2010 NHL Stanley Cup Finals: Ranking the Conn Smythe Candidates

The Stanley Cup Finals now stands at 2-1 in favor of the Chicago Blackhawks, and some players have emerged as leaders to be named the postseason Most Valuable Player.

Obviously the award will go to someone playing in the Finals, but there were a number of players who jumped to the top of this list throughout the playoffs. We've seen the likes of Joe Pavelski, Jaroslav Halak, Ryan Kesler, either Daniel or Henrik Sedin and Sidney Crosby all have their turn as the favorite for the Conn Smythe.

But now there are two games left standing, and they are approaching the middle of the Finals. Let's look at who has stepped up from the Flyers and Blackhawks as the series continues.

7. Ville Leino

With 15 points in the postseason, Leino is not only becoming a cult hero in Philadelphia but a nausea-inducing name in Detroit. The Red Wings sent Leinto to the Flyers for essentially nothing during the season because of salary cap issues.

Now Leino's playing his best hockey on the biggest stage.

In the Finals, Leino has been credited with six hits, six takeaways, two goals, and one assist. He has been key to the Flyers' defense and has contributed big goals and timely hits throughout the Finals.

6. Marian Hossa

Hossa hasn't scored goals at the rate anyone—himself included—would like, but he's contributed in every other way possible.

He continues to be a central figure on the Hawks penalty kill, has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) and is tied for the playoff leads at plus-11.

To say Hossa hasn't been effective because of his goal total is both naive and incorrect. Watching the games, Hossa is a player that jumps off the screen whenever he's on the ice.

5. Duncan Keith

Keith scored a big goal for the Hawks in the third game of the Finals, and continues to show that he's one of the elite defensemen in the NHL.

Despite getting seven teeth knocked out in the Western Conference Finals, Keith continues to play heavy minutes and contribute all over the ice. He currently ranks third in the postseason, averaging 27:58 of ice time per game and has already blocked 10 shots in the Finals.

4. Chris Pronger

He leads the postseason in average ice time per game, is second in blocked shots and has 17 points (seven on the power play). Pronger continues to be a beast.

3. Jonathan Toews

The Captain of the Blackhawks continues to lead the postseason in points with 27 (seven goals, 20 assists) and is winning 59 percent of his postseason faceoffs (including 64.2 percent in the Finals).

Toews continues to emerge as an elite player, and is among the top names for Conn Smythe consideration. However, unlike three games ago, he is no longer at the top of the list.

2. Danny Briere

Briere is now behind only Toews in postseason points (24—11 goals, 13 assists), and continues to play big on the biggest stage.

He already has two goals and four assists in the Finals to lead the Flyers, and his passing has been fantastic on plays that haven't resulted in goals. With Toews only tallying one assist so far in the Finals, Briere has passed Chicago's captain in the race for the Conn Smythe.

He isn't No. 1, though...

1. Antti Niemi

He's 14-5 in the postseason with a 2.48 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. He has also beaten, in the Canucks and Sharks, two of the five top offenses in the NHL this year.

In the Finals, both goalies have had their moments. While Michael Leighton was pulled in Game One, Niemi has stayed on the ice throughout and has managed to keep the Blackhawks in games they otherwise would have lost.

If the playoffs ended today, Niemi would win the Conn Smythe because of his .944 save percentage in the third periods of the Finals alone. His effort at the end of Game Two was exceptional, and vaults him to the top of the list.