Patrice Bergeron

The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins came into the playoffs as two-time defending Stanley Cup champions was in the spring of 1993. They did so with an NHL-best 119 points during the regular season, and rode a league-record 17-game winning streak into the postseason. But the Penguins were eliminated in the second round by the New York Islanders. Which only goes to prove that the playoffs are anybody's game.

A year ago the Columbus Blue Jackets were the surprise team in the NHL regular season, and the Ottawa Senators the surprise team of the Stanley Cup playoffs. This spring, it's conceivable both could be watching the postseason on TV. Ottawa is already out of the running, while the Blue Jackets cling to a wildcard spot in the East, watching the hard-charging Florida Panthers in the rear-view mirror.

Not all that long ago, the talk around the NHL was that the Boston Bruins were the hottest team in the league when they collected points in 18 straight games from Dec. 16-Jan. 25. Lately, though, it's the Pittsburgh Penguins who have ascended to the mantle of the team that is bringing the heat. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions are 17-6-1 since Jangiroux. 1.

All good things come to an end, as do bad things, which the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils were happy to recently discover. Boston ended a six-game losing streak against the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Devils got the better of the New York Islanders for the first time in five games. As these match ups arrive once more on the NHL schedule, will they revert to old form?

History will be made as the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators clash in the playoffs. The Bruins and this version of the Senators have never met in postseason play. Minus a history, who should you place you future wagers with?

The Boston Bruins are the latest NHL team to benefit from firing their coach. The Bruins are 9-3 since Bruce Cassidy replaced Claude Julien behind the bench and are securely situated in an Eastern Conference playoff position.