Ranking the best forwards through Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
With the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the books, theScore counts down the top five players of the postseason so far in all three positional groups. Players on eliminated teams are eligible for this list, as these rankings are explicitly based on cumulative performances from the first two rounds.
Forwards | Defensemen | Goalies
5. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Islanders
Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty| GP | P | xGF% | ATOI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 13 | 49.96% | 18:02 |
Pageau lives for playoff time. After a rather pedestrian regular season, the Islanders' pesky pivot has woken up when it matters and currently has the second-most points among forwards in the playoffs. He was particularly strong against the Bruins, registering six points, including two assists in the Game 6 clincher.
4. Brad Marchand, Bruins
Steve Babineau / National Hockey League / Getty| GP | P | xGF% | ATOI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 12 | 60.35% | 20:40 |
Boston's second-round elimination is no fault of its top line. Marchand was spectacular through 11 games and delivered five goals against the Islanders. The 33-year-old maintained his reputation as a playoff performer and now has 64 points in his last 60 postseason contests stretching back to 2018.
3. Brayden Point, Lightning
Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / Getty| GP | P | xGF% | ATOI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 12 | 58.49% | 19:28 |
Point is another player who continuously rises to the occasion in the playoffs. He was instrumental in the Lightning's dismantling of a deep Carolina team and enters Round 3 tied for eighth in scoring and tied for first in goals. Dating back to last season's Cup run, Point's registered 45 points in 34 playoff games.
2. David Pastrnak, Bruins
Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / Getty| GP | P | xGF% | ATOI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 15 | 62.11 | 19:44 |
Pastrnak did all he could to will the Bruins into Round 3, but unfortunately for him, the lasting memory of his postseason efforts will be an inexplicable miss in a Game 4 loss versus the Islanders. Aside from that blunder, Pastrnak was brilliant. He totaled nine points in six contests versus New York and sits second overall in playoff scoring.
1. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning
Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty| GP | P | xGF% | ATOI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 18 | 58.58% | 19:27 |
Kucherov is playing at a Conn Smythe-worthy level once again. Last season's playoff leading scorer is well on pace to do so again and looks bound to create a scoring chance each time he touches the puck. Kucherov's notched the majority of his points on the power play (13) but is still generating expected goals at an elite rate at five-on-five. His even-strength shooting percentage (5%) is the second-worst among all Bolts forwards, so if that begins to trend upward as the playoffs progress, Tampa could be unstoppable.
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