Top 5 NHLers who must step up: West

Once the playoffs begin in a few short weeks, every player will have to bring his game to a whole new level if his team is to be the last one standing come June. That said, some will face more pressure to perform than others during hockey’s most crucial time of year.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five players in the Western Conference who will need step up their games come playoff time.

Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues

The Blues were the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season for one big reason: goaltending.

By far and away this season, the Blues have the best goaltending tandem in the NHL with Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott. The tandem has combined to allow the least amount of goals in the league, and both sport save percentages of over .925 and have at least six shutouts.

Come playoff time, Halak, Elliott, or both will have to come up big for the Blues to go far in the postseason. Halak has done it before; he took the 2010 Montreal Canadiens all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals as a No. 8 seed.

Elliott was the Senators’ starting netminder in 2010, when the team was ousted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round — a series in which Elliott did not play as well as necessary. However, it is two years later, and this is a much improved Elliott between the pipes.

Valtteri Filppula, Detroit Red Wings

For years, the Red Wings have had an embarrassment of riches on offense. This season is no exception.

Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Danny Cleary… the offense is always there. It’s hard to imagine that it could be any better, right?

Believe it or not, it can. Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula has an abundance of offensive talent, which finally started to show this season as he has posted career highs in goals, assists and points.

While everyone on the hockey club will be under pressure to perform in the postseason, it is Filppula who needs to show that his proficiency in the regular season can translate into postseason success.

Viktor Stalberg, Chicago Blackhawks

Like the Red Wings, the Blackhawks also have an array of offensive talent in their lineup.

This is a Chicago team that boasts Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, and David Bolland. The team also has a forward with a world of talent but, unfortunately, only utilizes it when he wants to: Viktor Stalberg.

Stalberg has speed, a tremendous shot and a nose for the net. However, at 26 years of age, he needs to start producing on a more consistent basis.

There is no doubt Chicago is a crazy-mad hockey town that wants its team to get it done. Stalberg must step in and help out the offense more to make that happen.

Kari Lehtonen, Dallas Stars

The Pacific has been one of the toughest divisions to play in this season because of how close each team is in the standings.

If the Stars are to get into the playoffs and then make a long run, it will be because of the play of their starting goaltender, Kari Lehtonen. Lehtonen has had a terrific regular season for the Stars and is the main reason why the team is contending for the Pacific Division title.

Lehtonen has played in the postseason just once in his seven NHL seasons. His showing wasn’t pretty: he went 0-2 against the New York Rangers and posted a 5.59 GAA and a .849 save percentage.

Making the playoffs and succeeding in them will hinge on Lehtonen’s play between the pipes.

Martin Erat, Nashville Predators

It is well known that the Predators are a defence-first hockey club that creates offense by capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes.

With goals tough to come by in the playoffs, Predators current regular-season scoring leader Martin Erat will be depended on to continue to provide offence in the postseason.

Erat has soft hands, has tremendous hockey sense and knows how to dangle with the puck. However, in 36 playoff games, Erat has just seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points and his offensive ability has rarely been a factor.

There is no doubt that the Preds, recently boosted by the addition of KHLer Alexander Radulov, have what it takes to make a long run this year. And if Erat can provide offence like he has this year in the regular season, it will be that much easier for the Preds to find success when it matters most.

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