackhawks

Why they'll win it all: Pat Kane's return

Kane missed more than a quarter of the season and still finished two points off the team's scoring lead. 

Why they won't: Pat Kane's premature return

You don't rush collarbones. 

7) Montreal Canadiens

Why they'll win it all: Carey Price

Obviously. Price had one the greatest seasons in the Canadiens' 106-year history. His 44 wins is a franchise record. His .933 save percentage and 1.96 GAA, unmatched.

He can win any game, any night. It's as simple as that.

Why they won't: Uh, goals?

Canadiens not named Max Pacioretty combined to provide 2.14 goals per game. Only the Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes averaged less throughout the season.

What happens if 67 can't go?

8) Anaheim Ducks

Why they'll win it all: All the favor

What hasn't gone the Ducks' way this season? 

The Los Angeles Kings miss, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks make and the top teams in the West are on the other side of the playoff bracket. If this team isn't in the conference final, it's an astronomical disappointment. 

Why they won't: When the luck runs out

It has to, no?

Half the Ducks' games this season were decided by one goal. They won 33 and failed to gain a point in just one. This, as they say, is unsustainable.

9) Winnipeg Jets

Why they'll win it all: The MTS Centre

Picture this: The Jets steal one (let's not be greedy) on the road in Anaheim and bring home-ice advantage back to a salivating group of fans at the MTS Centre. 

Best of luck, Ducks.

Why they won't: Lack of discipline

It's been an issue all season. Their 428 total penalties are the most in the NHL and they are one of two teams to spend over 1,000 minutes in the box. 

Incredibly, the Ducks are one of the worst power-play teams in the NHL, but the Canucks or Flames over on the other side of their bracket, won't be so lenient. 

10) Ottawa Senators

Why they'll win it all: Going HAM!

Andrew Hammond won't just eat free at McDonald's locations. This man will be the toast of the town, no matter what happens in the playoffs, for a long, long time. 

Now, he doesn't have to win 20 of 23. He needs four of seven.  

Why they won't: Going SHAM?

But what better way to expose a goaltender who might be playing beyond his capabilities than lining him up against the very best on the planet.

That's an intimidating stare-down. 

11) Nashville Predators

Why they'll win it all: The elites

This isn't the NBA. You can't add a few pieces around a superstar or two and win a championship. But the Predators will try. 

As far as franchise pillars go, Pekka Rinne, Shea Weber and Roman Josi are as good a trio as it gets in building success from the back end, out. 

Why they won't: The book is out

With Peter Laviolette deploying his run-and-gun style, the Predators had tallied a league-leading 84 points with a win over the San Jose Sharks in mid-February. Since then, they have tallied 20 points in 25 games. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs gained points at a better rate than that this season.

12) New York Islanders

Why they'll win it all: Streaky

It's been a season of runs for the Islanders. Four wins here, three wins there and a record-setting 11-game win streak for starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak along the way, too. 

They've had five streaks of at least four wins or more, and could see things snowball should they catch fire.

Why they won't: Leaky

They have given up more goals than anyone in the tournament. 

13) Vancouver Canucks

Why they'll win it all: The Sedins

Henrik and Daniel came to under head coach Willie Desjardins, posting their most-efficient outputs in four seasons. Together, they combined for 5.9 points per 60 minutes played - bettering their performance under John Tortorella by nearly two points.

When they're on, they're as dangerous as ever.

Why they won't: The Sedins

Unfortunately, they haven't been in the playoffs. The Sedins - who quietly bowed out of their last two playoff appearances - have never been able to shake the label of underachievers when the going gets tough.

14) Calgary Flames

Why they'll win it all: The best line in hockey

Imagine that. Jiri Hudler, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau - the best in hockey. After leading the NHL with 25 goals and 55 points in March, the trio has kept flooring it into April, averaging more than a point per game each.

Why they won't: A steep, steep drop from there

I love Lance Bouma, but Lance Bouma can't be the next highest-producing forward - even if he is scoring on 15.4 percent of his shots taken.

15) Detroit Red Wings

Why they'll win it all: Mike Babcock

He has a reputation for a reason. But Babcock can't be wrong, at all, especially with his choice to start Petr Mrazek over Jimmy Howard, if the aging Red Wings hope to have a fighting chance. 

Why they won't: The netminders

Mrazek's numbers have stood out. He won eight of his 11 decisions and authored a .936 save percentage over the last month. 

Even still, he's given up bad goals at bad times, and it becomes a whole heck of a lot tougher to play goal this time of year.

16) Pittsburgh Penguins

Why they'll win it all: Crosby, Malkin

I mean, there's always a chance with these two. They are two of just eight NHL players who scored more than a point per game. 

Why they won't: That horrible, awful, no-good defense

Salary cap restraints forced the Penguins to deploy Taylor Chorney as one of five defensemen to play in a must-win to make the playoffs on the season's final day. Wow.

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