Sabres' balance a key weapon
There is not a more balanced four-line team in the league than the Sabres. The Sabres are hard to match up against because from one game to the next it's difficult for Buffalo's opponents to identify the enemy. That's because with such thorough scoring balance, the Sabres leave opposing coaches guessing which of Buffalo's lines they want to put a checking line against.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff deserves credit for creating such a balanced team through the way he has developed players. Ruff stuck with these players through a lot of games this season so he could develop a four-line attack.

Even with a bunch of players who are going to be in the playoffs for the first time, the Sabres play extremely loose and relaxed. That's because Ruff doesn't punish any player for making a mistake.

When you know there are no negative consequences for trying something creative, you'll try it, and the Sabres have a high enough skill level that they are going to execute on some of the plays, but when they don't they won't get yelled at when they get back to the bench.

This will be Ryan Miller's first time as a No. 1 goalie in the playoffs, but Buffalo has a solid backup in Martin Biron. Plus, the Sabres have excellent special teams and rank among the league leaders in both power play and penalty kill. All elements that could lead them to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Hurricanes solid mix of youth and experience
Carolina is talented and it's deep, giving it a good shot at winning the Eastern Conference.

FREE VIDEO Rising 'Canes 4/8: Carolina players, coaches talk to NBC Sports about the team's surprising vault from also-ran to Cup contender NBC Sports

In players like Eric Staal and Justin Williams, both of whom had breakout regular seasons, the Hurricanes have some youth. But there is also experience on the roster with veterans that include Aaron Ward and Glen Wesley on the blue line to Rod Brind'Amour, Doug Weight, Cory Stillman, Ray Whitney and Mark Recchi up front.

Senators, Rangers keeping fingers crossed  
Among my top contenders for the Cup, I'm not including Ottawa, which struggled down the stretch, but still managed to grab the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, or the Rangers whose late-season slide cost them a division title and dropped them to the sixth seed.

I omitted these teams based on their uncertainty in goal. The Senators' Dominik Hasek hasn't played in a game since sustaining an adductor muscle strain at the Olympics. He was scheduled to make a playoff tune-up in Ottawa's final regular-season game, but he couldn't go and rookie Ray Emery is projected to start in goal for Ottawa on Friday in Game 1 against Tampa Bay.

MIKE CELIZIC ON THE NHL Broadway Cinderella League brass would love to see Rangers in finals msnbc.com

Hasek says he can't yet do what he wants to in goal, and the longer he sits out the more questionable his status for the playoffs becomes.

The Senators might be able to get out of the Eastern Conference without Hasek in goal, but they won't win the Stanley Cup with Emery in the nets.

The Rangers saw Henrik Lundqvist emerge as their No. 1 goaltender during his rookie season, helping the team secure its first playoff berth since 1997. But due to a strained hip flexor muscle Lundqvist missed time down the stretch, playing in only one game — the season finale — in 20 days.  

Without a healthy Lundqvist, the Rangers aren't going far in the playoffs.

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