Chris Osgood has made the short list for the 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy, and a solid Game 6 could clinch it.
You would never get him to admit it in a million years, but winning the Conn Smythe Trophy would be the crowning achievement in what is now the Hall-of-Fame career for Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood.
Despite winning three Stanley Cups, there are those who suggest Osgood has simply been along for the ride. That, of course, is pure nonsense.
Osgood, 36, is among a small group of candidates who will most certainly get votes for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. In fact, I'd suggest a strong performance and victory in Game 6 Wednesday in Pittsburgh could tip the voting in his favour.
While a number of the players the Red Wings usually count on for production have mysteriously gone silent in the playoffs, Osgood has been solid. He leads the playoffs in wins (15), ranks second in goals-against average (2.00), fourth in save percentage (.927) and is tied for the lead with two shutouts.
He has had to be on his game for the Red Wings to be successful. That's because the likes of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson, Tomas Holmstrom and even Hart Trophy finalist Pavel Datsyuk have struggled for goals. Hossa has six goals, but has scored them in just three of his team's 21 games. Hudler hasn't scored in 10 games while Samuelsson hasn't scored in the past eight. Holmstrom has just two goals in the playoffs and hasn't scored in his past 12 while Datsyuk, when healthy, has just one goal in the 14 games he's played, that in the second game against Columbus in the first round.
Osgood, meanwhile, has shaken off his critics and has given the Red Wings the type of secure goaltending the team needs to repeat as Cup champs. He was at his very best early in Game 5 when the visiting Penguins stormed out of the gate. Even though he recorded a shutout in Game 5, Detroit coach Mike Babcock acknowledges Osgood will have to bounce back with a strong performance Wednesday, but adds he can't do it on his own.
"Ozzie has to find a way to be as good as he can in Game 6, and so does our team to help him out," Babcock said.
Here are my other candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy:
EVGENI MALKIN, PITTSBURGH
The Russian star faced a lot of heat last year when he disappeared in the Stanley Cup final and wound up with 10 goals and 22 points in 20 games. That is not the case this year. With seven points in five games in the final, Malkin has clearly answered the bell. The Conn Smythe has been awarded five times to players from the non-winning team and four of those went to goalies. The only skater to be named playoff MVP was Reggie Leach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1976. Malkin, who leads the playoffs with 14 goals and 35 points in 22 games, could be the second.
HENRIK ZETTERBERG, DETROIT
Could the Red Wings sniper become the third player in NHL history to win back-to-back Conn Smythes? Going into Game 6, the 28-year-old Swede ranked third in playoff scoring behind Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but winning the Cup will trump leading the playoffs in points. With so many of his teammates struggling to produce, Zetterberg has been held off the score sheet in just three of his team's 21 games. His plus-14 ranks No. 2 to teammate Dan Cleary's plus-18.
JOHAN FRANZEN, DETROIT
The 29-year-old right winger will get plenty of consideration based not only on his play in this year's playoffs, but on his superb showing in back-to-back playoff years. Franzen seemed to come out of nowhere last season when he scored 13 goals in 16 post-season games and he has been nearly as good this year with 12 goals and 23 points in 21 games. Add it all up and he has 25 goals and 41 points in 37 games in two seasons.
SIDNEY CROSBY, PITTSBURGH
While you'd have to say Malkin has the best chance of winning the Conn Smythe among the Penguins at this stage of the series, a solid showing by Crosby in Games 6 and 7 could push him over the top. Crosby leads the playoffs with 15 goals and ranks second in points with 31 in 22 games. Chances are Malkin will win the playoff scoring title, but if Crosby scores a couple of game-winning goals, he could swing the vote his way.
