Finals MVP Winners in the NHL

The Finals MVP is an award in other major North American sports such as the NBA and MLB, with the NFL having an MVP of the Super Bowl, which would be the equivalent of a Finals MVP. The award is self explanatory, in that it is awarded to the player voted as the most valuable to their team in the finals.

The NHL is unique in that its individual player award is for the entire playoffs, not only the finals. Because of this, I thought it would be interesting to go back and pick a winner as the MVP for the Stanley Cup Finals only, and also see if it aligns with the Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Similar to the Conn Smythe Trophy, the finals MVPs can only be from the losing team if their performance was extraordinary, and the list will generally be contrived of players from the winning team. Similar to the list where I rank every Conn Smythe Trophy winner since 1990, this list will look at the same years, going back to the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals. Honourable mentions will also be included to signify other players who could be argued as the finals MVP instead. If there is a clear winner with little to no argument for anyone else, there will be no honourable mentions.

2024 - Evan Rodrigues - 4G 3A 7P +6, 7GP

Evan Rodrigues led the Panthers in goals, points, and plus/minus in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. Rodrigues was also involved in important goals, including scoring an insurance 2-0 goal in game one, the game winning goal and an insurance goal in game two, and a primary assist on the opening goal in game seven. Rodrigues had at least one point in all four games that the Panthers won, and was a plus six, three better than second place Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Niko Mikkola who were both a plus three.

Honourable mentions: Sergei Bobrovsky was fantastic in the four games that the Panthers won, but the three losses hurt his overall performance. Connor McDavid led the finals with 11 points despite being on the losing team. However, being held off the score sheet in three of the games, including games six and seven, prevents him from stealing the MVP from Rodrigues.

2023 - Jonathan Marchessault - 4G 4A 8P +4, 5GP

Jonathan Marchessault, who also won the conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs, was arguably their best player in the finals, although the competition was high for the Vegas Golden Knights. Marchessault had a point in all five games, and three of his four goals were important game-tying or go-ahead goals. This includes tying game one 1-1, scoring the opening goal in game two, and putting the Knights up 2-1 in game three. His plus four is tied for first on the team, and his eight points are second behind Mark Stone with nine.

Honourable mentions: Mark Stone with his finals-leading five goals and nine points could replace Marchessault as the 2023 finals MVP. However, I felt like Marchessault’s extra two plus/minus is more valuable than Stone’s extra goal that came from an empty netter during a 7-3 game. Jack Eichel was also a noticeable presence who had no goals but eight assists, and goaltender Adin Hill had a .923 save percentage and made a fantastic save in game one that seemed to have given the Golden Knights a momentum shift.

2022 - Valeri Nichushkin - 4G 2A 6P +1, 6GP

Although Valeri Nichushkin placed third on the team in points, he led the finals in goals, most of which were important. This includes a 2-0 goal in game one, the game winning goal in game two, and a 1-1 tying goal in game five. Additionally, Nichushkin had a primary assist on the game one overtime winner, and an assist on what was at the time an important game five 2-2 tying goal. Nichushkin’s presence was felt on the ice throughout the entire finals, and he even scored what was thought to be the opening goal to game three, but was called back for being offside by a small margin.

Honourable mentions: Cale Makar could be argued as the 2022 final MVP over Nichushkin with his three goals and seven points, but his minus four does stand out as a negative. Mikko Rantanen led the finals with eight points, all coming as assists.

2021 - Andrei Vasilevskiy - .943 SV%, 1.58 GAA, 1 SO, 5GP

Andrei Vasilevskiy had an impressive .943 save percentage in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, part of which includes allowing just two goals in three home games. Vasilevskiy posted a shutout in their game five Stanley Cup winning game, which was his record setting fifth shutout in a row in games where his team eliminated their opponents from the playoffs. Vasilveskiy’s most impressive game was game two, where allowed just one goal on 43 shots and bailed out his team who got significantly outplayed. Vasilevskiy also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs.

Honourable mentions: None.

2020 - Brayden Point - 5G 3A 8P -1, 6GP

In 2020, Brayden Point had one of the best playoff performances of all non-Conn Smythe Trophy winners. However, if there was a finals MVP award, Point would have likely been the winner. Point scored a finals-leading five goals, most importantly including the Stanley Cup winning goal in game six. Point also scored the opening goal in game two, an insurance goal in game three, and two goals in game four to tie the game up 2-2 after being down 2-0. His important goals alone are enough to give him the finals MVP, but his three assists on top of that put an exclamation point on his performance.

Honourable mentions: Nikita Kucherov also had eight points, seven of which came from assists. Kucherov assisted on four of Point’s goals and played a significant role in their Stanley Cup win.

2019 - Ryan O’Reilly - 5G 4A 9P +5, 7GP

Ryan O’Reilly led the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals with five goals and nine points, and was the only player on either team to have more than a point per game. O’Reilly also won the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy, in large part due to his finals performance. After going pointless in their game one loss, O’Reilly would have at least one point in their remaining six games, and O’Reilly scored in all of the last four games. O’Reilly’s most notable points were a primary assist on the game two overtime winner, two goals, including the game winning goal in game four, the opening goal in game five, and the opening goal in game seven. To top it off, O’Reilly’s plus five was tied for first among both teams.

Honourable mentions: None.

2018 - Evgeny Kusnetsov - 1G 7A 8P +5, 5GP

Evgeny Kusnetsov led the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals with one goal and eight points. His plus five also led the finals among both teams. Kusnetsov’s performance was highlighted by a four-assist game in game four, as well as the game winning goal of game three. Kusnetsov was consistent, recording at least one point in every game except for game two.

Honourable mentions: Braden Holtby had a solid .916 save percentage, but his finals performance will be remembered for his unbelievable save late in game two to keep the Capitals ahead by one goal, giving his team a momentum boost in the finals, as they would hold on to win game two and then win the following three games.

2017 - Jake Guentzel - 4G 1A 5P +4, 6GP

Jake Guentzel scored four goals in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals, two of which were game winning goals. This includes a game winning goal late in game one, the game tying and game winning goal in game two, and the game opening goal in game three. Because all four of Guentzel’s goals were important, Guentzel gets the edge as the finals MVP.

Honourable mentions: Sidney Crosby could be argued as the 2017 finals MVP, as he led the way with six assists and seven points in five games, and was a noticeable presence on the ice. Matt Murray post a save percentage of .931 and recorded two shutouts, another worthy candidate of the MVP of the 2017 finals.

2016 - Martin Jones - .932 SV%, 2.27 GAA, 0 SO, 6GP

One of two finals MVPs by a player on a losing team is San Jose Shark’s goaltender Martin Jones. Although the 2016 finals went to six games, Jones was arguably the only reason San Jose won a single game, let alone two games. Jones’ had a mediocre game four, posting a .850 save percentage, however, his second lowest save percentage was an impressive .923 in game six. Jones’ performance was highlighted in the two Sharks’ wins, two games that Jones stole himself. Game three was an overtime win where Jones stopped 40 out of 42 shots, and game five Jones stopped 44 out of 46, including many high danger opportunities. In games one and two, Jones posted a .927 save percentage and .933 save percentage respectively. The Penguins outshot the Sharks by an average of over 11 shots per game, and game four was the only game in the finals where the Sharks outshot the Penguins. Jones was largely left hung out to dry, yet still displayed one of the best Stanley Cup Finals goaltending performances on a losing team of all time, as three goals is the most he allowed in a signle game.

Honourable mentions: Part of what allows for a player on the losing team to win the 2016 finals MVP is the fact that the 2016 Penguins were a deep team without one player in particular needing to do any heavy lifting. However, Kris Letang led the Penguins with five points and scored the Stanley Cup winning goal on a great individual effort. He also led the team in average time on ice playing an impressive 29:10 per game, almost six minutes more than Brian Dumolin who was second on the team.

Martin Jones' impressive save percentage despite high shot differential (Shot differential and final score from Penguins' perspective)

2015 - Corey Crawford - .938 SV%, 1.67 GAA, 1 SO, 6GP

In the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, Corey Crawford posted an impressive .938 save percentage, allowing one goal or fewer, and a grand total of three goals among the four Blackhawks’ wins. Game two was the only game of the finals where Crawford had a save percentage below .900. Although he played behind a fantastic defensive unit, and Conn Smythe winner Duncan Keith, Crawford remained stellar in goal, and put up a shutout in game six to win the Stanley Cup.

Honourable mentions: None

2014 - Justin Williams - 2G 5A 7P +2, 5GP

Justin Williams led the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals with two goals and seven points, three more than any other player on both teams. Both goals that Williams scored were important, including the overtime winning goal in game one, and the game-opening goal in game five. Justin Williams’ five assists consisted of an assist on Doughty’s game tying goal in game one, assists on three different go-ahead goals in game two, and an assist on the game opening goal in game three. All seven of Justin Williams’ points came off of important goals, and he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the entire playoffs.

Honourable mentions: Jonathan Quick had a fantastic performance as the Kings’ goaltender, posting a .932 save percentage and one shutout. Quick was also cool under pressure, going 3-0 in overtime, two of which went to double overtime.

2013 - Corey Crawford - .925 SV%, 2.07 GAA, 0 SO, 6GP

What would have been his first of two finals MVPs, Crawford was the top candidate in the 2013 finals. Although his opponent Tuuka Rask put up a .932 save percentage and one shutout, Crawford’s save percentage is dragged down by one poor game in game four. His second lowest save percentage was in game six with a .920 stat line. Removing game four, which the Blackhawks won 6-5 in overtime, Crawford had a fantastic .940 save percentage in the other five games, stopping 157 of 167 shots. Crawford was also cool under pressure, helping his team win a triple overtime game one, and a game four overtime on the verge of going down 3-1 in the finals.

Honourable mentions: Jonathan Toews had five points in six games, however, all points were at important moments, and came in the final three games in which the Blackhawks won all three.

2012 - Jonathan Quick - .947 SV%, GAA, 1 SO, 6GP

Jonathan Quick had arguably the most impressive playoff performance of all time in 2012, winning the Conn Smythe to the surprise of nobody. What also shouldn’t be surprising is that his .947 finals save percentage and one shutout earns him the finals MVP as well. Jonathan Quick’s “worst” game was game five, where he posted a .895 save percentage. In the Kings’ four wins, Jonathan Quick allowed just three goals and posted a save percentage higher than .940 in all four games. In the entire finals, Quick didn’t have a single game where he allowed more than two goals, and overall, Quick allowed a total of seven goals in six games. To top it off, Quick was also cool under pressure, helping his team win games one and two in overtime on the road, becoming the first road team to take both of the first two games in the Stanley Cup Finals since the 1997 Detroit Red Wings.

Honourable mentions: None

2011 - Tim Thomas - .967 SV%, 1.15 GAA, 2SO, 7GP

While Jonathan Quick had arguably the best playoff performance of all time in 2012, Tim Thomas had arguably the best finals performance of all time in 2011. In seven games, Thomas allowed just eight goals, helping the Bruins set an NHL record for fewest goals allowed in a seven game series. Thomas’ lowest save percentage in a game was game two in a 3-2 overtime loss, where he still put up a .909 save percentage. His second lowest save percentage was game six, a .947 save percentage. In the other five games outside of games two and six, Thomas allowed just three goals, recording two shutouts; a 38 save shutout in game four, and a 37 save shutout in game seven. Thomas was busy in every game, with the 25 shots he faced in game five being the lowest shot total in a single game. Tim Thomas also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the entire playoffs.

Honourable mentions: None

Fewest goals allowed in a seven game playoff series

2010 - Daniel Briere - 3G 9A 12P +5, 6GP

While the 2010 finals MVP could be up for debate, Daniel Briere, commonly referred to as Danny Briere, justifies a spot as the finals MVP despite being on the losing team. After a four point game one, Briere went pointless in game two. However, down 2-0 in the finals, Briere opened the scoring of game three and assisted on the overtime winner to keep the Flyers alive in the series. Briere had the primary assist on the game winning goal in game four and added two assists in game five. Although the Flyers would lose the series in game six, Briere had the primary assist on the 1-1 game-tying goal, then scored the 2-1 go-ahead-goal, and ultimately assisted on the 3-3 game-tying goal with under four minutes left. All 12 of Briere’s points occurred when the game mattered and the score was close, allowing Briere to lead the finals in assists and points across both teams. Briere’s plus five is also impressive given that the Blackhawks outscored the Flyers in the finals. Brier’s 12 points is just one shy of tying Wayne Gretzky in 1988 for most points in one Stanley Cup Finals.

Honourable mentions: Patrick Kane had three goals and eight points, including the overtime game winning goal that clinched the Blackhawks their first Stanley Cup since 1961. However, his minus four prevents his advantage of being on the winning team from surpassing Briere. Patrick Sharp led the finals with a +7, and also had four goals. However, having six points, half the amount as Briere, wasn’t enough to overtake Briere’s position as MVP.

2009 - Evgeni Malkin - 2G 4A 8P +0, 7GP

Evgeni Malkin was the only player on either team to have more than one point per game in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. Evgeni Malkin was involved in some way, either a goal or an assist, on all of the Penguins first six goals of the finals, not including their empty net goal in game three. This spanned from games one to four and was especially meaningful given the context; with the Penguins rematching against the Red Wings who handled them in the previous year, and down 2-0 again in 2009, Malkin stepped up as a leader to give the team confidence and prevent a repeat of the previous year. After Jordan Staal scored a goal in game four that did not involve Malkin, Malkin would come right back and assist on the game-winning goal. Malkin would return to the scoresheet in game seven when the team needed him most, adding a primary assist on the game’s opening goal. Evgeni Malkin had the highest average ice time among any Penguins forward in the finals and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP for the entire playoffs.

Honourable mentions: Malkin’s linemate Maxime Talbot had four goals and six points, including the two goals needed to win game seven and the Stanley Cup. Talbot also assisted on the game six game-winning goal, and was a plus four in the finals, which led the team.

2008 - Brad Stuart - 1G 4A 5P +9, 6GP

The 2008 Detroit Red Wings were a deep team, and as a result, the finals MVP could have multiple players argued as the winner. However, Brad Stuart’s plus nine in the six games, as well as a game-winning goal in game two, an assist on a shorthanded goal, and an assist on the game four winning goal made him the most impressive player in the 2008 finals. Stuart also averaged 23:24 time on ice per game, which is noticeable, although lower than a few of his teammates. Brad Stuart was also a responsible defencemen, taking just two penalty minutes, with his tripping minor in game one being the first penalty of the finals.

Honourable mentions: Henrik Zetterberg led the finals with six points, and scored the Stanley Cup winning goal. He was also a noticeable presence on the ice defensively and averaged 25:47 of ice time per game. Zetterberg won the Conn Smythe and could be in the argument for finals MVP. Goaltender Chris Osgood was also impressive, posting a .930 save percentage and two shutouts. Limiting Chris Osgood was the fact that the Detroit defence consistently kept the Penguins to 19-24 shots in five of the games, and the one game that went to triple overtime still saw only 32 shots by the Penguins.

2007 - Andy McDonald - 5G 2A 7P +3, 5GP

Andy McDonald led the 2007 finals with five goals and seven points, all of which were involved in important goals. McDonald scored the 1-1 game-tying goal in game one, the opening goal of game three, two goals and an assist in game four in their 3-2 win, and the opening goal as well as an assist in their game five Stanley Cup winning game. All seven of McDonald’s points came at times when the score was no more than a one-goal lead.

Honourable mentions: None

2006 - Cory Stillman - 2G 5A 7P +3, 7GP

There were a few Hurricanes to pick from as the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals MVP, however, Cory Stillman stood out for not only finishing second in points, but for producing these points at critical moments. Stillman recorded an assist on their first goal in game one that sparked a 3-0 comeback, an insurance goal in game two with three seconds left in the second period to go up 3-0, a primary assist on the lone Hurricanes goal in game three, the games opening goal as well as a primary assist on the 2-1 game winning goal in game four, an assist on the 3-3 game tying goal in game five, and a primary assist on the Stanley Cup game winning goal in game seven. Stillman defined consistency, only being held off the scoresheet in game six when the Hurricanes got shut out. His plus three was also tied for best on the team. The only negative moment for Cory Stillman was his giveaway in game five which led to the Oilers’ overtime winning goal.

Honourable mentions: Fernando Pisani of the Edmonton Oilers scored five goals and had six points in the 2006 finals. Most notably was his shorthanded overtime winning goal in game five, the game winning goal in game six, and the Oilers’ lone goal in game seven.

2004 - Brad Richards - 4G 5A 9P -3, 7GP

Brad Richards won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2004, in part due to his finals’ performance. Richards scored four goals, including the game winning goals in games two and four, both games that Tampa crucially needed to win to avoid going down 2-0 and 3-1 respectively. Richards was also involved in all three goals in their must-win game six, scoring the Lightning’s two regulation goals, and assisting on the double overtime winner. Richards would add an assist in game seven. Although Richards was a minus three, his baseline stats as well as his ability to show up for his team when it mattered most makes him the clear winner as the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals MVP.

Honourable mentions: None

2003 - Martin Brodeur - .925 SV%, 1.73 GAA, 3 SO, 7GP

Martin Brodeur recorded three shutouts in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, which includes games one, two, and seven. Brodeur also allowed only four goals combined in games three and four despite the Devils losing both games. Brodeur’s .925 save percentage is impressive, but it is knocked down by poor performances in games five and six. There is an argument to be made that the 2003 Devils had one of the best defensive cores of all time, on top of having a slew of great defensive forwards, and therefore Brodeur himself didn’t have to do as much heavy lifting. However, three shutouts in one Stanley Cup Finals, not to mention an additional game where Brodeur had a shutout in regulation and only allowed the lone goal in overtime, is enough to justify Martin Brodeur as the 2003 finals MVP.

Honourable mentions: Patrik Elias led the finals with three goals and seven points, including a game winning goal in game two, with his other goals coming at important times. Elias was also a plus three. Jeff Friesen scored five goals, including the game winning goal in game one. He also played an important part in their game seven win, as he scored the 2-0 and 3-0 goals to give the Devils insurance goals before winning the Stanley Cup. Friesen was also a plus six.

Most shutouts in one playoff year

2002 - Dominik Hasek - .942 SV%, 1.18 GAA, 1 SO, 5GP

Dominik Hasek recorded an impressive .942 save percentage and one shutout in the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals. Hasek allowed just seven goals in five games, and only four goals in their four wins. After Jeff O’Neill scored in the third period of game three for the Hurricanes, Hasek would allow just one goal for the rest of the series, spanning across approximately nine periods due to the triple overtime game three.

Honourable mentions: None

2001 - Patrick Roy - .938 SV%, 1.58 GAA, 2 SO, 7GP

Patrick Roy won the 2001 Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs, a big part of which was due to his fantastic Stanley Cup Finals’ performance. Patrick Roy had an impressive .938 save percentage, as well as two shutouts, including a shutout in a must-win game six. Outside of a poor game five performance where Roy allowed four goals on 26 shots, Roy allowed no more than three goals in a single game, and allowed just two goals in their four wins, resulting in four different games where Roy had a save percentage greater than .950. Roy allowed just one goal in their two elimination games, making him the MVP of the 2001 finals.

Honourable mentions: Joe Sakic led the finals with four goals and nine points in seven games, including the game winning goal in game one, the opening goal in game two, and an insurance goal in game seven. Apart from leading the finals in scoring, Sakic also stepped up for his team after Peter Forsberg was out of the playoffs after round two due to injury.

2000 - Jason Arnott - 4G 3A 7P +3, 6GP

Jason Arnott led the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals with four goals and seven points, including the double overtime game six Stanley Cup winning goal. Arnott centered the most dominant line of the entire playoffs and was a key contributor to their offense in the finals, leading the team in goals. Arnott also scored the game opening goals in games one and three, both of which the Devils would go on to win.

Honourable mentions: Martin Brodeur had a below average playoff performance in 2000, however, that does not include his finals’ performance, as he posted a .939 save percentage and allowed just nine goals in six games, and no more than three goals in a single game. However, holding him back slightly was the fact that the 2000 Devils’ defensive unit was one of the best in NHL history, limiting the Stars to below 20 shots in three different games.

1999 - Jere Lehtinen - 3G 2A 5P +5, 6GP

Jere Lehtinen placed second on the team in points, and tied teammate Brett Hull for first in goals. Lehtinen’s plus five was the best in the finals among both teams, and he played an important role on both the powerplay and the penalty kill. Some of Lehtinen’s highlights include scoring the game-tying goal in game one with under a minute left after pulling the goalie, scoring the lone goal for Dallas in game four, and most importantly, scoring the opening goal in game six, as well as recording a primary assist on the triple-overtime Stanley Cup game winning goal.

Honourable mentions: Ed Belfour recorded an impressive .941 save percentage and had one shutout. Belfour allowed no more than three goals in a game, and no more than two in regulation time. However, similar to Brodeur in 2000, Belfour had one of the best defensive units in front of him, including defensive forwards like Jere Lehtinen, as game six was the only game in the finals where the Sabres managed more than 25 shots in one game.

1998 - Steve Yzerman - 2G 2A 4P +5, 4GP

Steve Yzerman won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1998 as MVP of the playoffs, and his Stanley Cup Finals performance was also MVP worthy. Yzerman’s four points places him third on the team, however, his plus five is first, and he led all forwards in time on ice per game. Steve Yzerman played a crucial role in their game two win, the toughest of the finals for the Red Wings, where Yzerman scored the game’s first goal, as well as a shorthanded goal to spark a comeback after the Wings were down 3-1.

Honourable mentions: Chris Osgood posted an impressive .929 save percentage and allowed just one goal in games one, three, and four. However, he faced no more than 18 shots in games one and three, and had a mediocre game two, which slightly hinders the impressiveness of his finals performance. Martin Lapointe played a crucial role in their game two comeback win, scoring the goal to make the game 4-3, and then recording a primary assist on the overtime winning goal with a heads-up play. He also scored the Stanley Cup winning goal.

1997 - Mike Vernon - .944 SV%, 1.50 GAA, 0 SO, 4GP

Mike Vernon won the 1997 Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs, and his 1997 Stanley Cup Finals’ performance played a big part in that. Vernon posted an impressive .944 save percentage, allowing just six goals in four games, and no more than two goals in a single game. Vernon’s 26 saves on 28 shots for a .929 save percentage in game one was his lowest in a single game. Vernon would have had a shutout in game four if not for a goal by Eric Lindros of the Flyers to make it 2-1 Red Wings with 15 seconds left.

Honourable mentions: Sergei Fedorov led the finals with three goals and six points, scoring the game winning goals in games one and three.

1996 - Patrick Roy - .974 SV%, 0.84 GAA, 1 SO, 4GP

Patrick Roy had an incredible .974 save percentage in the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, highlighted by a triple overtime shutout win in game four to win the Stanley Cup, where Roy stopped all 63 shots. Roy allowed just four goals in the four games, and no more than two goals in a single game. Roy’s lowest save percentage was in game three, where he still posted an incredible .941 save percentage.

Honourable mentions: None

1995 - Scott Niedermayer - 1G 3A 4G +5, 4GP

In the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals, the Devils allowed just 75 shots against, seven of which went in the net, for an average of between 18 and 19 shots per game. Scott Niedermayer played a significant role in this defensive clinic, as did the rest of the Devils defence. However, Niedermayer also stands out with his offensive stats, recording a point per game and leading all defencemen in points and plus/minus in the finals.

Honourable mentions: Neal Broten led the finals with three goals and six points, including two game winning goals, and was also a plus five. Along with Scott Niedermayer, Scott Stevens was also a plus five and played a significant role in shutting down the Red Wings’ offense. His hit on Kozlov was especially noticeable, as it seemed to have inserted some fear into the Red Wings’ lineup. However, his two points compared to Niedermayer’s four is part of the difference.

1994 - Brian Leetch - 5G 6A 11P -1, 7GP

Brian Leetch won the 1994 Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the entire playoffs, and was also the MVP of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. Leetch’s 11 points was four ahead of Kovalev for second best on the team, and three ahead of Canucks’ Bure for second best in the finals. All five of Leetch’s goals came at even strength despite the fact that Leetch also played a significant role on the Rangers’ powerplay. Some of the highlights of Leetch’s performance included two assists in their game one overtime loss, two goals in game three to tie the game 1-1 and then go ahead 3-1, a goal and three assists in a game four 2-0 comeback to win 4-2, and the game’s opening goal in game seven, as the Rangers went on to win game seven 3-2 en route to winning their first Stanley Cup since 1940.

Honourable mentions: None

Most points by a defenceman in one Stanley Cup Finals

1993 - John LeClair - 2G 2A 4P +2, 5GP

Despite the relatively low four points, John LeClair stands out by having two overtime game winning goals in crucial games three and four. As a result, LeClair became the first player since Maurice Richard in 1951 to score consecutive overtime goals in the playoffs, and the first player to do so in the Stanley Cup Finals since Don Raleigh in 1950. LeClair would add two assists in game five where the Candiens would win 4-1 and win the Stanley Cup.

Honourable mentions: Patrick Roy won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1993 and could be argued as the finals MVP as well. He posted a .929 save percentage, which was even more impressive by 1993 standards, and went 3-0 in overtime. After the Kings were already up 1-0 in the series and led 2-1 late in game two, Eric Desjardins tied the game with the goalie pulled, then scored the overtime winner to complete his hat-trick. His game two performance helped turn the series around for his team, as instead of going down 2-0, the Canadiens tied the series up and then won the following three games.

1992 - Mario Lemieux - 5G 2A 7P +0, 4GP

Mario Lemieux, who also won the 1992 Conn Smythe Trophy, led the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals with five goals, and finished second in points behind Rick Tocchet’s eight. Lemieux was especially dominant int he first two games in Pittsburgh. After being down 4-1 in game one, Lemieux scored the 4-3 goal, before scoring the game winner with 13 seconds left to complete the comeback. In game two, Lemieux scored two quick goals to put the Penguins up 2-1 and then 3-1, claiming both game winners throughout the first two games. Lemieux would score again in game four in which they won 6-5, completing the sweep.

Honourable mentions: Rick Tocchet led the team with eight points, two of which were goals. Tocchet scored the first goal of their 4-1 game one comeback, as well as a goal in game four. Tocchet also had an assist on their only goal in their 1-0 game three win, and was a plus three.

1991 - Mario Lemieux - 5G 7A 12P +5, 5GP

Mario Lemieux won the 1991 Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs, and was also the best player in the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals. Despite missing game three, Lemieux still led the team in goals and points, and was prominent on both special teams, scoring a powerplay goal and two shorthanded goals. In game one, Lemieux scored one goal shorthanded, followed by his iconic goal in game two. Lemieux recorded nine points in the last three games, with a goal and an assist in game four, a goal and two assists in game five, and a goal and three assists in game six. Lemieux scored one goal in every game he played in the 1991 finals, all of which came at important times when the score was no more than a two-goal difference.

Honourable mentions: Larry Murphy record a goal and nine assists in six games, and was a plus six, leading the defensive unit. Joe Mullen led the team as a plus eight and also had three goals and eight points in six games.

1990 - Bill Ranford - .949 SV%, 1.35 GAA, 0SO, 5GP

Bill Ranford won the 1990 Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs in large part due to his outstanding performance in the Stanley Cup Finals. Ranford allowed no more than two goals in a single game, despite the fact that the Bruins outshot the Oilers in every game other than game four. Ranford allowed just eight goals in five games, and he stood strong in game one with a 3-2 triple overtime win.

Honourable mentions: Craig Simpson led the finals with four goals and eight points, including the Stanley Cup winning goal in game five. Simpson was also a plus seven, two higher than second place on the team.

Summary of Finals MVP winners; 15/34 winners were also the Conn Smythe winner