1. New York Rangers

What's workin': The King

Like he never left.

Henrik Lundqvist's return from a vascular injury hasn't constricted his performance (see what I did there); it's only helped enhance his play. Lundqvist looked fresh and fully prepared to lead a crusade deep into the playoffs in the Rangers' five-game triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing just one goal in each victory.

What ain't: The 'O'

Lundqvist's mastery concealed some serious concerns with regard to the Rangers' typically potent offensive attack. New York became just the third team in postseason history to win a series scoring two or fewer goals in each victory. Though it's likely just a blip on the radar, it's not ideal.

2. Minnesota Wild

What's workin': That top line

The Wild's top trio of Zach Parise, Jason Pominville and Mikael Granlund represented the top-producing line combination in the first-round, accounting for 17 points and scoring on 17 percent of their shots taken. The performance does work both ways, though. They produced just one assist and were a combined minus-9 in the two losses versus St. Louis.

What ain't: Handling star power

Though the Wild managed to handle their bruisers, St. Louis's best skill player, Vladimir Tarasenko, torched them for six goals and 42 percent of the Blues' total offense.

Problem: Chicago oozes skill players.

3. Anaheim Ducks

What's workin': Ryan Kesler

Postseason Kesler is truly hockey's greatest villain. He was dominant, he was obnoxious and he was everything the Ducks imagined when they acquired him last summer. We saw flashes of that in the regular season, but it's quite obvious he left some for the now.

What ain't: Still, those starts

Anaheim trailed in the third three times and scored first only once in their four-game sweep of the Winnipeg Jets. But as we know, that's not really a problem until it becomes one.

4. Chicago Blackhawks

What's workin': Big plays, big moments, big decisions

How's that first round for illustrating veteran resolve? The Blackhawks trailed by two goals in four of their six games, skated in five overtime periods, flip-flopped their goalie on countless occasions and won the series in six games without their sympathetic nervous system even firing into action.

What ain't: That mess in the crease

It can't be all bad, turning to a Stanley Cup champion in goal after the other, from relative obscurity, shouldered the first-round load. If Corey Crawford can find his regular-season form or bottle the relief effort he provided in Game 6, the Blackhawks should be fine, but the trust between coach and netminder just isn't there right now.

5. Washington Capitals

What's workin': Trotz's team defense

The Capitals assisted a less-than-dominant Braden Holtby in his authoring of genius first-round stats and strapped on the boots a little tighter when they needed to. Washington allowed just 21 shots in Philipp Grubauer's spot start, and just 11 (!) shots in Game 7.

What ain't: Their inability to solve Jaroslav Halak

Halak was fantastic, don't get me wrong, but he's also stopped pucks at a rate similar to Antti Niemi and Keith Kinkaid this season. Washington cannot allow its next two opponents in Lundqvist and potentially Carey Price to improve their save percentages by leaps and bounds.

6. Montreal Canadiens

What's workin': Oh, just the best hockey player on the planet

Price wasn't at his best in the Canadiens' six-game triumph over the Ottawa Senators, but even an average showing was enough to pick up the stagnant offense playing in front of him.

He finished the series with a sub-2.00 goals-against average and .939 save percentage despite conceding five goals for just the fourth time all season in Game 5.

What ain't: The man up

A special teams domain without any real fortitude (despite the booming shot of P.K. Subban) all season was completely zapped of its effectiveness versus the Senators. The Canadiens' man advantage converted on one of their 20 opportunities.

7. Tampa Bay Lightning

What's workin': Tyler Johnson

Oh boy, is he ever. Johnson put the Tampa Bay Lightning on the shoulders of his 5-foot-8 frame, becoming the first player in franchise history to record three multi-goal games in one postseason series. He leads the team with six goals and seven points.

What ain't: Ben Bishop

Bishop looked extremely uncomfortable at times against Detroit in the opening round, playing like a goaltender trying not to be the reason his team lost. He atoned for his earlier miscues with a 31-save shutout in Game 7, but he will need to continue that level of play to match Carey Price and the Canadiens.

8. Calgary Flames

What's workin': Crease-crashin' and body-slammin' with house money

The Flames triumphed over the Vancouver Canucks by making the opponent uncomfortable at every turn. They crashed the crease, which eventually wore on both Eddie Lack and Ryan Miller, and threw their weight through the glass on every shift. It'll be much more difficult against the Ducks, but at this point, it will be impossible for them to disappoint.

What ain't: Susceptible to elite-level talent

When coach Willie Desjardins decided to deploy them, Henrik and Daniel Sedin were quite dominant. Right now, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are the the Sedins on eternal cycles of human growth hormone.