• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
NHL Goaltending

5 Early Conn Smythe Favorites

By Tony Wolak April 23rd, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Which first round game breakers have been most valuable to their team in the playoffs?

Almost two weeks into the playoffs, we have seen a few players stand out among the rest. Timely goal scoring, shut-down defense, and stout goaltending have helped teams such as the Tampa Bay Lightning and San Jose Sharks dispatch their first round opponents.

But which players have been most valuable to their perspective teams so far? Here are five who have led the way:

Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning

(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

1. Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning

No player was more valuable in the first round of the playoffs than Lightning sniper Nikita Kucherov. In the five games against the Detroit Red Wings, Kucherov registered five goals and eight goals to lead the Lightning in each category. Even more impressive was the fact that Kucherov contributed to 66.7% of the Lightning’s goals. Finally, Kucherov has been a catalyst on the Lightning power play, leading the way with four power play points.

2. Braden Holtby – Washington Capitals

Is there any surprise here? After a record-setting regular season, Braden Holtby is again looking masterful between the pipes for the Capitals in the playoffs. Despite losing the last two games, Holtby has kept his team in the game each time (you can’t win unless you score).

Holtby’s 1.01 GAA and .961 save percentage are otherworldly figures for the Stanley Cup-favorite Capitals. If the young netminder continues to play at this level, the Capitals should have no problem rolling through the Eastern Conference

Reilly Smith of the Florida Panthers in the playoffs.

(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

3. Reilly Smith – Florida Panthers

Though the Florida Panthers-New York Islanders series does now exactly present a marquee matchup, Reilly Smith’s play has garnered top billing. Smith also has eight points through five games with the other Florida team in the playoffs. Playing on a dangerous line with Jussi Jokinen and the recently healthy Vincent Trocheck, Smith has done some serious damage against the Islanders.

Smith’s stellar paly is not just limited to the offensive zone though. Throughout the series, Smith has contributed to the penalty kill and has had key blocked shots late in games.

Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks has advanced to the next round of the playoffs.

(Zeke/THW)

4. Brent Burns – San Jose Sharks

While teammate Joe Pavelski torched the Los Angeles Kings with five goals in siz games, Burns is leading the way with eight points in that timeframe. Burns leads all Sharks defensemen with almost 24 minutes of ice time per game and plays in all situations.

After taking in Game 1 of the Kings-Sharks series, it was easily noticeable that Burns was the best player on the ice all night. While Marc-Edouard Vlasic is normally the shut-down defenseman in San Jose, Burns stymied everything the Kings mustered against him. His puck moving skills in his own end broke up any dump-and-chase attempts the Kings made.

John Tavares has had a stellar playoffs for the New York Islanders.

(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

5. John Tavares New York Islanders

Throughout the first round matchup against the Florida Panthers, Islanders’ captain John Tavares has completely stepped up his game. With seven points in the series, Tavares has been the most impactful player on the ice for both teams, even more so than Panthers’ Reilly Smith. His ability to win key faceoffs, draw penalties, and dictate possession on the ice has put the Islanders in a good spot against the Atlantic Division champions. If the Islanders had deeper scoring to complement Tavares’ strong play, this series would be over by now.

Honorable Mention: John Carlson, Pavelski, Brian Elliott, Ben Bishop, Fredrik Andersen.

  • Tags
  • Braden Holtby
  • John Tavares
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 19th 7:42 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Wild Acquire Ian Cole From Avalanche for Greg Pateryn

Jan 19th 6:05 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Need to Be More Disciplined if They Want to Stay Hot

Jan 19th 5:50 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

9 Blue Jackets’ “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” Fun Facts

Jan 19th 5:40 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Babcock Bombs as Former Leafs Coach Tries to Clarify Marner Drama

Jan 19th 5:25 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Are 3-0, But Still Have Plenty of Work To Do

Jan 19th 5:15 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers News & Rumors: Essential Workers Night, DeAngelo, Trouba & More

Jan 19th 5:05 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Should Add Forward Oliver Okuliar to Prospect Pool

Jan 19th 4:55 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens: 3 Takeaways from Week 1

Jan 19th 4:45 PM
Hockey History

Top 3 Penguins Trades Under Jim Rutherford

Jan 19th 3:45 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues Weekly: Up and Down Start to the 2020-21 Campaign

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information