The Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about players elevating their game. Every game won gets you closer to the 16 total victories required to claim the Stanley Cup. There are many who believe that experience is the key to claiming hockey’s ultimate prize.

There is certainly something to be said for the ignorance of youth that doesn’t know any better but history has shown that a mixture of veterans and youth serve teams quite well. The 2014 playoffs are no different, with the usual suspect featuring prominently in most series. However, there are several first year players serving notice that they are ready for the bright lights of the NHL postseason. Here are five playoff rookies that have already left their mark on the playoffs.

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

The top overall draft pick has done more than earn his keep on the upstart Avalanche this season. As the expectations that were set for him were surpassed two-thirds through the season, MacKinnon turned his game up a notch as the playoffs began. He has already set a milestone as the second youngest player to tally an overtime game winning goal, and he has shown no signs that he is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the games that he is playing in. He is currently tied for the scoring lead in the entire NHL and has shown that he can skate with the best players in the world when games matter the most.

Darcy Kuemper, Minnesota Wild

Since taking over from the curiosity that is Ilya Bryzgalov and in relief of the injured Josh Harding and Nicklas Backstrom, Kuemper has put the Wild in position to advance beyond the first round for the second time in franchise history. After falling behind heavily favored Colorado 0-2, Kuemper was the central figure in Minnesota’s three home wins to extend the series to a seventh game.

Boone Jenner, Columbus Blue Jackets

After a solid freshman season, the Columbus center enjoyed a brief but productive run as the Blue Jackets joined the postseason fray for the second time in franchise history. Jenner and company made Pittsburgh work for every minute of their tough first-round series before bowing out after six games. The 20-year old Ontario native did his part chipping in with three goals and two assists while pestering and disrupting the Penguins high-powered attack.

Torey Krug, Boston Bruins

After making his playoff debut for the Bruins in last season’s playoff run, Krug joined the Boston lineup full time this year. He had a superb debut in his first full season (14 goals 26 assists and plus-18 in 79 games), and the experience gained from last year’s playoff run has served the young Michigan native well as Boston looks to return to the Stanley Cup Final. Though he is small in stature, Krug possesses unbelievable hockey sense and is never caught out of position for the Bruins.

Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles Kings

The Kings feel like Toffoli is on the verge of breaking out big time. In his first full NHL season he tallied a modest 12 goals and 19 assists, but always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Of his twelve goals, five were game winners, a trait he has carried into the postseason with two game winners in three Los Angeles wins. Only a week removed from his 22nd birthday the Scarborough, Ontario native always seems to make the most of his time on the ice.