{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/usatsi_12848580.jpg","caption":"

The 2019 Stanley Cup Final is poised for an exciting finish as we head to a Game 7 between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night at TD Garden.

With the Stanley Cup to be won soon, it’s time to look at the leading candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy, which will be awarded to the most valuable player of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Here are the top candidates.

Photo via USA TODAY Sports

"},{"index":3,"title":"Tuukka Rask, G, Bruins","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/tuukka_rask_game_7_042319.jpg","caption":"

Tuukka Rask is the leading candidate for the Bruins. The Finnish goaltender leads the playoffs with a 1.93 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. He was fantasitc in Game 6, stopping 28 of 29 shots sent his way. Rask also has been particularly dominant on the road, posting a 6-1 record and a .966 save percentage away from home in the 2019 playoffs.

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"},{"index":5,"title":"Ryan O’Reilly, C, Blues","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/ryan_oreilly_6419.jpg","caption":"

Ryan O’Reilly helped the Blues even the series in Game 4 with the first and third goals of the matchup, and he scored and added an assist in St. Louis' Game 5 win. He also found the back of the net in Game 6 and leads the team in scoring with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) through 25 playoff games. He's two points behind Marchand's lead for the entire postseason. The veteran center's late scoring surge (nine points in the last seven games) has made him the top Conn Smythe candidate for the Blues.

O’Reilly also leads the playoffs with in faceoff wins.

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"},{"index":7,"title":"David Pastrnak, RW, Bruins","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/david_pastrnak_6219.jpg","caption":"

David Pastrnak's 19 points are the fourth-most in the playoffs and rank second on the Bruins. His nine goals are tied for the team lead. The 23-year-old winger has tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in the Cup Final, including a goal and an assist in Game 6, and a strong performance in Game 7 could vault him to the top tier of Conn Smythe candidates.

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"},{"index":9,"title":"Jaden Schwartz, LW, Blues","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/usatsi_12713204_133468180_lowres.jpg","caption":"

Jaden Schwartz entered the Cup Final red-hot with a team-leading 16 points and 12 goals scored. He has struggled against the Bruins with zero goals and two assists through six games, but his impact in the previous three rounds shouldn’t be overlooked. A clutch goal to help the Blues win the Stanley Cup could help tip the scales in his favor when Conn Smythe voting happens.

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"},{"index":11,"title":"Patrice Bergeron, C, Bruins","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/patrice_bergeron_6219.jpg","caption":"

Patrice Bergeron is tied for the Bruins’ lead with nine goals this postseason, and his 17 points overall rank fourth on the team. He’s also excelled defensively against opposing teams’ top lines. Bergeron has the second-most face-off wins and the best face-off percentage of any player who’s taken 200-plus draws in the playoffs. He’s performed at a high level on the power play and penalty kill, too.

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"},{"index":13,"title":"Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, Blues","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/vladimir_tarasenko.jpg","caption":"

Vladimir Tarasenko has tallied a point in nine of the Blues’ last 12 games. Including at least one point in all six Western Conference Final matchups. His 11 playoff goals are the second-most on St. Louis, and he’s been very good in the Cup Final with three goals in six games.

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"},{"index":15,"title":"Brad Marchand, LW, Bruins","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/usatsi_12793061.jpg","caption":"

Brad Marchand has scored two goals in the Stanley Cup Final, and he's tallied at least one point in four of the six games. He also leads the entire postseason with 23 points in 23 games. His nine playoff goals are tied for the most on the Bruins entering Game 7.

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"},{"index":17,"title":"Jordan Binnington, G, Blues","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/jordan_binnington.jpg","caption":"

Jordan Binnington’s stats are good, not great, but he’s been pretty reliable for the Blues throughout the playoffs.

He’s posted a .911 save percentage and a 2.52 goals against average through 25 games. If Binnington wins another game he’ll set the record for the most victories in a single postseason by a rookie goalie. Binnington's best performance of the Cup Final came in Game 5 when he stopped 38 of 39 shots. His Game 6 effort -- four goals allowed on 31 shots -- probably hurt his chances to win this trophy quite a bit.

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"},{"index":19,"title":"Torey Krug, D, Bruins","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/torey_krug_0.jpg","caption":"

Torey Krug leads the B’s with 16 assists and has 18 points overall. In Game 3 against the Blues, he set a Bruins record for the most points in a single Cup Final game with four. Krug’s scoring and playmaking have been major components of a power play that’s carried the Bruins at times in the playoffs. No Bruins defenseman has tallied more points than Krug in a single playoff run since Ray Bourque's 25 in 1991.

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"},{"index":21,"title":"Alex Pietrangelo, D, Blues","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/06/10/bruins_blues_pastrnak_pietrangelo_011017.jpg","caption":"

Alex Pietrangelo is the Blues' No. 1 defenseman and he's played like it in the Cup Final. He has an impressive 57.55 Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 versus the Bruins, which shows how well he's driving puck possession. St. Louis also has a plus-13 advantage in scoring chances and a plus-12 edge in high-danger scoring chances during 5-on-5 play in the Cup Final with Pietrangelo on the ice.

Pietrangelo's 17 playoff points are the third-most on the Blues, and his 15 assists lead the team. The veteran captain is not the top candidate for the Blues, but he definitely deserves consideration for his consistently strong play through four rounds.

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"}]}

Conn Smythe Trophy 2019: Ranking top Bruins, Blues candidates