I thought it would be fun to take our readers' pulse on which player would be the favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Stanley Cup Playoffs ended today.
As an unabashed goaltending enthusiast, I will cast a vote for Tuukka Rask. What he did against the Penguins was nothing short of incredible. Say what you will about the Bruins playing stellar defense in front of him -- and they did -- but the goaltending of Rask went a long way toward lifting his team to the level it showed in shockingly sweeping Pittsburgh. Rask had no margin of error in Games 3 and 4 and was sensational.
I will also add that Rask has been through some adversity in the Playoffs... The Toronto series was a trying one and let's not forget what happened in that one game against the Rangers where Rask had a pair of memorable gaffes. Each and every time he's faced some adversity, he's come back stronger and better. He's also improved in each successive round. That's what winning in the Playoffs is all about.
Of course, Rask is far from a slam dunk favorite for the Conn Smythe heading into the Final. On the Boston side, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Nathan Horton, Zdeno Chara and others have all been excellent. Chicago has had tremendous balance, too, with their own share of standouts, ranging from Duncan Keith to the surging Patrick Kane, the surprising dominance of Bryan Bickell, the strong goaltending of Corey Crawford and others. A strong case could be made for up to a dozen different players on the two sides, which is why this year's Stanley Cup Final has the potential of being one of the best in recent hockey history.
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