This article has been submitted by Deven Hiscock. Welcome back, welcome back, welcome baaaaack.

The first round of the NHL playoffs is the round that produces the best hockey and best performances in my opinion. Watching the first round this April felt like, for the first time, I was watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which is the measuring stick as far as I am concerned for entertainment. Although this round has lacked the 5-overtime games that last year’s first round produced, the hockey has been of the highest caliber. If you’ve watched any of the Philadelphia/Washington series you would agree, the play is on a totally higher level than the regular season.

So in what has been a fantastic round of hockey, here are the players who made their mark on their series, whether they won or not.

LW- San Jose’s Ryan Clowe 4G, 4A in 7 games. The man has been a big body presence with a knack for finding open space and using it effectively. Whenever the Sharks need a lift, Clowe seems to come out of nowhere to provide it for San Jose. With Joe Thornton pulling his usual April disappearing act, Clowe has been the key to the Sharks success in their battle with Calgary.

RW- Calgary’s Jarome Iginla 5G 5A in 7 games. As Mikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla go, so do the Calgary Flames. If it were not for some secondary scoring in this series from Calgary this series wouldn’t have even gone 7. Jarome has a way of taking over games with his skill, strength and overall desire to will his team to a victory. He did it back in 2004 when the Flames went to the Stanley Cup Finals and is primed to do it again, even with the team on his back.

C- Colorado’s Peter Forsberg 1G, 4A, +3 in 6 games. Looking like the Forsberg of early 2000’s, he has played the game that not many thought he still could and has helped the Avalanche to an unlikely first round win. Forsberg has shown that he still has the skill to dominate a game himself and lift his team up when needed. With a team that looked more primed for a title run in 2000, the Avalanche have themselves in a position to do some damage in the next round, thanks to Peter “the Great.”

D- Dallas’ Stephane Robidas 1G, 5A, + 2. In a series many people favored the Ducks to win on their way back to another Stanley Cup titles, the Stars had a different idea. Even with key injuries to their blueline, Dallas was able to find a way to out hustle and outwork the defending champions. A major contributor for the Stars was Robidas whose goal and assist in 52 seconds of the third period crippled the Ducks in game 6. He has stepped up and played big minutes over the series and will be called upon to do so in round 2 if Dallas is going to make a run.

D- Detroit Red Wings’ Niklas Kronwall 0G, 5A, +1 in 6 games. Kronwall has quietly established himself as a top defenseman on the Red Wings Blue Line. The heir apparent to Nick Lidstrom has been a physical presence in the entire Nashville series and seems primed to do it again in the next round versus Colorado. With a nickname of “Nick Jr” on the Red Wings, it’s no surprise that he has been one of the best defenders in the first round, not to mention his ability to headman the puck. So look for more from this young gun in round 2.

G- Nashville Predators’ Dan Ellis 2-4 record, GAA 2.52 SV % .938 in 6 games. I know, some people may be wondering where Jose Theodore is, but if not for Ellis the Preds would have been swept. The least known tender heading into the playoffs ended up playing some of the best hockey in between the twine tents. Minus the bouncer goal by Lidstrom in game 6, Ellis played simply superb, including a 52-save performance in Nashville’s 2-1 OT loss in game 5. Now Ellis has established himself as a solid number one and a goalie to look forward to seeing next year.

This article has been submitted by Deven Hiscock. Welcome back, welcome back, welcome baaaaack.