As the NHL moves closer to the Stanley Cup Finals, some may begin to wonder who could win the Conn Smythe trophy for the playoff MVP. Since all of the semifinal series are close, it’s hard to predict which teams will make the finals. With that in mind, here’s a look at potential Conn Smythe favorites for the final four teams.
Courtesy of The Associated Press
The Lightning have a problem that any team in the NHL would love to have; they have two outstanding playoff performers. On one hand there’s Brayden Point, the NHL leader in playoff goals. He also has scored in eight straight games dating to game five against the Islanders. That streak is good for second all time in the Stanley Cup playoffs, only trailing Reggie Leach’s 10 in the 1976 postseason.
But on the other hand, there is Nikita Kucherov who leads the league in total points scored with 27. The Lightning have a playoff total of 55 goals, meaning Kucherov has scored or assisted on just under half of all the Lightning’s total goals. If the Lightning do make and win the finals, the difference maker could be whether or not Point breaks the record. It would be hard to not give the trophy to a player who broke a 45 year old playoff record. But if he does not do so, Nikita Kucherov may very well be the favorite given his impressive work on the offensive end.
Courtesy of Getty Images
Kyle Palmieri got off to a rocky start with the Islanders, only scoring twice after being traded from the Devils. However, Palmieri quickly turned things around once the postseason began. In game one of the Penguins series he scored twice, one of two being the overtime winner. His contributions from that game helped a struggling team get off to a great start and ultimately win that series. He was also prolific in the Bruins series, scoring in four of the six games. Palmieri is currently tied with Brock Nelson for the team lead in goals with seven. Although he hasn’t scored against the Lightning, the Islanders wouldn’t be where they are without his contributions. A strong performance in the last two games against the Lightning and a potential finals series would make him an easy choice for the Conn Smythe should the Islanders win.
Marc Andre Fleury hasn’t been great in the Montreal series, with the team even playing Robin Lehner in game four. But the Conn Smythe focuses on a player’s entire body of work in the postseason, which easily makes Fleury the frontrunner for the Golden Knights. Fleury made several highlight reel saves across the first two rounds on prime scoring chances for the opposition. Even with his struggles in the semifinals Fleury is still second among remaining goalies in goals allowed average, boasting a 2.04 average. Like Kyle Palmieri for the Islanders, the Golden Knights wouldn’t be where they are without Fleury’s stellar play in first couple of rounds. If Vegas does win the Stanley Cup, Fleury’s work against the Wild and the first seed Avalanche will be remembered in Conn Smythe voting, so long as he’s not replaced by Leher in the semifinals and beyond.
Courtesy of The Canadian Press
The Canadiens present another tough choice for a Conn Smythe winner. Carey Price is currently the leader in goals against average among the teams remaining, and second in save percentage. And with the Canadiens being the lowest seeded team in this postseason, he’s been doing it against the league’s best. Price has constantly given the Canadiens the chance to win against better teams in this postseason. If they’re able to go the distance this postseason, Carey Price’s performance will be one of the main reasons why.
Tyler Toffoli has also provided the Canadiens with great offensive production in the playoffs. He leads the team in total points, and is tied for eighth in the NHL with William Karlsson. In addition, he’s gotten at least four points in every playoff series to this point. Toffoli’s production has also been a key factor into the Canadiens success, with two of his five goals also being game winners. The award could go to either player should the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup, but Price might have the edge unless Toffoli goes on a scoring streak across the final games in the playoffs.
Featured image courtesy of NBC Sports
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