2021 Stanley Cup Final: 3 must-watch storylines in Game 4 as Bolts look to clinch

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Nikita Kucherov (86), Brayden Point (21)

Nikita Kucherov #86 and Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Who wins the Conn Smythe?

If the Stanley Cup is brought out on to the ice tonight, then we will also see the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the Most Valuable Player during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

So, who are the frontrunners for the award?

We did a Power Rankings of the leading contenders, which you can read here, and Conn Smythe watch will be on throughout the course of Game 4.

Given how dominant he has been throughout the Playoffs, Lightning star Nikita Kucherov is probably the favorite after recording 30 plus points for the second straight postseason, and a huge Game 4 could seal the deal.

Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Brayden Point is probably not that far behind his teammate given his insane goalscoring exploits this postseason, having scored a goal in nine consecutive games and leading the entire league in Playoff goals for the second consecutive year.

Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been dominant and boasts a 1.67 Goals Against Average and a .948 Save Percentage in the Final alone, having allowed just five goals on 97 shots with his statement moment coming in Game 2 when he stopped 42 of 43 shots.

Defenseman Victor Hedman – who won the Conn Smythe last year – is also a contender but, depending on what happens in Game 4, it would be surprising if one of Kucherov or Point isn’t crowned the Most Valuable Player of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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