With four games completed in the Stanley Cup Finals it’s the right time to start thinking about who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy. A commanding 3-1 series lead puts the odds heavily in favor of a Golden Knights player winning the trophy. But the Panthers have come back from 3-1 down in this postseason so they can’t be written off just yet. Let’s take a look at some of the Conn Smythe candidates from both squads ahead of game five.
Jonathan Marchessault
Marchessault is the overwhelming favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy right now (-600 via Caesars). The reason he’s favored so highly is the absolute tear he’s been on since the conference finals. Marchessault is riding an active nine game point streak emanating from game two against the Stars.
He’s up to 24 total points this postseason and 14 of them have come from that streak. Having provided at least one point in every game of the Stanley Cup Finals, Marchessault has been an important part of the Golden Knights offense. Going red hot during the team’s most important stretch of hockey will certainly clinch him the award should the Golden Knights win.
Adin Hill
Hill has been a great story for the Golden Knights this postseason. After losing Laurent Brossoit to injury Hill hasn’t missed a beat in relief. In 15 games he has a 2.11 GAA and .934 save percentage. In the Stanley Cup Finals he only let up more than two goals on one occasion and came close to or over 30 saves in each of his three wins. What Hill has been able to accomplish as a backup pushed into a starter’s role has been incredible. He’s been stepping up in a big way and making a strong case to win the Conn Smythe.
Matthew Tkachuk
If the Panthers do make it back from 3-1 down it would be hard not to view Tkachuk as their Conn Smythe favorite. Like Marchessault on the Golden Knights, Tkachuk has compiled 24 total points thus far and has the team lead in goals (11). But what’s especially impressive about his postseason run is how clutch he’s been. Tkachuk has compiled four game winning goals and the game tying marker late in game three of the Stanley Cup Finals. He’s on a great run this postseason and should be rewarded for it if the Panthers come back.
Sergei Bobrovsky
It hasn’t been an easy go of it for Bobrovsky throughout the first four games of the Stanley Cup Finals. However he still has a chance to up his game and get his name back into the Conn Smythe mix. Since the award looks at a player’s entire body of work these next four games can help bolster an already impressive postseason run.
To put it simply, the Panthers wouldn’t be where they are without Bobrovsky’s work in net. He’s been phenomenal in guiding the team to an Eastern Conference title since taking over the starter’s job. If he can line up four winning games he has a legitimate case to take home the trophy.
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Featured image courtesy of NHL.com
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