CONN SMYTHE SURPRISE-O-METER

A small sample size has produced some unexpected MVPs in the NHL playoffs, usually in the form of out-of-nowhere netminders. BY MATT LARKIN

BACKUP GOES BEAST MODE

CAM WARD, 2006

Martin Gerber set a franchise record for wins in the regular season, but he got the hook in favor of rookie Ward after the first-place Canes dropped two straight home games to start the post-season. Ward posted a .920 save percentage and became the fourth rookie goalie to win playoff MVP. Unlike the others, he wasn’t even a starter when the post-season began.

REVIVING A DYNASTY

BILL RANFORD, 1990

It was supposed to be Grant Fuhr’s team, but a shoulder injury ended his season, putting immense pressure on relative unknown Ranford to help the Oilers prove they could win The Big One without The Great One. Ranford’s crusade of acrobatic saves in the 1990 playoffs is the stuff of legend.

VERSUS THE WORLD RON

RON HEXTALL, 1987

The Conn Smythe wasn’t so shocking considering he would also win the Vezina that year, but it was remarkable to see Hextall win it in a losing cause against some of the greatest superstars in hockey history. The Oilers averaged 4.65 goals per game that year, yet Hextall held them to three or fewer five times in a seven-game final.

JIGGY DROPS JAWS

JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE, 2003 No one expected the seventh-seeded Ducks to even survive one series, let alone reach Game 7 of the Cup final, but they shocked powerhouse Detroit with a first-round sweep. ‘Jiggy’ posted a .965 SP in that series and was almost unbeatable for the whole playoffs, finishing with a .945 SP and five shutouts. He carried the Ducks so much that he earned playoff MVP despite losing to the Devils in the final.

ALL-WORLD AGITATOR

CLAUDE LEMIEUX, 1995 The feisty Lemieux had six goals in 45 games during a hellish regular season marred by personal turmoil – then suddenly became himself again and a lot more in the playoffs. In 20 games he sniped 13 goals, all at even strength, to help the Devils clinch their first Cup.

LONG LIVE THE KING

PATRICK ROY, 1986 Ken Dryden, who also guided the Habs to a Cup in a shocking rookie run, could fit in this spot, too, but Roy won the Conn Smythe with a weaker team in front of him. The 1986 Habs had four Hall of Famers including Roy. Dryden’s 1972 Habs: 10.