It’s just the midway point of the NHL Conference finals but many fans are weighing in on who should be the MVP of the playoffs.
Naturally, the Conn Smythe Trophy pick today could change by the time the Stanley Cup is handed out but here’s how I see the race to date with the top candidate from each team left in the hunt.
4. Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues. This may seem like a strange choice since Elliott was pulled midway through the 3rd period in Thursday’s 3-0 loss to San Jose after surrendering 3 goals on 14 shots. However, over a 17-game period, Elliott has won back to back game seven’s against Chicago and Dallas and sports a commendable 2.34 GAA and .925 save percentage.
The Blues have not scored in the last seven periods so Elliott should not be blamed for his team trailing the Sharks two games to one. Elliott, considered by some critics to be a reliable back-up, is still trying to earn respect.
We will find out if Coach Ken Hitchcock has given up on him when he announces his starter for game four, as Jake Allen has been waiting to re-assert himself as the Blues #1 goalie.
3. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning. The 6-foot-6 Swede is arguably the best defenceman in the NHL. He has 11 points in 13 games with a plus four rating while logging an average of 27 ½ minutes a game, by far the most on the team. In addition, he plays against the opposition top line.
Hedman elevated his play during last year’s playoffs and is doing the same this year.
2. Brett Burns, San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have an abundance of candidates including points leader Logan Couture, goal scoring leader Joe Pavelski and goalie Martin Jones, who has posted three shutouts in his last four starts, but Burns has the slight edge. The 31 yaar old from Barrie, Ontario has racked up 18 points (half of them on the power play) in just 15 games, best among all defencemen and second overall, just two behind Couture.
Burns (plus 5 rating) may not be the complete defenceman that Hedman is, but he has been dynamic for the Sharks on their best run ever.
1. Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins. The Murray comparisons to when Ken Dryden burst on the scene for the Montreal Canadiens in 1971 are striking. Both are 6-foot-4 and have excelled at the most important time of the season as a rookie. With Marc-Andre Fleury looking over his shoulder, the 21-year-old from Thunder Bay has calmly posted a 9-3 record with a .928 save percentage and 2.13 GAA.
According to Stats LLC, Murray is just the 10th goalie in NHL history, to log more than 400 minutes in the playoffs after fewer than 1,000 minutes in his regular-season career. He only appeared in 13 regular-season games. Dryden is on that list after he played just six regular-season games before winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1971.
Murray was a third round pick (83rd overall) by the Penguins in 2012. In the AHL last season, he set the league record for consecutive shutout minutes (304) and was named the league’s goaltender and rookie of the year with a .941 save percentage and 1.58 GAA.
Setting records on the farm is noteworthy, but his current run is astounding. Time will only tell if Murray is a flash in the pan, but for the moment he is cherishing the role that has seen him quickly rise to the top.
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It’s not often that Prince George cheers loudly for Kelowna but the P.G. connection has helped the West Kelowna Warriors move within two games of a Royal Bank Cup junior A hockey title.
Prince George minor hockey product and ex Cariboo Cougar Liam Blackburn is tied for the tournament scoring lead with seven points, including two goals in four games. Blackburn will attend the NCAA Division 1 University of New Hampshire in the fall on a full-ride scholarship.
Former Spruce Kings captain and ex Cariboo Cougar Jake LeBrun of Prince George scored twice for the Warriors in their RBC tournament opening 5-2 victory over host Lloydminster.
Another ex Spruce King, Bryan Basilico has one RBC goal for West Kelowna.
The semi-finals Saturday have the Warriors against the Brooks Bandits and the first place Trenton Golden Hawks against the Lloydminster Bobcats. The winners play for a national title on Sunday.
The last two meetings between Brooks and West Kelowna were blowouts. The Bandits won on Sunday 5-1 in the round robin, however, the Warriors took the previous match-up, 6-0 in the first place game at the Western Canada Cup in Estevan, Saskatchewan.
With the stakes elevated this weekend, one would suspect the BCHL and AJHL champions will engage in a memorable tight game that will leave the loser with a bitter taste despite having a successful season.
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On Tuesday and Thursday of this week, I turned on the T.V. to watch the Cavaliers and Raptors. I am puzzled why we were shown the Harlem Globetrotters against the Washington Generals instead.
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From the Quote Rack:
A Texas BBQ restaurant is offering Rougned Odor free food for life for his clocking of Jose Bautista. But it’s only good on ‘take out’ orders.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Baseball is odd. Rougned Odor of the Rangers got an eight-game suspension for a sock to the jaw of Jays outfielder Jose Bautista. Yet which one is called a slugger?
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Texas second baseman Rougned Odor was handed an eight game suspension. This will give him enough time to sign an endorsement contract with Hawaiian Punch.
Not to be outdone, look for Jose Bautista to sign a contract with Odor Eaters.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/
Rougned Odor received an eight-game suspension for punching Jose Bautista. In other news, he’s just been named NHL Player of the Week.
Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald
And in case you missed it:
A newly discovered sinkhole in Florida may show that humans lived there 1,500 years earlier than expected. Amongst the finds inside was reputedly a tattered Tim Duncan jersey.
Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also is the 94.3
radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games. His column appears Fridays on
myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller