NHL Conn Smythe Trophy Best Bets:

The Stanley Cup Final is set to get underway on Tuesday, June 2, with the Carolina Hurricanes having home ice advantage. Here is my list of players who still have value to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. My list is all Vegas players except for Canes goalie Freddie Andersen, and that’s not because I don’t believe Carolina has a legitimate shot to win the Stanley Cup; it’s simply that there is not a clear differentiator among his teammates. I can make similar cases for Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, who are Carolina’s top three scorers. Anderson’s stellar numbers and the fact that he has begun the process of rewriting his narrative as a goalie who gives up a “stinker” when it matters most haven’t happened through the first three rounds of the playoffs. At the other end of the ice, Vegas goalie Carter Hart has great value at 20/1, but his past legal issues may be something that voters hold against him. I already have Marner at 7/1, Hart at 35/1 and Dorofeyev at 150/1, so I am in good shape with Vegas players. Vegas is my pick to win the Cup, and I will get into more detail on Monday with additional series plays.

Mitch Marner (+175)

Leads all players in points (18)

Second on Vegas with 7 goals

Second on Vegas and in the NHL playoffs with 14 assists

Leads all players in the playoffs with 4 shorthanded assists 

Tied for third in goals (7)

Tied for second in game-winning goals (2)

Frederik Andersen (+290)

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Has given up two or fewer goals in 12 of his 13 starts

3 shutouts lead all goalies in the playoffs

1.41 Goals against average and 9.41 save percentage lead all goalies in the playoffs

Carter Hart (20/1)

.924 save percentage is second only to Frederik Andersen for by goalies that have played at least 10 games in this year’s playoffs

2.22 goals against average trails only Dan Vladar (2.18) and Andersen (1.41) for goalies that have played at least 10 games in this year’s playoffs

Given up one goal in each of the previous three series-clinching games

Jack Eichel (16/1)

18 points and 16 assists are both second in playoff scoring

12 even-strength points are tied for third in playoff scoring

Pavel Dorofeyev (125/1 at FanDuel), Brett Howden (150/1 at Bet365)

Both players are tied for the most goals in the playoffs with 10. If either player scores a couple of “big goals” in the Final, leading the Golden Knights to winning the Stanley Cup, it would be their award for the taking.

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