Depending on the timing of when you're taking in this article, the second round of the Eastern Conference playoff picture could already be crystal clear. For what is supposed to be the most intense and hard-fought action of the entire NHL season, the first week-and-change of games have been somewhat underwhelming in terms of competitive postseason hockey. With so many lopsided series unfolding – or unravelling, depending on how you look at it – it's no wonder we already have the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers sitting pretty with their second-round tickets punched waiting for their next victim opponent.

The Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes both have a stranglehold on their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, respectively, and in all honesty, both teams down 3-1 should start dusting off their wedges. However, with six Eastern Conference teams still technically kicking, we're serving up one burning question for each club with a playoff pulse.

New York Rangers

Is this the year for the Blue Shirts? – A quick glance up-and-down New York's roster reveals a lineup very much built for a prolonged run. A deep and talented forward group is backed up by a bruising blue line of beastly rearguards and an all-world goaltender in Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers haven't made a Stanley Cup Final since bowing out in five games to the L.A. Kings in 2014 and they haven't won a Cup since Mark Messier and Co. did in 1994. New York is out to avenge last postseason's first-round exit but a matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes is looming. If there is one team that could derail the Rangers' march back to the big dance, it's Rod Brind'Amour's pesky 'Canes club.

Florida Panthers

Will Sergei Bobrovsky run out of gas? – First and foremost, Sergei Bobrovsky is definitely one of the most complete goaltenders the NHL has seen over the past 15 seasons and his sixth time earning Vezina Trophy votes earlier this week cements that notion. With that said, Bob is a 35-year-old netminder with 775 games (regular and postseason combined) under his belt – at some point fatigue is an honest question to pose. Sprinkle in the fact Bobrovsky just carried the Panthers all the way to five games of the Cup Final only 13 months ago and the query rings even louder. If the wily Russian veteran can hold it down for another trip into late May there really is no reason for this Florida team to not be the last one standing.

Carolina Hurricanes

Who will be the Canes' offensive X-factor? –  Bringing in two offensive savants at the NHL's trade deadline in Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov was a bold but calculated move by one of the most astute front-office minds in the league in Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell. Secondary scoring had been a perennial issue for Rod Brind'Amour's men and those two additions have already proved their offensive worth.

Much like the two teams discussed above, Carolina is now armed with all the tools to make serious noise in the postseason: depth up front, stingy blue-liners, and a goaltender capable of taking a team on a run. Check, check, and double-check for a 'Canes crew aiming to dust aside the New York Islanders in short order and set their sights on the Rangers. If Carolina wants to be considered as a real threat to New York, someone outside of the top line of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Guentzel is going to need to produce. We're looking at you, Andrei Svechnikov.

New York Islanders

Can Semyon Varlamov spark a run? – From one veteran Russian netminder to another, there are question marks in the Islanders' blue paint as well. No disrespect to Semyon Varlamov, who's not only one of the best backups in the league but also a major reason the Islanders earned the third and final Metropolitan Division playoff spot, but when it comes to matching up against the rest of the Eastern Conference clubs, he is just not the guy to take a team to the promised land. There are reasons Varlamov's been a perennial number two option: he's a poor puck-handler, he's lacked consistency at many points of his career, and even though his postseason numbers (32-29-0, .919 save percentage, 2.40 goals-against average) are fairly solid, he's lacked the ability to make big postseason saves.

Regardless of how you slice it, New York needs one of their goaltenders to steal at least a game or two to turn this series around. Can Varlamov be the guy? We'll soon find out.

Boston Bruins

Do the Bruins have enough firepower? – Hats off to Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins. The Bs' captain is once again torching the Toronto Maple Leafs while putting the team on his back with sensational elite-level performances in Games 3 and 4 – realistically, other than Jeremy Swayman, he's clearly been the difference-maker for Boston. The burning question is, though, after Marchand, do the Bruins have enough firepower to go through the likes of such studly squads as the Panthers, Hurricanes, and of course, New York Rangers? On paper the answer is an emphatic no. Does that mean Boston is incapable of riding Jeremy Swayman and responsible defensive play to the third round or deeper? Likely not. However, the one clear chink in the Bruins' armour is a lack of bottom-six scoring and offensive talent. It could end up being their downfall in a matter of days when scoring is even more at a premium.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Where do the Leafs go from here? – Speaking of downfalls, "Hello, darkness my old friend".

In all seriousness, this most recent postseason tomfoolery from Toronto feels a bit different, more frustrating and with less hope than in past years for a much-maligned Maple Leafs fan base that's sure to see some changes with this roster should an improbable comeback fall short against the Bruins. Leading NHL experts from around the league were quoted earlier this week saying this is the last kick at the can for the "Core Four" in the Big Smoke, and with even more questions on the blue line and between the pipes, there really is no clear path forward for a Toronto franchise in need of an overhaul from top-to-bottom. Cue the golf jokes and excuses, it's going to be another LONG summer in Leaf land.