Each elimination course has its own unique story. Each year, a hero, sometimes unknown, sometimes expected, rises from the fray to lead his team to great glory. Efforts that are usually rewarded with winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most useful player in the playoffs. As this final between the Panthers and Golden Knights begins, three candidates are eliminated by a margin: Matthew Tkachuk and Sergei Bobrovsky on the Eastern Association Champions side, and Jack Eichel on the West side.
• Also read: Vegas is ready for the Stanley Cup final: “Thanks to Marc-André Fleury for the popularity of ice hockey,” admits a loyal fan
• Also read: Next contract: at least $7 million a year for Cole Caufield
Sergei Bobrovsky
We’ve been repeating it for a few weeks: Sergei Bobrovsky chose the right moment to break out of his torpor. The Russian goalkeeper starts the final with seven wins in a row against opposing teams. Since being thrown into the huddle in Game 3 of the series against the Bruins, he has saved 9.25 goals, more than double second-place Adin Hill (4.42). Goalkeepers who reached the second round. From Game 5 against the Leafs to Game 3 against the Hurricanes, he led the Panthers to four wins by one goal, including three in overtime. A streak of four games in which he saved 8.05 goals. It’s the third-best four-game streak since 2018.
AVERAGE PER 60 MINUTES, RANKING BELOW 13 GOALKEEPER (MIN. 150 MINUTES) WHO HAVE REACHED 2e ROUND
Expected Goals 2.83 10
goals saved 0.62 1
% of stops .935 2
Enclave Stops % .863 2
% bottom saves the enclave .813 3
Jack Acorn
Acquired in the trade market by the Sabers in November 2021, Acorn has served the Golden Knights proudly since the delicate throat surgery he underwent last season. He is the eighth player in history, after Marcel Dionne, Mario Lemieux, Dennis Maruk, Joe Sakic, Marc Savard, Olli Jokinen and Taylor Hall, to compete in his first Finals after accumulating 400 points in the regular season. He’s been the engine of his team since the start of the playoffs. Like Tkachuk, he dominates several of his side’s offensive categories. There are no surprises at this level. What is surprising, however, is that he emerges as the Knights’ premier forward for defensive plays (shots and passes saved, harpooned pucks, checks that force a free puck). Still, we’re talking about a player who didn’t have a reputation for being the bravest during his six seasons in Buffalo.
AVERAGE PER GAME AMONG THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
ownership time in attack range 1.03 1
Enclave Recordings 1.3 3
Shots from the bottom of the slot 0.47 6
passes completed to the enclave 1.8 1
passes completed in the attack zone 15.3 1
zone entrances 6.6 1
defensive games* 8.4 1
*Rank among attackers only
Matthew Tkachuk
A real Florida favorite, Matthew Tkachuk quickly established himself as the heart and soul of the Panthers offense. He has led his team in most advanced offensive stats since the start of the playoffs. He’s a real poison around the Enclave. He can injure the opposing goalkeeper with a free throw as well as with a precise pass. If the Panthers are in the grand finals today, part of the credit goes to him. First, because he was involved in 42% of the Florida team’s goals. But mostly because he has scored four game-winning goals so far, three of them in extra time. He could become the 13th player in history to score five game-winning goals in a single spring. The record seven has belonged to Brad Richards since 2004.
AVERAGE PER GAME, RANKING AMONG THE PANTHERS
zone possession time offensive 0.50 1
Enclave Recordings 1.5 2
Shots from the bottom of the slot 1.1 2
passes completed to the enclave 2.6 1
passes completed in the attack zone 16.4 1
zone entrances 4.3 3
defensive games* 5.6 4
*Rank among attackers only
Other players to keep an eye on
- Jonathan Marchessault
- William Karlson
- Brandon Montor
- Sam Reinhart
- Alexander Barkov
Statistics compiled by Sportlogiq