In every sport only one champion is crowned. The rest of the teams are left to rue the opportunities blown and games lost. Management will reflect on the personnel changes that were made and those that weren’t. Could either have made a difference in the success of the team?

Some players will be held accountable too. Typically the media and the fans put the player’s feet to the fire. Statistics are the only real measurable tool we can use to determine a players effort. Sure you can say that Joe X or Sergei Y played with a lot of spirit and seemed determined, but those two goals and minus-9 in his last 10 games paint a different picture.

The point is that the stars truly earn their paychecks when it matters the most. Unless your name is Roberto Luongo, your team is counting on you to make a difference in the drive to the playoffs and even further on the road to the Stanley Cup. Does the fate of a team fall on the shoulders of a single player? Of course it doesn’t, but the ability to lead through action or verbalization is a characteristic that coaches and general managers yearn for.

Here are five players that will have their resolve pushed to the limit as their team stretches for the postseason and beyond.
 

5. Henrik Lundqvist, G, New York Rangers

Fair or not the fortunes of New York’s glamour franchise rest squarely on the shoulders of their Swedish superstar goaltender. Glen Sather went out and stocked the Rangers full of talent, but they have seemed listless and often indifferent this season. They are currently looking up at seven other teams in the Eastern Conference standings with Winnipeg, Buffalo and New Jersey closing fast in their rear view mirror. Lundqvist has won every hockey trophy possible in his Hall of Fame career except one. The Stanley Cup has eluded him so far, but if he’s going to lift it this year, he’ll need to steal a couple of games before and during the playoffs.

4. Henrik Zetterberg, C/LW, Detroit Red Wings

The longest current playoff run in professional sports is on the line this year, and is in serious trouble. Detroit isn’t used to “fighting” for the playoffs. This time of year the Red Wings are usually locked into a spot or contending for a President’s Trophy. With the major facelift in Hockeytown last summer (retirement of Niklas Lidstrom), Zetterberg was anointed the new face of the franchise. He has had a decent year statistically, but Detroit will need him to put his best skate forward if their record playoff run is to continue.

3. John Tavares, C, New York Islanders

All the talk of Tavares taking the next step into superstardom will disappear if the Islanders fall from the playoff picture. The Islanders are pretty top-heavy in the talent pool with only three players (Tavares, Matt Moulson, and Michael Grabner) hitting double digits in the goal category. Tavares is contending for the goal scoring title behind Alexander Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos, but his primary focus is the postseason.

2. Marian Gaborik, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets

Gaborik was exiled from the barge of discontent that was the New York Rangers over to the equivalent of NHL Siberia in Columbus. The only problem is that someone forgot to tell the Jackets that they were supposed to suck. Behind some Vezina quality goaltending from brash young Russian Sergei Bobrovsky and a rag tag crew of n’er do wells, Columbus has put itself in position for a legitimate playoff run. In six games with Columbus, Gaborik has registered three goals and added three more assists. Columbus needs more of the same if they want to get to the postseason for the second time in franchise history.

1.Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin has been electric over the past three weeks, but his efforts will need to continue in order for Washington to secure their spot in the playoffs. Winners of seven consecutive games has the Capitals sitting atop the division in third place overall. They still have six games to play including a head-to-head in eight days against second place Winnipeg. That game could very well determine a division crown and a playoff spot. Ovechkin has led by example as demonstrably as humanly possible. Nine goals and 13 points over his last seven games have been amazing, but it will all be for naught if the Capitals are golfing at the end of the month.