The NHL playoffs may be the greatest annual mystery in sports. They begin Tuesday and, as usual, no one has any idea who's going to win the Stanley Cup.

Last year, the Los Angeles Kings—the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference—rampaged to their first-ever championship by losing just four of 20 postseason games. (The Kings are actually seeded higher this year, which, of course, means absolutely nothing.)

Because...