Preparation is the key to success for almost anything in life, although in playoff pools it always helps to have some good old-fashioned dumb luck… err, great hunches.
The tried and true winning strategy when you make your picks is theoretically extremely simple, in that you want to centre your selections around which four teams you think will advance to the Conference Finals.
It’s no easy task to predict the final four correctly, but even landing two or three can go a long way toward success given the incredible level of parity in the league. The deeper your pool too, the more long shot picks you can incorporate into your line of attack.
The annual Playoff Pool Stats Pack gives you a number of key indicators to help you pick your roster once you’ve decided which teams you like to make deep runs this spring.
We begin with the line combinations and defensive pairings from the most recent game (with various exceptions to include a more relevant lineup), along with the power play units from that same contest. Season-to-date power play averages are also included, to help give you a feel for which guys are generally in there night in and night out.
For each player, we’ve broken down not only career playoff stats – but also his most recent post-season totals. In addition to his regular season stats, we also put in a breakdown of how he’s done since April 1.
See the Eastern Conference Stats Pack too.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Line combos: (April 24 vs. Oilers) Saad-Toews-Hossa; Sharp-LeBlanc-Kane; Bickell-Handzus-Stalberg; Kruger-Shaw-Mayers; Keith-Hjalmarsson; Leddy-Seabrook; Oduya-Rozsival
Power play units: (April 24 vs. Oilers) PP1: Toews, Sharp, Hossa, Stalberg, Keith PP2: Shaw, Kane, Saad, Seabrook, Leddy
Season-to-date power play times: Sharp, Kane, Keith, Toews, Hossa, Leddy, Bolland, Seabrook, Stalberg, Shaw
Patrick Kane: Career playoffs (20-32-52 in 51 GP); most recent playoffs (0-4-4 in 6 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (22-32-54 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (4-8-12 in 12 GP)
Jonathan Toews: Career playoffs (17-33-50 in 52 GP); most recent playoffs (2-2-4 in 6 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (22-25-47 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (5-7-12 in 12 GP)
Marian Hossa: Career playoffs (36-61-97 in 130 GP); most recent playoffs (0-0-0 in 3 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (17-13-30 in 39 GP); Since April 1 (4-3-7 in 11 GP)
Patrick Sharp: Career playoffs (23-17-40 in 64 GP); most recent playoffs (1-0-1 in 6 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (6-13-19 in 27 GP); Since April 1 (1-0-1 in 3 GP)
Duncan Keith: Career playoffs (6-24-30 in 52 GP); most recent playoffs (0-1-1 in 6 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (3-23-26 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (1-4-5 in 12 GP)
Brandon Saad: Career playoffs (0-1-1 in 2 GP); most recent playoffs (0-1-1 in 2 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (10-16-26 in 45 GP); Since April 1 (4-3-7 in 12 GP)
Dave Bolland: Career playoffs (14-23-37 in 49 GP); most recent playoffs (0-3-3 in 6 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (7-7-14 in 35 GP); Since April 1 (0-0-0 in 7 GP)
Viktor Stalberg: Career playoffs (1-2-3 in 13 GP); most recent playoffs (0-2-2 in 6 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (9-14-23 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (3-3-6 in 12 GP)
Brent Seabrook: Career playoffs (6-21-27 in 50 GP); most recent playoffs (1-2-3 in 6 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (8-12-20 in 45 GP); Since April 1 (2-2-4 in 12 GP)
Nick Leddy: Career playoffs (1-2-3 in 13 GP); most recent playoffs (1-2-3 in 6 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (6-12-18 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (0-3-3 in 12 GP)
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Line combos: (April 21 vs. Oilers) Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry; Palmieri-Bonino-Selanne; Cogliano-Koivu-Winnik; Staubitz-Steckel-Etem; Fowler-Lovejoy; Beauchemin-Lydman; Vatanen-Allen
Power play units: (April 21 vs. Oilers) PP1: Bonino, Getzlaf, Perry, Fowler, Vatanen PP2: Koivu, Selanne, Ryan, Lovejoy, Beauchemin
Season-to-date power play times: Perry, Getzlaf, Vatanen, Fowler, Selanne, Beauchemin, Ryan, Souray, Koivu, Bonino
Ryan Getzlaf: Career playoffs (18-35-53 in 62 GP); most recent playoffs (2-4-6 in 6 GP, 2011); ’12-13 regular season (15-32-47 in 43 GP); Since April 1 (3-6-9 in 8 GP)
Corey Perry: Career playoffs (18-25-43 in 54 GP); most recent playoffs (2-6-8 in 6 GP); ’12-13 regular season (15-21-36 in 43 GP); Since April 1 (4-4-8 in 12 GP)
Teemu Selanne: Career playoffs (41-38-79 in 111 GP); most recent playoffs (6-1-7 in 6 GP, 2011); ’12-13 regular season (11-12-23 in 45 GP); Since April 1 (3-0-3 in 10 GP)
Bobby Ryan: Career playoffs (8-3-11 in 19 GP); most recent playoffs (3-1-4 in 4 GP, 2011); ’12-13 regular season (10-19-29 in 45 GP); Since April 1 (1-3-4 in 10 GP)
Saku Koivu: Career playoffs (17-38-55 in 60 GP); most recent playoffs (1-6-7 in 6 GP, 2011); ’12-13 regular season (8-19-27 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (0-4-4 in 11 GP)
Sheldon Souray: Career playoffs (3-7-10 in 34 GP); most recent playoffs (3-2-5 in 6 GP, 2006); ’12-13 regular season (7-10-17 in 43 GP); Since April 1 (0-5-5 in 9 GP)
Andrew Cogliano: Career playoffs (N/A); most recent playoffs (N/A ); ’12-13 regular season (13-10-23 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (3-1-4 in 12 GP)
Radek Dvorak: Career playoffs (2-5-7 in 39 GP); most recent playoffs (0-2-2 in 16 GP, 2006); ’12-13 regular season (4-0-4 in 8 GP); Since April 1 (4-0-4 in 6 GP)
Francois Beauchemin: Career playoffs (8-12-20 in 61 GP); most recent playoffs (0-2-2 in 6 GP, 2011); ’12-13 regular season (5-18-23 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (0-2-2 in 12 GP)
Daniel Winnik: Career playoffs (0-1-1 in 12 GP); most recent playoffs (0-1-1 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (6-13-19 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (0-2-2 in 12 GP)
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Line combos: (April 25 vs. Ducks) D. Sedin-H.Sedin-Burrows; Higgins-Roy-Kesler; Raymond-Lapierre-Hansen; Ballard-Ebbett-Kassian; Hamhuis-Garrison; Edler-Corrado; Alberts-Joslin
Power play units: (April 21 vs. Blackhawks) PP1: Sedin, Sedin, Kesler, Burrows, Edler PP2: Roy, Hansen, Raymond, Hamhuis, Garrison
Season-to-date power play times: D. Sedin, H. Sedin, Edler, Kesler, Burrows, Roy, Garrison, Hamhuis, Raymond, Bieksa
Henrik Sedin: Career playoffs (22-49-71 in 95 GP); most recent playoffs (2-3-5 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (11-34-45 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (2-12-14 in 12 GP)
Daniel Sedin: Career playoffs (23-41-64 in 92 GP); most recent playoffs (0-2-2 in 2 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (12-28-40 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (2-9-11 in 12 GP)
Derek Roy: Career playoffs (7-18-25 in 41 GP); most recent playoffs (0-1-1 in 2011); ’12-13 regular season (6-21-27 in 41 GP); Since April 1 (2-3-5 in 12 GP)
Ryan Kesler: Career playoffs (10-26-36 in 53 GP); most recent playoffs (0-3-3 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (4-9-13 in 16 GP); Since April 1 (3-5-8 in 9 GP)
Alexandre Burrows: Career playoffs (17-12-29 in 63 GP); most recent playoffs (1-0-1 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (13-11-24 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (4-1-5 in 12 GP)
Jannik Hansen: Career playoffs (5-9-14 in 54 GP); most recent playoffs (1-0-1 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (10-16-26 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (2-5-7 in 12 GP)
Mason Raymond: Career playoffs (7-9-16 in 51 GP); most recent playoffs (0-1-1 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (10-11-21 in 45 GP); Since April 1 (1-2-3 in 10 GP)
Alexander Edler: Career playoffs (7-20-27 in 55 GP); most recent playoffs (2-0-2 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (8-14-22 in 45 GP); Since April 1 (3-2-5 in 12 GP)
Dan Hamhuis: Career playoffs (2-16-18 in 52 GP); most recent playoffs (0-3-3 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (4-20-24 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (2-6-8 in 12 GP)
Kevin Bieksa: Career playoffs (9-15-24 in 61 GP); most recent playoffs (1-0-1 in 5 GP, 20012); ’12-13 regular season (6-5-11 in 35 GP); Since April 1 (1-3-4 in 7 GP)
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Line combos: (April 25 vs. Flames) Schwartz-Backes-Steen; McDonald-Sobotka-Stewart; Perron-Berglund-Tarasenko; Cracknell-Porter-Reaves; Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo; Leopold-Shattenkirk; Russell-Polak
Power play units: (April 25 vs. Flames)
Season-to-date power play times: Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Steen, McDonald, Oshie, Perron, Berglund, Stewart, Backes, Leopold
Andy McDonald: Career playoffs (18-19-37 in 50 GP); most recent playoffs (5-5-10 in 9 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (7-13-20 in 36 GP); Since April 1 (4-3-7 in 13 GP)
David Backes: Career playoffs (3-4-7 in 13 GP); most recent playoffs (2-2-4 in 9 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (6-20-26 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (3-4-7 in 14 GP)
Chris Stewart: Career playoffs (5-0-5 in 13 GP); most recent playoffs (2-0-2 in 7 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (18-18-36 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (3-4-7 in 14 GP)
Alex Pietrangelo: Career playoffs (0-5-5 in 8 GP); most recent playoffs (0-5-5 in 8 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (5-19-24 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (0-5-5 in 14 GP)
Alexander Steen: Career playoffs (1-3-4 in 13 GP); most recent playoffs (1-2-3 in 9 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (8-19-27 in 39 GP); Since April 1 (2-4-6 in 14 GP)
Kevin Shattenkirk: Career playoffs (1-1-2 in 9 GP); most recent playoffs (1-1-2 in 9 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (5-18-23 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (3-0-3 in 14 GP)
David Perron: Career playoffs (2-5-7 in 13 GP); most recent playoffs (1-4-5 in 9 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (10-15-25 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (1-2-3 in 14 GP)
Patrik Berglund: Career playoffs (3-4-7 in 13 GP); most recent playoffs (3-4-7 in 9 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (16-8-24 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (2-3-5 in 14 GP)
Vladimir Tarasenko: Career playoffs (N/A); most recent playoffs (N/A); ’12-13 regular season (8-10-18 in 37 GP); Since April 1 (0-2-2 in 14 GP)
* T.J. Oshie: Career playoffs (0-3-3 in 13 GP); most recent playoffs (0-3-3 in 9 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (7-13-20 in 30 GP); Since April 1 (2-5-7 in 11 GP)
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Line combos: (April 23 vs. Wild) Brown-Kopitar-Williams; Penner-Richards-Carter; King-Stoll-Lewis; Clifford-Nolan-Richardson; Doughty-Regehr; Scuderi-Voynov; Greene-Muzzin
Power play units: (April 23 vs. Wild) PP1: Richards, Carter, Kopitar, Brown, Doughty PP2: Lewis, Stoll, Williams, Muzzin, Voynov
Season-to-date power play times: Doughty, Kopitar, Brown, Carter, Richards, Muzzin, Williams, Voynov, Stoll, Toffoli
Anze Kopitar: Career playoffs (10-15-25 in 26 GP); most recent playoffs (8-12-20 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (10-31-41 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (0-9-9 in 12 GP)
Jeff Carter: Career playoffs (21-13-34 in 67 GP); most recent playoffs (8-5-13 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (26-7-33 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (6-3-9 in 12 GP)
Dustin Brown: Career playoffs (10-17-27 in 32 GP); most recent playoffs (8-12-20 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (18-11-29 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (4-2-6 in 11 GP)
Mike Richards: Career playoffs (20-45-65 in 83 GP); most recent playoffs (4-11-15 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (12-20-32 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (4-6-10 in 12 GP)
Justin Williams: Career playoffs (15-29-44 in 71 GP); most recent playoffs (4-11-15 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (10-21-31 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (3-4-7 in 12 GP)
Drew Doughty: Career playoffs (9-18-27 in 32 GP); most recent playoffs (4-12-16 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (6-16-22 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (5-3-8 in 12 GP)
Slava Voynov: Career playoffs (1-2-3 in 20 GP); most recent playoffs (1-2-3 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (5-19-24 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (1-1-2 in 12 GP)
Dustin Penner: Career playoffs (10-20-30 in 60 GP); most recent playoffs (3-8-11 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (2-11-13 in 32 GP); Since April 1 (0-2-2 in 7 GP)
Jarret Stoll: Career playoffs (7-12-19 in 55 GP); most recent playoffs (2-3-5 in 20 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (7-11-18 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (0-3-3 in 12 GP)
Jake Muzzin: Career playoffs (N/A); most recent playoffs (N/A); ’12-13 regular season (7-9-16 in 44 GP); Since April 1 (1-1-2 in 12 GP)
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Line combos: (April 24 vs. Coyotes) Galiardi-Thornton-Burns; Marleau-Couture-Havlat; Torres-Pavelski-Wingels; Desjardins-Sheppard-Burish; Irwin-Boyle; Stuart-Tennyson; Vlasic-Braun
Power play units: (April 24 vs. Coyotes) PP1: Pavelski, Marleau, Thornton, Couture, Boyle PP2: Havlat, Torres, Galiardi, Irwin, Burns
Season-to-date power play times: Boyle, Thornton, Marleau, Couture, Pavelski, Havlat, Gomez, Burns, Irwin, Braun
Joe Thornton: Career playoffs (20-67-87 in 114 GP); most recent playoffs (2-3-5 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (7-33-40 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (2-7-9 in 13 GP)
Logan Couture: Career playoffs (12-10-22 in 38 GP); most recent playoffs (1-3-4 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (20-16-36 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (6-5-11 in 13 GP)
Patrick Marleau: Career playoffs (52-36-88 in 129 GP); most recent playoffs (0-0-0 in 5 GP); ’12-13 regular season (17-14-31 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (1-5-6 in 13 GP)
Brent Burns: Career playoffs (1-4-5 in 16 GP); most recent playoffs (1-1-2 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (9-9-18 in 29 GP); Since April 1 (4-4-8 in 13 GP)
Joe Pavelski: Career playoffs (20-18-38 in 63 GP); most recent playoffs (0-0-0 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (16-14-30 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (5-2-7 in 13 GP)
Dan Boyle: Career playoffs (11-47-58 in 89 GP); most recent playoffs (0-2-2 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (7-13-20 in 45 GP); Since April 1 (2-2-4 in 13 GP)
Martin Havlat: Career playoffs (21-31-52 in 72 GP); most recent playoffs (2-1-3 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (8-10-18 in 40 GP); Since April 1 (4-3-7 in 13 GP)
T.J. Galiardi: Career playoffs (0-2-2 in 9 GP); most recent playoffs (0-0-0 in 3 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (4-8-12 in 35 GP); Since April 1 (3-2-5 in 13 GP)
Raffi Torres: Career playoffs (8-16-24 in 56 GP); most recent playoffs (1-1-2 in 3 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (2-4-6 in 10 GP w/ San Jose); Since April 1 (2-6-8 in 11 GP)
Scott Gomez: Career playoffs (29-70-99 in 140 GP); most recent playoffs (0-4-4 in 7 GP, 2011); ’12-13 regular season (2-13-15 in 39 GP); Since April 1 (0-5-5 in 11 GP)
DETROIT RED WINGS
Line combos: (April 25 vs. Predators) Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abdelkader; Franzen-Filppula-Cleary; Nyquist-Andersson-Brunner; Eaves-Emmerton- Tootoo; Kronwall-Ericsson; Quincey-Smith; DeKeyser-Kindl
Power play units: (April 25 vs. Predators)
Season-to-date power play times: Zetterberg, Kronwall, Datsyuk, Franzen, Bertuzzi, Brunner, Filppula, Kindl, White, Cleary
Pavel Datsyuk: Career playoffs (33-61-94 in 126 GP); most recent playoffs (1-2-3 in 5 GP); ’12-13 regular season (15-31-46 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (4-7-11 in 12 GP)
Henrik Zetterberg: Career playoffs (51-51-102 in 109 GP); most recent playoffs (2-1-3 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (9-36-45 in 45 GP); Since April 1 (1-12-13 in 11 GP)
Johan Franzen: Career playoffs (38-35-73 in 88 GP); most recent playoffs (1-0-1 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (14-17-31 in 40 GP); Since April 1 (7-6-13 in 12 GP)
Niklas Kronwall: Career playoffs (4-36-40 in 79 GP); most recent playoffs (0-2-2 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (5-24-29 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (0-5-5 in 12 GP)
Damien Brunner: Career playoffs (N/A); most recent playoffs (N/A); ’12-13 regular season (12-14-26 in 43 GP); Since April 1 (2-3-5 in 9 GP)
Valtteri Filppula: Career playoffs (17-34-51 in 91 GP); most recent playoffs (0-2-2 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (9-8-17 in 40 GP); Since April 1 (3-1-4 in 12 GP)
Justin Abdelkader: Career playoffs (3-2-5 in 37 GP); most recent playoffs (0-0-0 in 5 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (10-2-12 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (4-0-4 in 12 GP)
Daniel Cleary: Career playoffs (20-22-42 in 107); most recent playoffs (0-0-0 in 5 GP); ’12-13 regular season (9-6-15 in 47 GP); Since April 1 (2-3-5 in 12 GP)
Todd Bertuzzi: Career playoffs (14-28-42 in 80 GP); most recent playoffs (0-0-0 in 5 GP); ’12-13 regular season (2-1-3 in 7 GP); Since April 1 (0-0-0 in 0 GP)
Mikael Samuelsson: Career playoffs (22-36-58 in 99 GP); most recent playoffs (0-5-5 in 7 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (0-1-1 in 4 GP); Since April 1 (0-0-0 in 0 GP)
MINNESOTA WILD
Line combos: (April 23 vs. Kings) Parise-Koivu-Coyle; Bouchard-Brodziak-Pominville; Setoguchi-Cullen-Clutterbuck; Mitchell-Konopka-Dowell; Suter-Brodin; Stoner-Spurgeon; Falk-Gilbert
Power play units: (April 23 vs. Kings) PP1: Koivu, Pominville, Parise, Suter, Spurgeon PP2: Cullen, Coyle, Bouchard, Setoguchi, Brodin
Season-to-date power play times: Suter, Pominville, Koivu, Parise, Spurgeon, Heatley, Setoguchi, Cullen, Bouchard, Granlund, Gilbert
Zach Parise: Career playoffs (21-22-43 in 61 GP); most recent playoffs (8-7-15 in 24 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (17-20-37 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (2-5-7 in 12 GP)
Mikko Koivu: Career playoffs (5-1-6 in 11 GP); most recent playoffs (4-1-5 in 6 GP, 2008); ’12-13 regular season (10-25-35 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (1-1-2 in 12 GP)
Jason Pominville: Career playoffs (12-16-28 in 45 GP); most recent playoffs (1-3-4 in 5 GP, 2011); ’12-13 regular season (4-5-9 in 10 GP w/ Minnesota); Since April 1 (4-7-11 in 11 GP)
Ryan Suter: Career playoffs (4-9-13 in 39 GP); most recent playoffs (1-3-4 in 10 GP, 2012); ’12-13 regular season (4-28-32 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (1-3-4 in 12 GP)
Devin Setoguchi: Career playoffs (14-10-24 in 48 GP); most recent playoffs (7-3-10 in 18 GP, 2011); ’12-13 regular season (12-14-26 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (0-3-3 in 12 GP)
Matt Cullen: Career playoffs (11-25-36 in 63 GP); most recent playoffs (3-5-8 in 6 GP, 2010); ’12-13 regular season (7-19-26 in 40 GP); Since April 1 (0-1-1 in 6 GP)
Pierre-Marc Bouchard: Career playoffs (3-4-7 in 16 GP); most recent playoffs (2-2-4 in 6 GP, 2008); ’12-13 regular season (7-12-19 in 41 GP); Since April 1 (3-1-4 in 12 GP)
Charlie Coyle: Career playoffs (N/A); most recent playoffs (N/A); ’12-13 regular season (8-4-12 in 35 GP); Since April 1 (4-1-5 in 12 GP)
Kyle Brodziak: Career playoffs (N/A); most recent playoffs (N/A); ’12-13 regular season (8-4-12 in 46 GP); Since April 1 (2-0-0 in 12 GP)
Jared Spurgeon: Career playoffs (N/A); most recent playoffs (N/A); ’12-13 regular season (5-9-14 in 37 GP); Since April 1 (0-1-1 in 12 GP)