The playoffs are approaching fast and it's time to see who will be the best matchup for the Penguins or the worst matchup for them as the season ends. Let's take a look at those teams.

Best: Tampa Bay Lightning

The Penguins would have to drop to a wild card spot to play this team and it isn't that far fetched. They haven't been playing well lately and they could very well slide down to fourth place in the Metropolitan division if they don't start winning. Playing Tampa Bay wouldn't be that bad for the Penguins as they have their number usually every season.

The Lightning rarely win at Consol Energy Center and whenever the Penguins play them, usually Evgeni Malkin has a big game. He has dominated the Lightning throughout his career and has also had some spectacular goals against them. Ben Bishop has been good for Tampa Bay this season but I think he would be outdueled by Marc-Andre Fleury in the playoffs as he is having the best season of his career. This matchup may not happen but if it does, Penguins fans shouldn't be that worried.

Worst: New York Rangers

This is a team that the Penguins do not want to face in the first round at all. The Rangers are easily the deepest team in hockey and arguably has the best blue line in hockey. Did I also mention that they have a top five goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist back healthy now for them too? Rick Nash has been great for the Rangers this season too and they are just all in this year as their window for winning the cup as closed due to all of the free agents they will be having in the next few years. They will also not have too many draft picks. Hopefully the Penguins don't run into them the first round or it could be a quick series.

Best: New York Islanders

You may find me crazy for saying this is a best-case matchup but it is. The Islanders aren't a very good defensive team and even though Jaroslav Halak has had a good year for New York, he isn't an elite goaltender. I have no doubts that they can beat Halak four times in a playoff series. John Tavares is going to play lights out as well as Kyle Okposo but I think the two headed monster of Malkin and Crosby can beat them again just like they did two seasons ago. The biggest thing for the Penguins in this series is if they can get home ice for the round so that they don't have to go to Uniondale for the first two games of the series. It's the last time the Islanders will be playing at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island since they will be moving to Brooklyn next year so they will be fired up if they got to have the home ice advantage. This is the most likely scenario for the Penguins for the playoffs so we'll see if this comes true. 

Worst: Montreal Canadians 

Playing Carey Price in the playoffs is not a thing the Penguins are going to want to do. He's the best goaltender in the world right now as he has nine shutouts this year and leads the NHL in wins too. His GAA is under two, which serves as another example of his insanity. He's a legitimate candidate for the Hart trophy for NHL MVP this season. The Canadians wouldn't be where they are without him. Montreal also has some very good scorers on offense, but the sole reason I wouldn't want to play Montreal in the playoffs is Carey Price. You have to score if you want to win and I don't think the Penguins would score very much on Price in that series.