Playoff Sweeties and Villains Unmasked

The NHL playoffs always bring out the darlings you root for and the villains you love to hate, and this year's bracket delivers both in spades. Front offices whisper about the underdogs with quiet momentum while shaking their heads at the overhyped favorites carrying too much baggage from the regular season. Locker room vets know these narratives shift fast once the puck drops, and the stakes climb higher with every unexpected hero or meltdown.