A series-by-series look at the NHL playoffs

THE LINE between winning and losing in hockey is razor thin. That fact is never more in focus than during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

This year, that line was not as fine for the Flyers. It was pretty clear where they stood - 14 points out of the mix, finishing with their second-lowest point total (84) in an 82-game season in franchise history.

The lens through which these playoffs are viewed should be different in this town this year. General manager Ron Hextall has a lot of work to do.

Here is a comprehensive preview of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, which begin tonight, with predictions and an eye on what Hextall could use as a prototype:

MONTREAL (A1) vs. OTTAWA (WC1)

Montreal

Overall record: 50-22-10 (110 points)

Series vs. OTT: 1-3-0

Flyers vs. MTL: 0-1-2

Key stat: Fewest goals allowed in NHL (189)

Element to emulate: Puck movement. It helps to have P.K. Subban, but the Canadiens are more efficient than just about any team at quickly and cleanly getting the puck in the hands of their forwards.

Canadiens will win if: Carey Price plays as well as he did in the regular season.

Ottawa

Overall record: 43-26-13 (99 points)

Series vs. MTL: 3-1-0

Flyers vs. OTT: 1-1-1

Key stat: 23-4-4 to close out regular season.

Element to emulate: Mental toughness. The Senators are not the most talented team in the playoffs, but they are a scrappy squad on a mission. No deficit in a game (or the standings) has been too big to overcome.

Senators will win if: They don't realize the tsunami-sized wave of momentum they're riding.

Pick: Senators in 6.

TAMPA BAY (A2) vs. DETROIT (A3)

Tampa Bay

Overall record: 50-24-8 (108)

Series vs. DET: 3-1-0

Flyers vs. TBL: 1-2-0

Key stat: Most potent offense in NHL (262 goals)

Element to emulate: Construction. Twelve of Tampa Bay's 23 players were drafted by the team. Two others were undrafted free-agent finds. They had more than 415 points contributed by players 24 and younger.

Lightning will win if: Braydon Coburn and Tampa's defense can get healthy quick.

Detroit

Overall record: 43-25-14 (100 points)

Series vs. TBL: 1-2-1

Flyers vs. DET: 2-1-0

Key stat: Backup Petr Mrazek will start Game 1.

Element to emulate: Compete level. Mike Babcock squeezes the most out of his players, who rarely don't compete enough to win on any given night.

Red Wings will win if: Babcock outwits Lightning coach Jon Cooper.

Pick: Lightning in 5.

NEW YORK RANGERS (M1) vs. PITTSBURGH (WC2)

New York Rangers

Overall record: 53-22-7 (113 points)

Series vs. PIT: 3-0-1

Flyers vs. NYR: 1-3-0

Key stat: NHL-best goal differential (plus-60)

Element to emulate: Speed. The Rangers hold the upper hand over teams like the Flyers because of their quickness. They force teams on their heels.

Rangers will win if: They can keep the puck out of Sidney Crosby's hands.

Pittsburgh

Overall record: 43-27-12 (98 points)

Series vs. NYR: 1-2-1

Flyers vs. PIT: 4-0-0

Key stat: Finished season at 19-18-7 crawl.

Element to emulate: Not much. The Penguins don't have the supporting cast Crosby and Evgeni Malkin require to win. Plus, they finished the season using five defensemen because of salary-cap and injury problems.

Penguins will win if: They somehow find scoring from their bottom two lines.

Pick: Rangers in 5.

WASHINGTON (M2) vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (M3)

Washington

Overall record: 45-26-11 (101 points)

Series vs. NYI: 2-0-2

Flyers vs. WSH: 3-1-0

Key stat: Allowed 37 fewer goals this season.

Element to emulate: Team defense. Coach Barry Trotz has gotten every player on the Capitals to buy in, making them a responsible team that plays a "playoff-style" game.

Capitals will win if: Alex Ovechkin (53 goals) isn't bottled up.

New York Islanders

Overall record: 47-28-7 (101 points)

Series vs. WSH: 2-1-1

Flyers vs. NYI: 1-1-2

Key stat: Team save percentage of .907.

Element to emulate: Balance. Sure, the Islanders have top-end talent in John Tavares, but 11 players broke the 30-point mark this year; seven had more than 40. They aren't at such a big disadvantage when Tavares is off the ice.

Islanders will win if: Their defense can cut down on goals allowed.

Pick: Capitals in 6.

ANAHEIM (P1) vs. WINNIPEG (WC2)

Anaheim

Overall record: 51-24-7 (109 points)

Series vs. WPG: 3-0-0

Flyers vs. ANA: 0-0-2

Key stat: second in NHL on the road (25-12-4).

Element to emulate: Creativity. Few teams are as crafty with the puck as the Ducks. Their passing is usually crisp and tape-to-tape.

Ducks will win if: Their first line can get to Ondrej Pavelec.

Winnipeg

Overall record: 43-26-13 (99 points)

Series vs. ANA: 0-1-2

Flyers vs. WPG: 2-0-0

Key stat: First playoff series in Winnipeg since 1996.

Element to emulate: Defensive depth. Like the Flyers, the Jets had nine defensemen at one point this season. Unlike the Flyers, they're well-balanced from one through six (Dustin Byfuglien through Ben Chiarot or Paul Postma) in both quality and salary.

Jets will win if: They aren't slack-jawed in awe of the playoffs.

Pick: Ducks in 7.

VANCOUVER (P2) vs. CALGARY (P3)

Vancouver

Overall record: 48-29-5 (101 points)

Series vs. CGY: 2-2-0

Flyers vs. VAN: 0-2-0

Key stat: second in NHL in penalty kill (85.7 percent)

Element to emulate: Leadership. Henrik and Daniel Sedin captain a steady ship that wasn't expected to deliver much this season. They aren't a strong possession team, they didn't get superb goaltending, their defense was in flux and they survived.

Canucks will win if: Ryan Miller doesn't play as he did last year in the playoffs.

Overall record: 45-30-7 (97 points)

Series vs. VAN: 2-1-1

Flyers vs. CGY: 0-1-1

Key stat: Five players with more than 13 games of playoff experience.

Element to emulate: Calmness. Lose a Norris Trophy-worthy defenseman for the season? No problem. Need to beat the defending champion Kings to cement a spot? Sure thing.

Flames will win if: Defenseman Kris Russell and Co. can continue to shoulder the load.

Pick: Flames in 6.

ST. LOUIS (C1) vs. MINNESOTA (WC1)

St. Louis

Overall record: 51-24-7 (109 points)

Series vs. MIN: 2-2-0

Flyers vs. STL: 1-0-1

Key stat: One series win under Ken Hitchcock since 2011.

Element to emulate: Physicality. They have talent (Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk, Vladimir Tarasenko, David Backes, T.J. Oshie), but they're known for their "heavy" game. They play an incredibly rugged, physical brand under Hitchcock that doesn't give up much.

Blues will win if: The weight of previous early exits doesn't drag them down.

Minnesota

Overall record: 46-28-8 (100 points)

Series vs. STL: 2-1-1

Flyers vs. MIN: 1-1-0

Key stat: Devan Dubnyk went 27-9-2 with .936 save percentage since Jan. 14 trade.

Element to emulate: Forward depth. The Flyers' biggest knock is their lack of secondary scoring. It's possible to shut down Zach Parise's line with Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville, but Nino Niederreiter, Mikko Koivu and Chris Stewart are just as good. Then there's Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker and Thomas Vanek.

Wild will win if: They can grind down the Blues with their second and third attacks.

Pick: Blues in 7.

NASHVILLE (C2) vs. CHICAGO (C3)

Nashville

Overall record: 47-25-10 (104 points)

Series vs. CHI: 1-1-2

Flyers vs. NSH: 1-1-0

Key stat: 8-13-4 skid to close the regular season.

Element to emulate: Shea Weber. Everything in Nashville runs through Weber, who has somehow still not won a Norris Trophy. He has a solid running mate in Roman Josi and supporting cast in Seth Jones, but a true No. 1 defenseman is franchise altering.

Predators will win if: Pekka Rinne stands on his head.

Chicago

Overall record: 48-28-6 (102 points)

Series vs. NSH: 3-1-0

Flyers vs. CHI: 1-1-0

Key stat: 94 Stanley Cup playoff games since 2009.

Element to emulate: Entry-level talent. Draft well is a given. In a salary-cap world, key contributions from players on rookie-type contracts is a must to keep stars such as Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith together. Brandon Saad, Marcus Kruger, Andrew Shaw and David Rundblad provide that relief.

Blackhawks will win if: They can find consistency in their puck-possession game.

Pick: Blackhawks in 6.

Conference Semifinals

Tampa Bay over Ottawa

Washington over N.Y. Rangers

Anaheim over Calgary

Chicago over St. Louis

Conference Finals

Tampa Bay over Washington

Chicago over Anaheim

Stanley Cup Final

Chicago over Tampa Bay

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