NHL: Conn Smythe for Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin

Evgeni Malkin is my choice for the Conn Smythe trophy this season, and his Game one performance has not swayed my opinion more in favor of him. 

It seems like every game he plays in, he has a goal and two assist performance.

The playoffs should be no different for him.

Arguably, he is Pittsburgh's team MVP this season when he had to prove he was the next leader of the club when Crosby was injured. 

Michel Therrien told Malkin to carry the team on his back during the season, and that is exactly what he did by leading them to second place in the Eastern Conference.

The difference between this year and last year is that Malkin is now one of the leaders on the Pens, alongside Sidney Crosby. 

It pains me to say as a Flyers fan, the Pens will make the Cup Finals. I have seen them play eight times this season and saw both teams blow out the other team with plenty of fisticuffs between the two clubs. 

Their defense is very solid with Sergei Gonchar as their leading defender. It is very rare to see them have bad turnovers in their own zone, and this always makes a successful hockey club.

What makes the Pens different from the Canadians is that the Pens have a solid goaltender situation.

Marc-Andre Fleury has played solid in net after coming off his injury late in the season. 

Carey Price is the young rookie in net for the Habs, and there are questions to whether he can lead them through to the Finals.

When Malkin reaches the finals, I am positive that he will continue to lead their team to a Stanley Cup series win.

It will just be another goal and two assist night for him since every night he seems to do that.