The best part of the NHL's opening round is that there isn't a single series that appears to be a walk in the park. Whether you are using the eye test or digging deep into the numbers, you can make a case for nearly every club to advance. One way to figure out which team might have a deep postseason run in them is by looking at their strengths and weaknesses by position.
We start with each team's forwards. Who has depth? Who has superstar talent that can carry them? Which players will make the biggest difference? Let's have a look...
All line stats are for 5-on-5, and via Corsica Hockey.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Top line: Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, J.T. Miller
Key stats: 102 minutes, 57.1 Corsi for percentage, minus-2 goal differential
It tells you something about Tampa Bay's excellence up front when their second line dominates as much as most first lines. Before trading Vladislav Namestnikov in the deal that returned Miller and Ryan McDonagh, the line of Stamkos, Kucherov and Namestnikov was producing at a terrific rate with 3.4 goals per 60 minutes at even strength and a 55.8 goals for percentage. Miller, who is a superior offensive player, has mostly filled in that spot with the two superstars. Kucherov was on the ice for the fourth most goals scored of any forward, with only Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Connor McDavid ahead of him. And Stamkos slid into a playmaker role, racking up 41 even-strength assists.
The Lightning not only have an All-Star first line, they back that up with an underrated skilled second wave with Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson, a trio that was good for a 55.6 Corsi for percentage and plus-11 goal differential. They also provide Jon Cooper with depth and versatility. Yanni Gourde scored 64 points this season after toiling away in the minors for years, and veteran Chris Kunitz and Alex Killorn have gone from top-six players to exceptional bottom-sixers. Teams dream of having the top-to-bottom skill of the Lightning forwards.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Top line: Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Zach Hyman
Key stats: 639 minutes, 51.2 Corsi for percentage, plus-21 goal differential
There was no sophomore slump this season for Matthews, who solidified himself as one of the NHL's elite two-way players in 2017-18. Matthews scored 29 even-strength goals in just 62 games, good for the league's No. 1 rank in goals per 60 minutes. He also ranked No. 2 among forwards in goals for percentage, behind only Vegas' William Karlsson. Centers of Matthews' caliber have often driven Stanley Cup runs.
Toronto's elite man in the middle is far from alone. Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk each scored more than 30 goals this season, and veteran Patrick Marleau proved he can still play by adding 27 goals. Tyler Bozak and Connor Brown have been pushed down the lineup, which is certainly a good thing if they need to match top opponents' depth.
3. Winnipeg Jets
Top line: Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Kyle Connor
Key stats: 611 minutes, 51.2 Corsi for percentage, plus-7 goal differential
It took years of building, but the Jets finally have a deep and supremely skilled lineup. Eight players produced 10 or more even-strength goals, led by second-year winger Patrik Laine, with 22. The emergence of former Michigan star Kyle Connor, who scored 31 goals this season, pushed other forwards like Mathieu Perreault and Bryan Little into their rightful positions as quality middle-six players. And by scoring 60 points in 60 games, Mark Scheifele did nothing to change the perception that he's become one of the best centers in the NHL. The dangerous and skilled youth up front are flanked by veteran Blake Wheeler. The 31-year-old winger set a career high with 91 points, including 32 even-strength assists.
Winnipeg's top six was made even better by a trade for Paul Stastny. Since joining the Jets, Stastny has 13 points in 19 games and has won 53.8 percent of his faceoffs. There is skill in the Winnipeg lineup all the way down to the fourth line. Winger Joel Armia added 10 even-strength goals while playing under 800 minutes this season. Winnipeg has just as strong a case for the No. 1 spot as Toronto and Tampa Bay.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
Top line: Evgeni Malkin, Carl Hagelin, Patric Hornqvist
Key stats: 296 minutes, 57.4 Corsi for percentage, plus-8 goal differential
What makes the Penguins an impossible matchup is Sidney Crosby's ability to raise the play of any and every winger put alongside him. Crosby is likely to play with Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust, which allows the team to skate Malkin with Phil Kessel, as took place in last year's playoffs, or for Kessel to shift to the third line. How many teams have a third-line winger who scores 92 points?
The only reason Pittsburgh is below the other three teams is the supporting cast around Crosby, Malkin and Kessel is questionable. Even with Derick Brassard in the mix (assuming he returns from a lower-body injury) via a deadline trade with Ottawa, players like Hagelin, Conor Sheary and Riley Sheahan have all had ups and downs, and the Penguins' fourth line shouldn't get too much ice time in the playoffs.
5. Vegas Golden Knights
Top line: Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Reilly Smith
Key stats: 692 minutes, 55.4 Corsi for percentage, plus-23 goal differential
There are a lot of teams around the league kicking themselves for letting players go in last year's expansion draft. Prior to joining the Golden Knights, Karlsson had 18 goals in 183 NHL games. This season, he has 43 tallies. Whether the former Shark and Blue Jacket can continue his absurd pace into the playoffs is another story. Karlsson also led all qualified skaters in the NHL in shooting percentage (23.4), which leaves the door open for regression at some point.
Even if Karlsson slips, the Golden Knights have lots of talent behind him. Four players scored between 20 and 30 goals, and winger David Perron produced 33 even-strength assists. Erik Haula, who added 29 goals, is among those who have proven to be more talented than their previous employers believed.
Further down the lineup, Vegas has some solid players in young Alex Tuch, who scored 37 points, and Cody Eakin, a solid faceoff man with 27 points to his name this season.
Vegas does not have a proven superstar -- as you'd expect from an expansion team -- but they come with wave after wave of talent. If they want to continue to make history, the Golden Knights will need all four lines buzzing to hold off the top-heavy teams in the West.
6. Nashville Predators
Top line: Kyle Turris, Craig Smith, Kevin Fiala
Key stats: 545 minutes, 58.3 Corsi for percentage, plus-19 goal differential
You could argue that the President's Trophy winners have two top lines. When the Preds acquired Turris early this season, they solidified a center position that was lacking in depth. He fit in brilliantly with the veteran Smith and 21-year-old Fiala, who scored 23 goals. Nashville's 1B line of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson produced a plus-18 goal differential in 518 minutes. In last year's playoffs, Johansen and Forsberg showed the hockey world they were capable of elevating their game in the postseason, which should have the Preds feeling confident as the favorites this spring.
As for depth, Nick Bonino hasn't lived up to his paycheck with only 25 points, but his track record in Pittsburgh is evidence he can step up in the coming weeks, and the return of Mike Fisher adds a sound fourth-line defensive center to the mix.
It would be hard to rank a team with zero 30-goal scorers any higher, but Nashville's top two lines can match up with anyone in the playoffs.
7. Boston Bruins
Top line: Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak
Key stats: 519 minutes, 58.6 Corsi for percentage, plus-11 goal differential
The Bruins have the rare first line that can outscore you or completely shut you down. If he played a full season, Bergeron would have been the easy choice for another Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward. The B's allow only 1.83 goals per 60 minutes at even strength with Bergeron on ice, and he produced a point per game and a magnificent 57.2 Corsi for percentage. Marchand's true offensive potential seems to have been unlocked by playing with the young, gifted Pastrnak. He produced a career-high 85 points in 2016-17 and then matched it again this season in only 67 games. Simply put: Boston's top line is a nightmare for opponents.
This is also the strongest depth we have seen in Boston in some time. They added Rick Nash at the trade deadline to go along with an impressive youth movement that has seen 22-year-old Denton Heinen score 47 points and 21-year-old Jake DeBrusk provide 43 points.
There are certainly concerns down the lineup. Veteran David Backes is still playing a significant role despite a slip in production from years past. Nash is recovering from a concussion, and the B's are hoping 39-year-old Brian Gionta can give them bottom-six help. Young Ryan Donato flashed skill with five goals since joining the team, but it's hard to say how he or any of the other inexperienced Bruins will adapt when the intensity is ratcheted up in the postseason.
8. Washington Capitals
Top line: Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson
Key stats: 430 minutes, 53.8 Corsi for percentage, plus-6 goal differential
Washington's top players can face off with anyone in the league. Ovechkin led the NHL in scoring again with 49 goals, 32 of which came at even strength. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov set career highs in points (83) and time on ice per game (18:49).
But once you get past the top trio and Kuznetsov, there is a severe drop off. After signing a contract extension this offseason, T.J. Oshie had a so-so season with 47 points. No other forward topped 40. The Caps haven't seen Andre Burakovsky take the next step as they expected, and depth forwards Devante Smith-Pelly, Jay Beagle and Alex Chiasson combined for only 23 goals.
Washington got enough from its top players to take the Metro Division, but when considering the task ahead, it might be a tough road to match up with teams that have great players at the top of the lineup and better bottom-sixes.
9. Philadelphia Flyers
Top line: Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny
Key stats: 494 minutes, 54.7 Corsi for percentage, plus-15 goal differential
The Flyers' top players put the team on their back and carried them to the playoffs. Giroux finished with 102 points, which puts him squarely in the conversation for the Hart Trophy. But it says quite a bit about Philadelphia's lineup when Couturier and Giroux aren't on the ice, the team's goals for percentage drops by 18 percent. Couturier and Giroux produce 3.75 goals per 60 minutes of even-strength ice time; outside of their linemates -- Konecny and Jakub Voracek, for the most part -- nobody else has come close. The next best Flyer is Michael Raffl, at 2.32 per 60.
That isn't to say Philly has zero talent beyond their first line. Veteran Wayne Simmonds, like clockwork, scored 24 goals and 2017 No. 2 overall pick Nolan Patrick is full of potential. But compared to some other teams, the Flyers cannot rely on depth players for much.
10. Minnesota Wild
Top line: Eric Staal, Jason Zucker, Nino Niederreiter
Key stats: 188 minutes, 54.7 Corsi for percentage, plus-8 goal differential
Plagued by first-round exits, the Wild are hoping this year is their time to make a deep run behind a resurgent Staal, who scored 42 goals this season. Early in 2017-18, Bruce Boudreau's team struggled with injuries and the loss of Erik Haula to the expansion draft. But down the stretch, winger Zach Parise's return has made a significant difference. He potted 15 goals in 42 games, and pushed other players like Charlie Coyle down into more comfortable roles. Now Minnesota looks to young Jordan Greenway, fresh from the Olympics and Boston University, to give them size, strength and some scoring from the third line.
It isn't so much that the Wild have less talent than other forward groups -- they can match up with speedy scorer Zucker and dynamic playmaker Mikael Granlund and possession monster Niederreiter -- but these players have largely gone missing in postseasons past. Zucker, Granlund, Niederreiter and Coyle have totaled 133 career playoff games -- all with the Wild -- and scored a total of 59 points. If that trend doesn't change, they will be going home quickly again.
11. Anaheim Ducks
Top line: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Rickard Rakell
Key stats: 484 minutes, 53.6 Corsi for percentage, plus-7 goal differential
While the Ducks are still looking to their future Hall of Fame center to guide them, a midseason trade may make a difference in the postseason. Center Adam Henrique has a 65.6 goals for percentage since joining Anaheim in a deal that sent defenseman Sami Vatanen to New Jersey. He's not only scored 20 goals in 57 games as a Duck, but also brings some added playoff experience, having gone to the Stanley Cup Final with the Devils in 2012.
The biggest factor in whether Anaheim can make another push toward the Cup will be Ryan Kesler's play. Since returning from surgery, he's posted an unusually low 46.9 Corsi for percentage, and scored just eight goals in 44 games. Kesler usually raises his play in the postseason. He'll have to be better in order for the Ducks to shut down opposing top lines.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets
Top line: Pierre-Luc Dubois, Cam Atkinson, Artemi Panarin
Key stats: 319 minutes, 56.2 Corsi for percentage, plus-10 goal differential
Finding the right place on this list for Columbus is a difficult task because they are one of the best even-strength scoring teams in the NHL, ranking sixth in 5-on-5 goals. Unlike many teams in the playoffs, they have scoring depth with seven forwards scoring 10 or more even-strength goals. The problem: Top-heavy teams often win in the postseason, and Columbus's top 5-on-5 goal scorer (aside from Thomas Vanek, who was acquired at the deadline) ranks 50th in the league.
John Tortorella's team comes in waves with a mix of skilled players like Alexander Wennberg and Panarin, and forwards with defensive talent or toughness like Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky. The door is open for Columbus to make noise in the postseason, so long as they don't get run out of the building by opponents' top lines.
13. Colorado Avalanche
Top line: Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog
Key stats: 741 minutes, 51.0 Corsi for percentage, plus-20 goal differential
If the theme of the playoffs is teams that are carried by one line, the Avalanche are the cover boys. With 97 points in 74 games, MacKinnon has made it clear he's in the upper echelon of centers in the NHL. Rantanen, just 21 years old, had a ho-hum 84-point sophomore season.
Past their top trio of first-rounders, the Avs are short on skill. Veterans Carl Soderberg, Blake Comeau and Matt Nieto each produced between 13 and 16 goals this season, and young depth forwards J.T. Compher, Alexander Kerfoot and Sven Andrighetto have all flashed some potential, but life will be very tough for the Avs' second and third lines against Nashville's depth.
14. Los Angeles Kings
Top line: Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Alex Iafallo
Key stats: 653 minutes, 52.9 Corsi for percentage, plus-17 goal differential
Brown's bounce-back campaign helped push the Kings back into the postseason as the veteran notched 61 points and played his highest ice time per game since 2012-13 (19:50). Brown's resurgence helped push Kopitar to a career-high 92 points. Even on teams that lack scoring depth, Kopitar has proven he can dominate round after round with his outstanding defensive play and scoring touch, but the Slovenian star will need to do a lot of work with Tyler Toffoli being the only player not on his line to score 20-plus goals this season. However, the return of Jeff Carter, who had 22 points in 27 games, could make L.A. a dangerous playoff team again.
15. New Jersey Devils
Top line: Nico Hischier, Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri
Key stats: 288 minutes, 52.7 Corsi for percentage, plus-10 goal differential
Hall's 2017-18 season was a work of art. In his second season since being traded from Edmonton, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2010 draft scored 39 goals, 93 points and posted a goals for percentage of 58.6 percent and a 51.3 Corsi for percentage. Here's the kicker: His top linemate in terms of minutes was Jesper Bratt, with 416 minutes on ice together. But it's with 2017 No. 1 overall pick Hischier and veteran Palmieri that Hall really shined this season.
The downside to Hall's Hart Trophy-worthy exploits is that the Devils probably can't ride him all the way to the Cup Final. However, they did add two players at the deadline in Patrick Maroon and Michael Grabner who have not yet paid massive dividends. If either gets hot, the Devils could make for a tough matchup.
16. San Jose Sharks
Top line: Joe Pavelski, Timo Meier, Joonas Donskoi
Key stats: 129 minutes, 54.1 Corsi for percentage, plus-6 goal differential
Even with the addition of Evander Kane at the deadline, the Sharks do not have an impressive overall forward group, especially with Joe Thornton doubtful to begin the postseason. In a season in which scoring ran rampant across the league, San Jose had just two forwards clear 60 points, Pavelski and Logan Couture.
None of the Sharks' younger players has truly filled in the hole left by Patrick Marleau, though Tomas Hertl and Meier did combine for 43 goals. But Mikkel Boedker hasn't scored like San Jose hoped when they signed him as a free agent ahead of the 2016-17 season, and the bottom two lines leave much to be desired. The Sharks will need Thornton back -- and a lot of help from their defense and goaltending -- to have a shot at reaching the Cup Final.