Tuesday Top Five: Playoff sleepers

Three years ago, Cam Ward ditched his baseball cap in Game 2 of the first round and two months later was named Conn Smythe Trophy winner as MVP of the NHL playoffs.

With the postseason beginning Wednesday, it’s as good a time as any to consider who might follow Ward’s path this time around — Tuesday’s Top Five.

5. Jason Williams, Columbus — The one-time Red Wings forward had four points in five games against his former team this year. If the Blue Jackets are going to pull the upset, they’ll need someone like Williams to step forward.

4. Milan Lucic, Boston — A four-category player: goals (17), assists (25), points (42) and penalty minutes (136). A throwback to the days of the big, bad Bs, Lucic is more than just a bully.

3. Simeon Varlamov, Washington — The notoriously hot-or-cold Jose Theodore is the Capitals’ weakest link. If he falters, Washington may turn to 21-year-old rookie Varlamov to take over. Worked well for Carolina in 2006, anyway. A month later, the Caps drafted Varlamov in the first round.

2. Claude Lemieux, San Jose – Bidding to become the second player to win the Stanley Cup with four different teams, Lemieux is always at his irritating best in the postseason. But how much does he have left in the tank?

1. Ruslan Fedotenko, Pittsburgh — Fedotenko scored the Cup-winning goal for Tampa Bay in 2004. With the Penguins looking for secondary scoring behind Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, Fedotenko could end up the offensive hero of the playoffs. He only scored 16 goals this season, but he’s been there before.