One flaw for each NHL playoff contender

Whether or not they make the playoffs, the Coyotes have defied odds by playing their way back into the postseason race. This was the worst team in the Western Conference a year ago, and it was crippled by injuries this season. But the Coyotes, one of the biggest surprises in the league, have managed to stick around in the playoff race thanks in large part to their defense and strong goaltending from Darcy Kuemper. A lack of offense, however, may hold them back. Phoenix is in the bottom five of the NHL in offense, and its attack has gone cold in the stretch run. 

The Bruins, one of the NHL's best teams, could threaten league points-leader Tampa Bay. Boston has elite, high-end forwards, a strong defense and two starting goalies who are good enough to win with. Injuries to top players Patrice Bergeron, Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug have hurt. If they get healthy and stay healthy, they can beat anyone.  

The Flames, who missed the playoffs last season, have climbed atop the Western Conference standings thanks to skilled young forwards Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk and an outstanding defense that features potential Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano. Their big question, however, is in goal. Mike Smith has not played well, and David Rittich is relatively unproven and untested. Calgary should be a heavy favorite in the first round, but a probable second-round matchup against San Jose or Vegas Golden Knights will be a huge challenge. 

The Hurricanes have a great defense, an exciting style of play and a young roster they can build around long term. Curtis McElhinney and Petr Mrazek have helped solidify the goaltending for the first time in a decade. Neither has a track record, however, that suggests they can play well for an extended period. 

When they're healthy, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen form one of the league's best lines. The problem for the Avalanche, however, is it doesn't have much offense elsewhere, and Landeskog and Rantanen have been injured down the stretch. It's difficult to go far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with only one line. 

Instead of dealing free agents-to-be Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky at the trade deadline, the Blue Jackets added free agents-to-be Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam McQuaid and Keith Kinkaid. Despite the additions, the Blue Jackets are not a playoff lock. Columbus has struggled at times, and even GM Jarmo Kekalainen commented about the team's lack of cohesion. 

Earlier this season, CEO Jim Lites publicly blasted his team's best players, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, for poor play. But now the Stars are not only on their way to the playoffs, they are on their way because of the play of Seguin and Benn. Along with Alexander Radulov, the Stars' top duo has carried the offense. Combined with the great goaltending of Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin, Dallas will have a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. But a lack of scoring depth could be this team's undoing. 

Although they were in contention for the playoffs, the Wild went into sellers mode, trading Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund in one-for-one trades for younger, cheaper talent. The deals hurt, as the offense-challenged Wild have slipped in the playoff race and will need luck to make the field. Bruce Boudreau has missed the playoffs only once in his NHL coaching career. 

Brendan Gallagher is really good. Max Domi and Tomas Tatar have exceeded expectations. But Montreal still lacks a go-to forward who can take over or change a game. Until they find one, the Canadiens won't be a threat in the playoffs. 

With great depth and talent at every position, the Preds don't seem to have a weakness. But something seems to be missing in the second half. Center Kyle Turris has not played up to expectations, creating a big hole down the middle, and Nashville has been hampered by injuries. The Predators could still put  together a deep run, but they must start playing up to their potential. 

Coming off two non-playoff seasons, the Islanders lost John Tavares in free agency to the Toronto Maple Leafs, signed a bunch of fourth-liners to replace him and somehow came back even stronger. New York, the biggest success story in the league this season, is on its way to the playoffs. Coach Barry Trotz gets most of the credit, but the biggest on-ice factor is the outstanding play of goalies Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss. Severely lacking on offense, New York wouldn't sniff the playoffs without them. Center Mathew Barzal is an impact player, but he has had cold streaks, too. 

The Penguins are finally clicking, especially after adding Jared McCann, Nick Bjugstad and Erik Gudbranson at the trade deadline. Goalie Matt Murray has returned to elite level. Injuries to key players, including Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, are the biggest issue. If  Pittsburgh returns to full health, the Penguins are capable of beating anyone. 

Fading down the stretch, the Sharks have a huge concern in the net. Martin Jones and Aaron Dell have combined for the league's worst save percentage. That could mean an early exit from the playoffs. Great goaltending can transform a team in the playoffs. The rest of this team is so, so strong. 

Neither Jake Allen nor Chad Johnson played well in the nets early this season, nearly sabotaging the Blues. Then Jordan Binnington showed up -- he immediately played like one of the league's best goalies.  Vladimir Tarasenko's return to health and Craig Berube's coaching also sparked the resurgence. St. Louis plays excellent defense and has better depth at forward than it did last season.If Binnington can maintain his pace, the Blues will be difficult to eliminate. If he doesn't, the Blues could struggle, especially against Nashville and Winnipeg. 

It is Stanley Cup or bust for the Lightning, one of the NHL's best teams the past five seasons. Is it prepared for that immense pressure? Tampa Bay has played in the Eastern Conference final in three of the past four seasons (reaching the Stanley Cup Final once). It already has clinched the Presidents' Trophy (most points in regular season). In recent playoffs, the Lightning lost a 2-1 series lead against Chicago in the Stanley Cup Final and 3-2 series leads in the Eastern Conference finals against Washington and Pittsburgh. The Lightning has no flaws on ice or behind the bench. Tampa Bay simply must win it all. 

Simply because of where it plays, Toronto is probably the only team under more pressure than Tampa Bay. The Leafs have the forward talent and the goalie, but they may not have the blue line. Also, this core has yet to win a playoff series. A second consecutive first-round exit against Boston would be brutal for the Leafs and head coach Mike Babcock, who has not won a playoff series in years. 

From the moment he was selected in the expansion draft, Marc-Andre Fleury has been one of the Golden Knights' focal points. A  big part of a Stanley Cup run in their inaugural season, he is a key reason for Las Vegas' success in Year 2. His absence from the lineup with an injury down the stretch exposed his backup, Malcolm Subban. If Fleury is healthy and playing at his peak, the Golden Knights, especially with additions Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone and Paul Stastny, can go all the way. If Fleury is not healthy, or limited by any kind of an injury, the Knights will have problems. 

Barry Trotz's teams have a reputation for playing great defense, but last season's Stanley Cup champs weren't outstanding defensively. The Capitals overcame that deficiency with forwards who can outscore almost any team on any given night and great play from Braden Holtby, one of the best postseason goalies in NHL history. The defense has been shaky at times this season, so the Caps need their forwards and Holtby to carry them again. 

The Jets have one of the league's deepest and most dangerous forward groups -- even with Patrik Laine having a down year. They also have an outstanding goalie. But they don't always get great play in their defensive zone. This might be the one flaw on an otherwise great Stanley Cup contender.  Dustin Byfuglien's injury has hurt them in the second half, but his impact on the blue line is more on offense and by setting a physical tone.