No. 1 Star: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Quick made 23 saves to close out the St. Louis Blues in a 4-game sweep, as the Kings won Game 4, 3-1. The Blues played perhaps their best game of the series, but Quick was there to stifle their chances.
No. 2 Star: Dainius Zubrus, New Jersey Devils
The Devils forward scored the game-winning goal and the empty-netter to clinch Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2. Rookie Adam Henrique found Zubrus alone in front for a goal at 17:47 of the second period; in the third, Zubrus was able to control a bouncing puck around Danny Briere and scoring into an empty net. In between, he was hit in the head by Claude Giroux (more on that later). The Devils took a 3-1 series lead.
No. 3 Star: Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
Brown scored the game-winning goal and an empty netter to help send the Kings to the Western Conference Final for only the second time, giving him six goals on the postseason. The Kings also became the first No. 8 seed in NHL history to eliminate their conference's top two seeds.
Honorable mention: Jordan Nolan had a goal and a fight in Game 4. ... Kevin Shattenkirk had the Blues' goal. … Ilya Bryzgalov was outstanding in defeat, stopping 39 shots. … Scott Hartnell had a power-play goal and Claude Giroux had a shorty. … Marek Zidlicky scored his first NHL playoff goal and set up Petr Sykora's. ... Marty Brodeur had 20 saves and an assist on his 40th birthday. … Chris Stewart shushed the crowd after a fight with Nolan.
Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings; 2. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers; 3. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers; 4. Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes; 5. Danny Briere, Philadelphia Flyers; 6. Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals; 7. Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils; 8. Travis Zajac, New Jersey Devils; 9. Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings; 10. Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators;
Dishonorable mention: Alex Pietrangelo and David Perron were both minus-3. … Briere, Hartnell and Jakub Vorahek were minus-3. … St. Louis was scoreless on 17 power plays vs. the Kings. … Finally, will Claude Giroux get a Shanaban for his hit on Zubrus?