Who will win the Conn Smythe tonight?
by James Mirtle on Jun 12, 2009 1:13 PM CDT
21 comments
This is a tough question this season, with all of the favourites grouped fairly close together. The leading four candidates are Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Osgood and Henrik Zetterberg, and it may simply fall to what happens tonight as to who wins the playoff MVP.
If Osgood gets a shutout, he'll win, but if the winning goal is scored by any of the snipers above, especially in a close game or overtime, they'll get heavy consideration.
I've written about this a bit already, but let's hear your arguments in the comments:
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What about this scenario...
…the game is tied at 4, after 50-55 mins, with Malkin having scored four soft goals against a lethargic Zetterberg.
[my best Keanu impression] “What do you do? What do you duuuue?”
Contrary to the ballots that were collected and destroyed on Tuesday night, tonight’s voters will be allowed two sets of conditional ballots – one set of three picks in the case of a Detroit victory, and another ballot contigient on a Pens win.
An example of one voter’s choices might be:
If Detroit wins: 1. Osgood, 2. Zetterberg, 3. Malkin
If Pittsburgh wins: 1. Crosby, 2. Malkin, 3. Zetterberg
Another voter might go with:
If Detroit wins: 1. Malkin, 2. Zetterberg, 3. Osgood
If Pittsburgh wins: 1. Malkin, 2. Zetterberg, 3. Crosby
Given that ballots need to filled in prior to the end of the third period, a shutout by Osgood will need to have been assumed.
by TD O'Dell on Jun 12, 2009 1:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Fine, a “near shutout” and a win would do it then.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on Jun 12, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
BTW James, your link to your previous Conn Smythe article points to the wrong page.
by TD O'Dell on Jun 12, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hah, so it does. Thanks.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on Jun 12, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
After two periods Tuesday, Osgood was by far the Detroit MVP.
Giving up 2 goals with 40 saves would be a much better performance than an 18 save shutout at ballot time. Although if Pittsburgh gets 42 shots I beleive they will win, if they get 18 they lose.
But I am pressed to believe that the meida types will vote Osgood MVP. That would end the argument is it Ozzie or is it Detroit. Do you know many blog entires would disappear if hat argument was gone :)
by cubanpuckstopper on Jun 12, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The writers I’ve talked to all seem to think Osgood will win if Detroit does.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on Jun 12, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In my humble opinion that would fitting, he would be the goalie of record in two game seven wins for this cup season, and he was Detroit’s best player in the elimination game against Chicago.
It is time to end the doubt. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2009/news?columnist=lebrun_pierre&id=4176419
by cubanpuckstopper on Jun 12, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fleury also won 2 game 7s….. if he wins tonight that’d make it 3….
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jun 12, 2009 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
only one game 7 for Fleury so far this postseason, against the caps. The Pens won in 6 against philly and 4 against the Canes
by ahtrap on Jun 12, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crosby
I have to give it to crosby if the pens win. Without any of the above the wings or pens advance to the finals, except without crosby the Pens dont make it past the caps. Also, while I like geno he doenst face the top defensive d pairing and Zetterburg shift after shift, for much of the series have esseantilly the third line center and second line d pairing. Zetterburg would be a close second, ahead of geno as he has been a key player in all four series for the wings.
by sctlaw on Jun 12, 2009 1:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Malkin
The argument for Crosby getting the Smythe over Malkin would carry more weight if Crosby had actually produced some points in the final while facing Zetterberg shift in and shift out, but he hasn’t – I think he’s at a goal and a couple of assists right now.
It’s true that the Pens wouldn’t have made it past the Caps if not for #87, but Malkin has been a force throughout the playoffs and – if the Pens win – I would argue that you can trace their victory to Malkin’s short hander in Game 4.
If Detroit wins, how can it go to anyone but Zetterberg? Look at the numbers for #87 and ask yourself if Lidstrom would be carrying the Cup around if Henrik hadn’t stuck to Sid the Kid like white on rice throughout this series, especially when Datsyuk was not playing. Sid’s difficulties in tallying more frequently have had much less to do with Ozzy’s goaltending than they have with Zetterberg hanging out in Crosby’s kitchen for the last ten days or so.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
by jrwendelman on Jun 12, 2009 1:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Staal scored the shortie in game 4.
by PensFan024 on Jun 12, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re right.
I got mixed up – Malkin had the first shorthanded breakaway, but didn’t score; Staal followed up with the goal. What I meant to say is that Malkin’s effort set the table for the Pens surviving that game.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
by jrwendelman on Jun 12, 2009 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.
by IAmJoe on Jun 12, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Osgood/Malkin
As much as I’d love to see Zetterberg win it again, I’d have to go with Osgood if Detroit wins. Simply put, there’s no way the Wings are here if he misses more than a couple games. The guy is the single biggest reason the Wings have another shot at the Cup. Zetterberg has also been huge, but not at the same level Osgood has been.
If (God forbid) Pittsburgh wins, I guess you have to give it to Malkin, even though he’s proved to be a petulant, arrogant thug in addition to being a superstar offensive talent. Crosby would be the tinfoil hat choice, but not necessarily a bad one. I’m obviously hoping this part of the question is completely moot by 10:30 or so tonight.
by Matt Saler on Jun 12, 2009 2:48 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
When do the writers actually vote?
Normally it’d be during the second period, but seeing as this is a Game 7, are there any special rules?
"Without good hard work, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of success." - Anatoli Tarasov
by PRC on Jun 12, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No, they always vote toward the end of the third period. When it’s a Game 7, they’re asked to submit two ballots with a few minutes left in the third, one for if Detroit wins and one for if Pittsburgh wins.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on Jun 12, 2009 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll go with Hank and Sid. Hank would be the third ever consecutive Conn Smythe winner, Parent and Lemieux being the only others. Sid returns the trophy to a Canadian born player for the 41st time.
http://puckreport.blogspot.com/2009/06/conn-smythe-trophy-stanley-cup-playoff.html
MG
by puckreport on Jun 12, 2009 4:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He would not, however, be the first Red Wing to be the best player in the playoffs in consecutive years in recent history. Lidstrom should have won the Conn Smythe in both 1997 and 1998. People seem to forget how he and Larry Murphy made the Legion of Doom disappear.
Or, they would, if I didn’t remind them about once a week.
by J. Michael Neal on Jun 12, 2009 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the fact that Malkin and Crosby have each taken turns disappearing for significant lengths of time really hurts them in trying to win it as a loser, especially with both of them having a hard time keeping themselves on the box score in the finals. Malkin was a goat for a series or two, and Crosby carried them, and then they traded off. Two phenomenally talented players, to be sure, but the fact that they’ve each disappeared for significant lengths of time, and have had the luxury of padding their numbers against some pretty porous teams makes it hard for me to give it to them in a losing effort tonight. That’s before you even consider how terrible they are on faceoffs and the fact that they’re not depended on to play defense. If they win, then sure, give it to Malkin. But if Detroit wins, its going to Zetterberg (if he has a good game) or Ozzie.
http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.
by IAmJoe on Jun 12, 2009 5:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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