from Allan Muir of Sports Illustrated,

It could be Henrik Lundqvist. The all-world goalie has been fine to this point, but he hasn’t given his team that one critical stop that Jonathan Quick has provided at the other end of the ice. (Brad Richards is still wondering how he didn’t score on that in-close chance in the third period on Saturday.)

It could be Rick Nash, who peppered Quick with eight shots in Game 2 with hands that are stonier right now than Ben Grimm’s. Or maybe it’ll be Richards, coming off a game marred by giveaways and defensive gaffes as well as blown chances.

But the man who really needs to step it up is Ryan McDonagh.

This postseason has been a coming-out party for the 24-year-old, and he’s used this run to establish himself as one of the top-10 defenders in the league. He’s been bold and decisive and dangerous in all three zones, especially in the Eastern Conference Finals when he rang up 10 points that crushed the Cup dreams of the Canadiens.

A legitimate Conn Smythe candidate? You bet.

At least until the Cup final started.

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