The race for the Conn Smythe Trophy is a little like Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
The race for the Conn Smythe Trophy is a little like Saturday's Kentucky Derby. A monster-sized pack of candidates leaves the gate and by the second turn, a select few have jumped into the lead. While there have been a number of terrific individual performances, here is this week's top 5 list:
Joel Ward, Nashville Predators: You are forgiven if you do not know about Ward's hockey history. The 30-year-old Toronto-born right winger took the long route to the NHL, playing four years in the Ontario Hockey League with Owen Sound and another four years of Canadian college hockey at the University of PEI. Never a scorer of note, Ward has emerged as one of this year's playoff surprises with a league-high seven goals to go with 12 points for the upstart Predators.
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings: An injured Pavel Datsyuk is better than no Pavel Datsyuk at all. The three-time defending Selke Trophy winner as the NHL's best defensive forward, Datsyuk was a sight to behold Sunday in San Jose. Despite being unable to take faceoffs because of a wrist injury, Datsyuk was the most dominant skater on the ice drawing three assists and playing keep-away with the puck. With so many members of the Wings playing hurt, Datsyuk's wizardry has helped keep Detroit alive.
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks: After failing to score a goal in the first nine playoff games this year (which pushed his drought to 17 games over two playoff seasons), Kesler has finally kicked it into high gear. The good news is, even when he wasn't scoring, the 26-year-old Livonia, Mich., native was still checking hard and being a pain in the butt to the opposition. Kesler has scored five goals in his past three games and is tied for the playoff scoring lead with 13 points.
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators: There have been plenty of fantastic goaltending performances through the first two rounds, including Tampa Bay's Dwayne Roloson who leads in GAA and SV%, but truthfully, where would the Predators be without Rinne? The 28-year-old Finn's numbers are nothing to write home about (he's 10th in GAA and 11th in SV%), but it is his ability to keep his offensively-challenged team in games that makes him so valuable. In Rinne's case, it's not about numbers; it's about making saves at the right time to keep his team alive.
Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning: Lecavalier's re-emergence as a scoring threat and leader on the Lightning could not have been better timed. With Tampa Bay suddenly looking like the favourite in the Eastern Conference, Lecavalier has been lightning it up to the tune of five goals and 12 points in 11 games and leads the playoffs with three game-winning goals.
Last Week: Antti Niemi, San Jose, Dwayne Roloson, Tampa Bay, Pekka Rinne, Nashville, Danny Briere, Philadelphia, Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay
