Number Four: What do you need to win in the NHL playoffs?

A good goalie? An agitator? A proven scorer? Veterans with experience? All of the above? What about a steady defencemen? A gritty attitude? Divers like Crosby? A team that doesn't take penalties? A great powerplay? The answer to all of these is YES! I will take an example of each from playoff teams. When I think of a good goalie, I think of a consistent goalie. In my mind, the most consistent NHL goalie is Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars. He only lets in about one or two goals a game and he makes key saves when he has to. There is no use having a good goalie if he is not consistently good. An agitator that I think jumps to everyone's mind in the NHL is Sean Avery of the Rangers. Not only is he a solid offensive and defensive player, he is also great at annoying the other team and drawing penalties. A proven scorer is crucial to winning offensive shootouts. Guys like Danny Briere of the Flyers, who has 7 goals to lead the playoffs, are reliable scorers who give their team a chance to win every game. Veterans who know what it takes to win are great for helping the team know what to do and teaching the younger players. A guy like Joe Sakic of the Avalanche is a great example, as he has won the cup twice and he knows what it takes to win. Steady defencemen who rarely make mistakes are also important to have. Brian Campbell of the San Jose Sharks is a good defender, and he can also score. A gritty, physical attitude like the one the Flyers have is important for intimidating opponents and forcing big turnovers that can result in goals. A good special teams is important, and it can dictate the winner of a series. you have to score on powerplays and kill penalties if you want to win the cup. Lastly, people who can draw penalties, such as Sidney Crosby of the Penguins, are vital to a team because you can't score a powerplay goal if you don't get any powerplays in the first place.