Which teams ranked 5 - 8 have the best shot to make a big splash this year?

Every year there seems to be a team that comes out of nowhere and takes out some of the top dogs.

Last year Carolina took out #3 New Jersey before upsetting the top ranked Bruins.

Two years ago, Dallas and Philly made it to the Conference finals ranked 5 and 6 respectively

Who could forget Edmonton's run to the finals ranked #8 four years ago.

So which teams ranked 5 through 8 have the best shot to win a playoff series or 2 or 3 or 4????
I know a lot of the matchups have yet to be finalized but here's how things look as of right now.

EAST

#1 Washington vs #8 Philly / NYR

#2 New Jersey vs #7 Montreal

#3 Buffalo vs #6 Boston

#4 Pittsburgh vs #5 Ottawa

WEST

#1 San Jose vs #8 Colorado

#2 Chicago vs #7 LA

#3 Vancouver vs #6 Nashville

#4 Phoenix vs #5 Detroit

My pick is the Boston Bruins ... they have the defense and the goaltending this year, they're missing their top gun in Savard but I think the big bad Bruins matchup well against the Sabres and with some luck they can avoid the Pens + Caps until the third round.

Detroit is the obvious pick in the West as they've done this many times before and know what it takes to win a play-off series. If Howard can stay consistent, Detroit has a good shot to beat anybody on any given night.

Let's here some of your picks

I'll continue to update as the matchups become official

If Howard can stay consistent

BIG "IF" for the Red Wings BUT they have the experience. now that they are healthy, they could make some noise.

LA KINGS and AVS very fast teams that can play with anybody

Kings maybe BUT I think the Ava's go out 1st round they way Anderson has been letting them in lately AND esp IF Matt Duchene is hurting or even out.

but then again, IF they get the "Chokersharks".....

I will be interested to see the Senators vs Penguins series odds. Kovalev out hurts the Sens BUT my Pennies have been VERY inconsistant down the stretch. IF it's Senators "+ ridiculous", I would probably give them a try. the teams split their series 2-2 this season AND you KNOW the Sens will bring it after the Pens swept them in last year playoff series.

UPDATED MATCHUPS

EAST

#1 Washington vs #8 Phladelphia

#2 New Jersey vs #7 Montreal

#3 Buffalo vs #6 Boston

#4 Pittsburgh vs #5 Ottawa

#1 San Jose vs #8 Colorado

#2 Chicago vs #7 Nashville

#3 Vancouver vs #6 Detroit

#4 Phoenix vs #5 LA

I don't know IF the Devils are too excited about the prospect of playing the Flyers. it's 1-0 Sabres early in the 2nd period and New Jersey can escape with a regulation loss.

wonder IF they will dump like the Pens did last season to avoid the Flyers in the 1st round?

Detroit Red Wings & LA Kings

Thank me later

But he's never played in a play-off game before and the pressure might be too much for him to handle, especially the first two on the road. 

Here are the series prices on my site

EAST

#1 Caps -600 VS #8 Canadiens +510

#2 Devils -240 VS #7 Flyers +210

#3 Sabres -170 VS #6 Bruins +155

#4 Pens -285 VS #5 Sens +250

WEST

#1 Sharks -430 VS #8 Avalanche +370

#2 Blackhawks -430 VS #7 Predators +370

#3 Canucks -235 VS #6 Kings +205

#4 Coyotes +180 VS #5 Red Wings -205

I can definitely see some of these dogs win and it might be a good idea to put a couple of bucks on all of them. I hate talking about value when it comes to betting but some of these underdog prices are insane ... Phonix +180??? or Philly +210 ????