We can identify the four best teams in the ongoing Stanley Cup Playoffs, but who has been the most valuable postseason player?
Here are six in contention for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the conference finals get underway:
1. Right wing Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning: He boasts nine goals in 11 games, and looks scary every time he enters the offensive zone.
He’s averaging more than 20 minutes per game, and he’s +12. He has scored 27.2% of his team’s goals. His performance is even more important because the Lightning have been without Steven Stamkos.
Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko are considered the most dynamic Russian forwards, but he has been the best Russian in the postseason.
2. Defenseman Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins: Feisty and talented, Letang has been the centerpiece of the Penguins’ postseason run.
He’s been the key to the team’s offensive attack because he triggers the rushes with his skating and outlet passes. He’s also crucial to the team’s defensive coverage because he is a relentless one-on-one defender.
Letang, who has eight points in 11 games, is averaging more than 29 minutes per game. The Penguins control the shot share nearly 7% more with Letang on the ice. They survived one game without Letang when he was suspended, but losing him long-term would be devastating.
3. Right wing Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks: The Sharks have won eight games in the playoffs, and captain Pavelski has scored the game-winner three times.
He has a knack for exploiting the seams in the defense and taking advantage of breakdowns by the opposition.
He always finds a way to exploit the seams in the defense. Every time there is a breakdown by the opposition, he is there to take advantage of it.
It’s not a coincidence that the Sharks have had one of the best playoff runs in franchise history with Pavelski as the team’s leader.
4. Goalie Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues: Finally receiving a chance to be the No. 1 in the playoffs, Elliott has won two Game 7s.
He owns a .929 save percentage, and a 2.29 goals-against average.
Elliott’s steadiness has been one of the reasons why the Blues have played more confidently than they have in recent playoff years.
5. Defenseman Brent Burns, Sharks: Coach Peter DeBoer's arrival has been the best thing to happen to Burns' career.
Empowered by DeBoer’s confidence in him, Burns was a force in the regular season — a Norris Trophy finalist — and now he is a force in the postseason. He’s third in the playoff scoring race with 15 points in 12 games.
It seems as if he should have a place on Canada’s defense for the World Cup.
6. Goalie Matt Murray, Penguins: At 21, rookie Murray is destroying the notion that experience is crucial for a postseason goalie.
He’s impressively poised, and his technique is tight and polished. As his .929 save percentage shows, he has not been overwhelmed by playoff pressure.
The way he is playing reminds us that 30 years ago a young rookie goalie named Patrick Roy helped the Montreal Canadiens win a Stanley Cup.
