With each passing game it looks more and more like it will be a member of the Los Angeles Kings taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy this season.
The Kings, who have a 1-0 lead in the Stanley Cup final courtesy of their 2-1 overtime victory in Game 1 Wednesday night, are undefeated on the road in the post-season with nine straight victories.
As for the Devils, they need somebody other than their 40-year-old goalie to step up to the plate if they are to give the Kings a run for the money. To their credit, they kept it tight, but their inability to generate offence and quality scoring chances was their undoing.
Here are this week’s Top 5 candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy:
ANZE KOPITAR, C, LOS ANGELES KINGS:
Let’s start with the obvious: He scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the final in overtime. Was there really any doubt he’d end the game when he broke in alone?
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound pivot continues to take his place among the best players in the game with five goals and 11 points in his last nine playoff games. He had four shots and four hits in the series opener.
DUSTIN BROWN, RW, LOS ANGELES KINGS:
Brown is not one of those captains that inspires his teammates with longwinded pre-game speeches: he goes out and leads by example. He is tied for the team lead in points with Kopitar with 16, had a three-shot, three-hit performance in Game 1 and is tied for the league lead (again with Kopitar) with a plus-14. He remains third in the playoffs in hits with 70.
JONATHAN QUICK, G, LOS ANGELES KINGS:
Quick continues to be the NHL’s most dominant goaltender in the playoffs leading the way in goals-against average (1.49) and save percentage (.946), not to mention his 13 victories.
He had an otherwise easy night in the Stanley Cup final opener turning back 16 of the 17 shots he faced. Therein lies the problem in terms of his potential of winning the Conn Smythe. If voters feel he has an easy final, they are likely to look elsewhere for the winner.
DREW DOUGHTY, D, LOS ANGELES KINGS:
Doughty is the busiest skater among those left standing averaging 26:02 minutes of ice time per game. In Game 1 he actually played 28:15 and had an assist with two hits and a plus-2 rating. Nobody has ever questioned this kid’s natural ability, but some wondered about his commitment to excellence. In this year’s playoffs Doughty has demonstrated an unquestionable leap in maturity.
MARTIN BRODEUR, G, NEW JERSEY DEVILS:
Should anyone be surprised Brodeur was his team’s best player in Game 1? Not at all. He is the epitome of been-there, done-that. The veteran stopper gave his team a chance to win; particularly in the second period when the Devils failed to register a shot on goal for the first 14 minutes. If the Devils are to come back and upset the Kings in the final, you just know Brodeur will be front and centre.
