Now, the Conn Smythe isn’t given out like, say, the NBA Finals or World Series MVP. Those latter two only hand out their awards to the best player of the series. The Conn Smythe goes to the best player in all of the playoffs, although obviously it’s always going to go a player on one of the two Stanley Cup finalists. And don’t count on a player from the losing team in the finals to win the award as that has only happened five times and not since 2003 when Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere won it despite Anaheim losing in seven games to New Jersey. You can bet on the option of whether the Conn Smythe winner will come from the losing team this year – it’s a yes-only prop at +1500.

The opening betting favorite for Canucks-Bruins is Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler at 27/20. He has followed a breakout regular season with a great playoffs, ranking fourth among all players with 18 points (seven goals, two game-winning goals, and 11 assists). Plus Kesler is a physical force. After Kesler at 4/1 is Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, who already has won two Game 7s in these playoffs and is 12-6 with a 2.29 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. Thomas, by the way, held the Canucks to one goal in their lone regular-season meeting this season. The third-favorite at 11/2 is Vancouver forward Henrik Sedin, the 2009-10 NHL MVP. Sedin leads all players in postseason points with 21 (two goals, 19 assists).

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