As we have seen countless times in the past, a great regular season in the NHL doesn't mean anything once the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.
Even with a new postseason format over the last few years, there is still plenty of parity with any team in danger of being upset in the first round. This leaves a whole bunch of squads in the running to bring home the trophy, although a few stand above the rest.
Here is a breakdown of the top contenders in the field along with a full schedule for the opening round of the 2016 playoffs.
Top Contenders
5. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Washington Capitals might have the best record in the Eastern Conference, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are certainly the hottest team. After an up-and-down year, they have turned things on as of late with 14 wins in their final 16 games, including a loss on the last day of the year when they rested key players.
When healthy, this is a group that has a star player in Sidney Crosby and tons of talent around him to go with an emerging star in goaltender Matt Murray.
The problem is h ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Rob Goldberg
NHL Playoff Schedule 2016: 1st-Round Slate, Ranking Top Stanley Cup Contenders
April 12th, 2016 by Rob Goldberg Leave a reply »
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