One of the great ironies of the NHL is that a mighty team can be brought down by a weak link. Hockey is indeed the ultimate team sport, and while fate is often fueled by luck, injuries and goaltending performances, players in a limited role can have a major impact in the result of games and series.
There’s no better recent example of this than the Penguins’ most recent glory for championships in 2016 and 2017. It was driven by defeating the Washington Capitals in marquee matchups of two of the strongest teams in the league.