Which players could be difference makers in the Stanley Cup Final?

By the time the Stanley Cup Final rolls around, we all know who the front-runners for the Conn Smythe trophy are. There’s usually one or two names in the mix for each team, and it would take a disastrous series from that player to lose out on the award. But beyond those key frontrunners, there are several players who may not compete for that award, but will still be difference makers in the Cup Final.

So who will those players be for the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights? Steve Peters joined Daily Faceoff Live to break down which players could swing the Stanley Cup Final one way or the other.

Steve Peters: I think the goaltending battle— Hart hasn’t faced a team like Carolina. They’re going to get to the net. But I like the way Carter Hart’s game has improved throughout this. I think in the goaltending likelihood for Conn Smythe, I put it on Hart’s shoulders as opposed to Andersen. I know Andersen’s numbers are better, but he hasn’t faced many shots. He hasn’t been in the situations he’s going to be in here.

But look for secondary players. Dorofeyev is a player that could light it up. He’s a guy that plays on the power play. He plays on the right when they set everything up on the left. So we talked about the weak side and moving the puck away from pressure. I think Dorofeyev is going to have a field day on the power play. I really do. So I like him.

And for Carolina, it’s the secondary scoring. We talked about Hall, Stankoven, and Blake. Of those three, who can put up the numbers? Stankoven. Stankoven’s had a great playoffs. The puck finds him in those soft areas around the net and he can finish. So those are two guys that are just lower in your lineup that I think you can keep an eye on.

You can watch the full episode here…