Difference-makers: It’s tough to overstate the impact of Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel, who hold down the top three spots in the league scoring race. Curiously, only two of their combined 21 goals – both by Kessel – have been game-winners.
Nashville’s elite defense corps and G Pekka Rinne get most of the attention – understandably – but even without injured No. 1 C Ryan Johansen, the Predators have some big-time talents up front. The best might be LW Filip Forsberg, who has 15 points in 16 games and takes a seven-game scoring streak into the final.