Dave Molinari ranks the Eastern Conference's Stanley Cup contenders

The rosters finally are set, for the most part, and the end of the regular season is coming into view.

Much remains to be settled in the Eastern Conference during the month-plus before the Stanley Cup playoffs begin — the eight-team field still is not settled, which means first-round matchups aren’t, either — but things are becoming to come into focus, at least a little.

While there are a few givens for any team hoping to contend for a Cup — goaltending must be excellent, most key players have to stay reasonably healthy and they need an occasional break on a bounce or officiating decision — there also are club-specific issues that will help to determine how each fares in the postseason.

Here…