If your team is in the playoffs, what is the Key to winning the Stanley Cup?

THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS

1. they need 2 have gionta elias gomes on one line because they have been suffuring injuries lately

2. we need pandolfo and madden 2 cover the best players of the on the lightning ( st.louis and leclavier)

3. We need parise lagenbrunner and zajac to score on the powerplay because they have been struggling.

4. They need 2 win in regulation not overtime because ovetime has been not 2 good 4 the devils.

5. Brodeur needs 2 be at his best because hes been a little shaky lately, but he is ususally unstoppable in the playoffs.

This is the first time the young Thrashers are going to the playoffs, and I hate to say it, but they need a LOT. We have a good record against the Rangers, but I'm afraid that we will get flustered when we get past the first round. Even though Thrashers are first in the division (woohoo!!) we tend to have GREAT playing streaks and then slack off and get absolutely creamed by teams like the Panthers, for pete's sake.

I'm not pessimistic though, I'm going to be looking forward to watching my dear Thrashers all throughout the playoffs, as far as they get! And after I deliver a baby in September, I'll be right back watchin 'em do it all over again:)

Theres a lot of factors that lead you to the Stanley Cup..of course you need to play great hockey..but staying healthy is one of the most important things..last year if 5 of the sabres defensemen didnt get hurt...i bet you we would have gotten to the Stanley Cup instead of having another year without the cup..but with that..you need to have a great goalie..if your goalie isnt playing good then youre gonna have a tough time keeping up with the other team.

You can't have 2 teams cheater. That said, I hope for my family, players I know and players I have followed throughout their minor hockey and major junior careers to do well.

These include my cousin Joe DiPenta who plays for the Ducks, JS Giguere who played junior here and married a girl (Kristen) that I know, Sid the Kid who grew up on my block, Alex Tanguay who played junior here and billoted with my brother in-law, JM Fleury who played junior in my province, Colin White who is from my province.

I'm pulling for all of those guys since my team is gone.

My team needs to keep scoring the way that they did all season, tighten up the defense and hope to God that their starting goalie doesn't get rattled or hurt, because their second-string goalie pretty much proved last year how useless he is in a playoff situation. The most important thing for them is to stay healthy; if they'd done that last year things might have gone a bit differently. And yeah, 16 wins would obviously be pretty crucial. I think you know who they are by now, but just in case you don't...

1. Goaltending

2. Penalty killing

3. Star players play like stars

4. No injuries

5. Power play goals

6. 3rd & 4th line players scoring (a backbreaker)

7. Luck

Red Wings.

They need to pray Hasek doesn't hurt his groin, Zetterberg makes it back soon and that Pavel scores during the playoffs.

They need to play a little grittier than they usually do.

My Flames are going to win because they are 8th seed in the West and not expected to go far.

Watch the top dogs fall again this year.

Winning 16 games.

Everything else contributes to the above...

the sharks and they need marleau and joe thornton to step up and lead this team. if they can do that then they have an unbeatable team