The playoffs reveal a lot about certain players. Some become huge overachievers and some become huge underachievers. It goes without saying that players who overachieve usually lead their teams to success, while players who underachieve become liabilities and their teams end up in trouble.
We saw a number of underachievers in the first round. The series between the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings showed how these players can really swing a series, especially in the cases of Corey Perry and Henrik Zetterberg. Perry went scoreless over seven games, and his Anaheim team ended up losing the series to the underdog Red Wings. Zetterberg was quiet for the first five games of the series, but really picked up his game during crunch time, leading Detroit to victories in both Game Six and Game Seven.
We have begun to see some of these trends in the second round. Here are some players that need to step up to keep their teams alive.
Dustin Penner - Los Angeles Kings
Before last season's magical playoff run, Penner was not very well-liked by Kings fans. He had a huge contract and did not perform as well as his salary suggested he should. Despite hockey fans from all over Hollywood calling for Penner to be traded, he stepped up and had a decent playoff season, heping his Kings to their first-ever Stanley Cup Championship.
This year, Penner only has two goals and one assist through eleven games. The Kings are leading their series with the San Jose Sharks three games to two, but it is too close to say they can coast into the Conference Final. If Penner can get his name on the score sheet in Game Six (and Game Seven if necessary), the Kings will have a much greater chance of advancing.
Jonathan Toews - Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago has lost three straight games for the first time this season, at the hand of the Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks, being faced with adversity for the first time this season, have become extremely frustrated and have seemingly had brain lapses that have caused them to make poor decisions. No player has exemplified this more than captain Jonathan Toews.
During the second period of Game Four, Toews took three separate penalties. Detroit scored what became the game-winning goal on one of the powerplays in a game which featured the Hawks being shut out for the first time this season.
Toews is also yet to score a playoff goal in 2013.
If the Blackhawks want to have any chance at overcoming a three-games-to-one deficit against a talented Detroit Red Wings team, their captain must step up.
Rick Nash and Brad Richards - New York Rangers
Nash and Richards, arguably the two biggest names on the Rangers, have each scored only one goal thus far in the playoffs. The Rangers have had all sorts of trouble scoring on Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, and they will see their season end very soon if they continue to do so.
John Tortorella made a bold move and scratched Richards for the must-win Game Four. It seemed to have paid off, as the Rangers won in overtime and had an offensive explosion (by their standards this series) by scoring four goals.
Time will tell what happens in the Richards situation. One thing is for sure, though; if the Rangers want any chance at pulling off a miraculous upset, their top players need to re-learn how to put the puck in the net.