Live Conn Smythe Trophy Tracker

[mikey287]

June 25:
1. David Krejci, C, Bos
2. Tuukka Rask, G, Bos
3. Duncan Keith, D, Chi
4. Patrick Sharp, LW, Chi
5. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos

June 20:

Spoiler:

1. David Krejci, C, Bos
2. Tuukka Rask, G Bos
3. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos
4. Patrick Sharp, LW, Chi
5. Duncan Keith, D, Chi

June 16:

Spoiler:

1. David Krejci, C, Bos
2. Tuukka Rask, G, Bos
3. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos
4. Duncan Keith, D, Chi
t-5. Bryan Bickell, LW, Chi / Patrick Sharp, LW, Chi

June 5:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos
4. Tuukka Rask, G, Bos
5. Paul Martin, D, Pit

Sorry, I forgot about this to be honest.

May 28:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos
4. Paul Martin, D, Pit
5. Sidney Crosby, C, Pit

HM (just because I can't put him anymore and he deserves a proper send off): Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR

Honestly, these are probably the guys that are going to carry the mail the rest of the way. They've been the cream of the crop so far. Jimmy Howard is right there from Detroit. Henrik Zetterberg has been great. Corey Crawford has been of decent quality so far, despite that shot from distance by Joakim Andersson. Let's see how game 7 goes. Pascal Dupuis has been very good as well. That entire top line for Boston has been on point.

Unsung heroes: Matt Cooke, Justin Williams, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Jakub Kindl, Adam McQuaid.

May 23:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos
4. Paul Martin, D, Pit
t-5. Sidney Crosby, C, Pit / Jimmy Howard, G, Det

Gap narrowing between Chara and Martin. Welcome Jimmy Howard to the list. Impressive performance against Chicago so far.

May 22:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos
4. Paul Martin, D, Pit
t-5. Patrick Marleau, C, SJ / Sidney Crosby, C, Pit

May 20:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos
4. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
t-5. Craig Anderson, G, Ott / Patrick Marleau, C, SJ / Paul Martin, D, Pit

May 18:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
3. Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR
4. David Krejci, C, Bos
5. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos

Let's get some new names on this list tonight, huh?

May 16:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR
3. David Krejci, C, Bos
4. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos
5. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ

May 15:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR
3. David Krejci, C, Bos
4. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
5. It's like a five-way tie at least...still.

May 14:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR
3. David Krejci, C, Bos
4. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
5. It's like a five-way tie at least.

May 11:

Spoiler:

1. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
4. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
5. Drew Doughty, D, LA

No change with just one game in town last night.

May 10:

Spoiler:

1. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
4. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
5. Drew Doughty, D, LA

May 9:

Spoiler:

1. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
4. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
t-5. Craig Anderson, G, Ott / Zdeno Chara, D, Bos

No real changes. Cream starting to rise more prominently to the top, maybe? Hopefully...

May 8:

Spoiler:

1. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
2. David Krejci, C, Bos
3. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
4. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
5. Zdeno Chara, D, Bos

May 7:

Spoiler:

1. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
2. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
3. Justin Williams, LW/RW, LA
4. David Krejci, C, Bos
t-5. Drew Doughty, D, LA / Zdeno Chara, D, Bos

May 6:

Spoiler:

1. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
2. Justin Williams, LW/RW, LA
3. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
4. David Krejci, C, Bos
5. Drew Doughty, D, LA

May 5:

Spoiler:

1. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
2. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
3. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
4. Drew Doughty, D, LA
t-5. Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR / Braden Holtby, G, Wsh

Forgot to update today.

May 4:

Spoiler:

1. Jonathan Quick, G, LA
2. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
3. Drew Doughty, D, LA
4. Craig Anderson, G, Ott
t-5. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ / Justin Williams, LW/RW, LA

May 3:

Spoiler:

I didn't watch the Montreal/Ottawa game to its fullest extent. I had it running while the Pens were on, but whenever the Pens started play, obviously my eyes were drawn to it...so, my notes on that game are still fairly incomplete vs. all the other games. Carey Price looked good throughout I thought. Here goes nothing...

1. Antti Niemi, G, SJ
2. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
3. Craig Anderson, G, Ott
4, Francois Beauchemin, D, Ana
5. Brent Burns, RW, SJ

After May 2nd:

Spoiler:

Everyone has had a turn now, not a ton of jaw-dropping performances last night really. Anderson facing 50 shots is a big deal and he was very good throughout. One of the few 60 minute performances from a goaltender in these playoffs. Steen wasn't as effective as he was in game 1, nor was most of the St. Louis team. Beauchemin was fine last night. It's not like I thought this would be easy early on, but I'm having a hard time here to be honest...here goes nothing...

1. Craig Anderson, G, Ott
2. Francois Beauchemin, D, Ana
3. Drew Doughty, D, LA
4. Alexander Steen, C/RW, StL
5. David Krejci, C, Bos

Feel free to pick it apart...it's ripe for the picking at this point...

After May 1st games:

Spoiler:

1. Alexander Steen, C/RW, StL
2. Francois Beauchemin, D, Ana
3. David Krejci, C, Bos
4. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJ
5. Kristopher Letang, D, Pit

Obviously, it's so close still right now. With the exception of maybe Steen, you can replace any of those four names and still be in good shape. Luongo was strong throughout, but ultimately was undone late. I really liked Pascal Dupuis' game last night as well. Niemi was very good with his rebound control but wasn't tested a ton in terms of sustained attack.

This is where I'm at right now...ask me again in five minutes and it might change a bit...but that's expected through this first handful of games...

April 30:

Spoiler:

It's at least a month early, I know, but I thought it would be interesting to try to track it and discuss all the way through...why not, right? What's the harm if it generates some discussion...?

After April 30th games:
1. Alexander Steen, C/RW, StL
2. Francois Beauchemin, D, ANA
3. Justin Williams, LW/RW, LA
4. Jonas Hiller, G, ANA
5. Ryan Suter, D, MIN (edited: I overthought it...it was a "hipster" pick, trying to be different for the sake of being different I realized...)

I'm not basing it on stats really, just looking at who had the biggest impact in my opinion. It's funny how hockey works sometimes. I was thinking about doing this and as the Kings/Blues game was winding down, I was thinking "who should be #1...Quick or Steen?" And then Quick costs his team the game directly to Steen...that settled that. Justin Williams was all over the place all game and then was rewarded with a brain bell jangler to the roof to tie it late. Beauchemin was an absolute rock defensively and then nets the field goal from 70 yards out...

King Beauch, J-Dubs and Steen were going to make the list regardless of scoring but it's nice to see that they did...

Feel free to discuss or ignore. Hopefully we'll see some Penguins on the list after tonight...

[profpolisci]

Teemu has a game winner and though the Wild aren't a juggernaut, Crawford made some clutch saves.

[JoseCuervo]

I think Quick still deserves to be up there. Blues absolutely dominated for 2.5 periods, and the Kings had no reason to still be in it.

[ExPatriatePen]

It's at least a month early, I know, but I thought it would be interesting to try to track it and discuss all the way through...why not, right? What's the harm if it generates some discussion...?

After April 30th games:
1. Alexander Steen, C/RW, StL
2. Francois Beauchemin, D, ANA
3. Justin Williams, LW/RW, LA
4. Jonas Hiller, G, ANA
5. Jonas Brodin, D, MIN

I'm not basing it on stats really, just looking at who had the biggest impact in my opinion. It's funny how hockey works sometimes. I was thinking about doing this and as the Kings/Blues game was winding down, I was thinking "who should be #1...Quick or Steen?" And then Quick costs his team the game directly to Steen...that settled that. Justin Williams was all over the place all game and then was rewarded with a brain bell jangler to the roof to tie it late. Beauchemin was an absolute rock defensively and then nets the field goal from 70 yards out...

King Beauch, J-Dubs and Steen were going to make the list regardless of scoring but it's nice to see that they did...

Feel free to discuss or ignore. Hopefully we'll see some Penguins on the list after tonight...

I know it's only one game, but I had to smile when I read your rankings Mikey:

http://www.letsgopens.com/scripts/phpBB ... n#p2383783" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Pitt87]

Brodin over Suter? Dude played 41 minutes of great hockey last night. A performance like that is in the Pronger/Listrom/Blake category, even in a loss.

[MRandall25]

Teemu has a game winner and though the Wild aren't a juggernaut, Crawford made some clutch saves.

Couldn't make the 1st one...

[profpolisci]

Brodin over Suter? Dude played 41 minutes of great hockey last night. A performance like that is in the Pronger/Listrom/Blake category, even in a loss.

...suspect Mikey was hoping for your excellent and appropriate response.

[profpolisci]

Teemu has a game winner and though the Wild aren't a juggernaut, Crawford made some clutch saves.

Couldn't make the 1st one...

yeah, what a shlupp. I take it back

[MRandall25]

There would be a popcorn guy if I weren't on mobile

[Beveridge]

There would be a popcorn guy if I weren't on mobile

you don't have : pop : keys on your mobile?

[mikey287]

Thanks for the feedback. I started watching the game again last night and yeah, that's right, it should be Suter over Brodin. I read too much into the GA. He was terrific all night. I over-thought it, trying to be too cute...good call.

For the record, I nearly put Selanne over Brodin (now Suter). He was very good, definitely on my radar.

Bad goals at bad times are nearly unforgivable to me. Crawford should have never left that game in any doubt really...and it's not so much that he gave up the goal, it's how and when. This Minnesota team is on egg shells...their starter is out, their top line RW is out, they're in hostile territory against a juggernaut...and the first shot of the game, a weak one no less, goes in...that's the kind of thing that can put an entire series in doubt...if you don't give the Wild a reason to believe, they won't win...Crawford gave them a big reason to believe and it took what little wind Chicago had in their sails away...Crawford put that game in serious doubt for the Blackhawks and he shouldn't be given a pass for that...it wasn't a particularly taxing game for him, I won't give him a pass...

Quick still nearly made it as he was terrific all night. But I gotta be consistent. Even going back to the 2011 playoffs...bad goals at bad times. There's nothing worse for a team than that. Nothing. It docks you some serious points. I grilled Tim Thomas for it in 2011 as he put his team behind the 8-ball so much that there's no way that he should have won the Conn Smythe. I'm grilling Crawford for it now. And I gotta give it to Quick now...the reason why I praised him so much in 2012 was because he never left a game or a series in doubt for two months. That's unreal. Last night, he goofballed one while his team was in prime position to win it (4 minute power play). He'll have time to recover I predict, but I can't rightfully put him on there and still be consistent....

[MRandall25]

There would be a popcorn guy if I weren't on mobile

you don't have : pop : keys on your mobile?

I had hope that someone would've gotten the sarcasm with the ellipsis.

[Pitt87]

I also thought Toews had a monster game, but Suter was simply better. That should be a great battle, if MIN can get some scoring together. They looked beyond sloppy on the puck.

[Beveridge]

There would be a popcorn guy if I weren't on mobile

you don't have : pop : keys on your mobile?

I had hope that someone would've gotten the sarcasm with the ellipsis.

Same, but we can't win 'em all.

[JoseCuervo]

Quick still nearly made it as he was terrific all night. But I gotta be consistent. Even going back to the 2011 playoffs...bad goals at bad times. There's nothing worse for a team than that. Nothing. It docks you some serious points. I grilled Tim Thomas for it in 2011 as he put his team behind the 8-ball so much that there's no way that he should have won the Conn Smythe. I'm grilling Crawford for it now. And I gotta give it to Quick now...the reason why I praised him so much in 2012 was because he never left a game or a series in doubt for two months. That's unreal. Last night, he goofballed one while his team was in prime position to win it (4 minute power play). He'll have time to recover I predict, but I can't rightfully put him on there and still be consistent....

I completely understand why he isn't on the list, but it was obvious that the only reason that the King's were in a prime position to win was because of Quick (and Williams' goal as well).

[pcm]

Minnesota was dominating in OT, if one of their chances goes in and he got the W, then Harding would have to be on the list.

[mikey287]

I don't disagree. Harding with a win, probably gets on the list near the bottom. After a shaky beginning (some iffy rebounds, etc.) he really settled in nicely. What a tough situation to be in, he didn't play in the regular season really and he gets thrown into it...

[profpolisci]

Bad goals at bad times are nearly unforgivable to me. Crawford should have never left that game in any doubt really

He could've **** his pants. Instead, he was steely after that flub, especially in OT. I find that impressive.

[shoeshine boy]

I also thought Toews had a monster game, but Suter was simply better. That should be a great battle, if MIN can get some scoring together. They looked beyond sloppy on the puck.

it was nice to see Suter play a strong game. I was in San Jose about a month ago and got to take in Sharks v. Wild and watched DAN BOYLE turn Suter into a turnstile.

[youtube][/youtube]

[Gaucho]

Steen

/

[Gaucho]

Steen Duper

/

[canaan]

Steen Glass

/

[mikey287]

Unofficial.

1. Us.
2. The rest.

Might look at this again late tonight or tomorrow though when I'm little less pumped...

[Gaucho]

We're a playing a lousy team, though. Sorry, truth.

[mikey287]

We're a playing a lousy team, though. Sorry, truth.

Giguere got 3 of his 5 shutouts against the hopelessly anemic, expansion Wild in 2003 and everyone considers that one of the best performances ever...when push came to shove, he let up like 20 goals in the Finals.

Don't worry, I'm not a homer in PR, I'm not gonna be one in NPR...no sense in doing this if I'm gonna do it wrong...