Conn Smythe Watch Tightens At The Playoff Halfway Mark

The Conn Smythe conversation is getting louder at the midway point of the playoffs, and that usually means a few stars have already separated from the pack. NHL.com is sorting through the candidates, which is the kind of exercise that tells you who has been driving the bus when the games get heavy. The award race is never just about points, and the real clues always show up when the pressure turns the ice into a confession booth.