3 most feared stars in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Wednesday, with the biggest names in the sport taking aim at Lord Stanley's mug. Casting terror into the hearts of their opposition, these three players have established themselves as the most feared stars in the NHL postseason.

Sidney Crosby

Pos: C | Postseason record: 55-45
Stanley Cups won: 1

No player's been hotter since the All-Star break than Sid the Kid, who paces all skaters in points since the start of February. He'll be on a mission come playoff time, looking to get his Penguins back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since winning the silver chalice in 2009. Among players that have played at least 100 playoff games, only four - Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, and Mike Bossy - average more points per game in the postseason than Crosby.

Jonathan Toews

Pos: C | Postseason record: 73-44
Stanley Cups won: 3

"Captain Serious" saves his best for when the lights are brightest. Prior to his arrival in Illinois as the third overall selection in the 2006 draft, the Blackhawks were mired in the second-longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history. Since, they've claimed The Holy Grail three times - equaling their bounty from their first 80 years of existence. In 117 postseason games, Toews has totalled 39 goals and 102 points while averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time.

Jonathan Quick

Pos: G | Postseason record: 45-31
Stanley Cups won: 2

Quick's last three postseason results speak for themselves - a Stanley Cup win in 2012, a loss to the eventual champion Blackhawks in the Western final in 2013, and a Stanley Cup win in 2014. Over 64 games in that time, Quick went 41-23 with a 2.01 GAA and .928 save percentage, and his eight shutouts were more than any other goaltender. His next postseason shutout will break a tie with Mike Richter for most career playoff shutouts by an American goaltender.