Craig Anderson - Ottawa Senators

Despite missing a big part of the shortened 2013 season, Anderson was one of the most outstanding goaltenders in hockey. He was touted as a Hart Trophy favorite before his injury which kept him out until the very end of the regular season.

This year, however, has not been the case. Anderson's play has been mediocre and the Senators have been inconsistent because of it. Still, they remain only a point out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

If he can regain his 2013 form or even anything close to it, he can definitely be a difference maker in Ottawa. The Sens are a talented enough team all-around to crack the top eight, but they need more consistent production in net from Anderson in order to be able to do so.

Erik Cole - Dallas Stars

Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Kari Lehtonen can't do it all for the Stars if they want to see the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Someone else needs to step up.

While Lehtonen has been holding his ground in net, Seguin and Benn are the team's top point scorers with 56 and 51 points, respectively. Third? Cody Eakin with 28.

That's too big of a gap for a team that wants to keep pace with some of the strong contenders in the Western Conference.

Cole is a veteran presence who is only two years removed from a 35-goal season. This year, through 58 games, he has only 25 total points.

The Stars are extremely top-heavy when it comes to offense and they cannot rely on just Seguin and Benn to put points on the board. Cole is some one who can make a huge difference in the Big D and keep Dallas in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Alexander Edler - Vancouver Canucks

Edler, a defenseman, is not known for his offense but is still having a down year in terms of points scored. In fact, he has surpassed the 40-point plateau twice in his career, but stands at only fifteen through 41 games this season.

The real issue with Edler, however, is his defense.

Yes, as one of the top blueliners for the Canucks, Edler is normally on the ice against the opposition's top players. He gets some leeway for this reason, but his minus-23 rating is unacceptable for a John Tortorella-coached team. It is more than ten lower than anyone else on the team, which makes him stand out lie a sore thumb on the stat sheet.

Edler needs to step it up and start playing more solid shot-blocking, Tortorella-style defense in order to help his Canucks get back into a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference.

Johan Franzen - Detroit Red Wings

Franzen is a hot-and-cold type of player. When he's hot, his Red Wings seem like they cannot be stopped. When he's cold, it seems like anyone can beat them.

He has played in one game since mid-December and will be returning to the team very soon. A big power forward like "The Mule" will be crucial in Detroit's hunt for its 23rd consecutive playoff performance, especially with captain Henrik Zetterberg likely out for the remainder of the regular season.

Franzen has shown the ability to go on streaks this time of year before, most notably in 2008 when he was good for about a goal per game in March and continuing on through the playoffs.

With the injury-laden Red Wings desperately clinging on to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Franzen will be key to their success from here on out.

Patric Hornqvist - Nashville Predators

Before an injury-filled 2013 season, Hornqvist had averaged about 26 goals per year from 2010-2012. This year, however, he has only potted ten goals through 54 games.

Hornqvist's offensive output is crucial to a team like the Predators, who have extreme problems when it comes to scoring goals. His ten goals are only 164th in the entire NHL, but tied for fourth on the Predators.

Nashville is ahead of only Florida, Los Angeles and New Jersey in terms of total goals scored, but even without star goaltender Pekka Rinne, the Predators remain only four points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

If Hornqvist can pick up his play and provide a boost for the Nashville offense, the Predators could see playoff hockey for the ninth time in eleven seasons.