Now two games into Round 3, more than half the leg work en route to a Conn Smythe Trophy has been accomplished.
Here's how they stack up after two-plus rounds:
1) Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues
It wasn't without a hiccup, several slabs of fortune, or even brief consideration of his backup from the coaching staff, but Elliott was, without question, the most important player on his team through the first two rounds.
Excluding his forgettable 17 minutes versus the Stars in Game 6, Elliott's dazzled, sporting a .937 save clip in competition against the three highest scoring Western Conference outfits throughout the regular season, and also in the face of 100-plus shots more than any surviving goaltender.
Despite his per-game averages being slightly skewed by his four-save performance versus Dallas, he bumped his per-game standard up to 30 saves with his ninth win of the tournament in Sunday's Game 1 of the West final.
2) Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
Logan Couture and Brent Burns might sit one-two in postseason points, but the captain's contributions can't be overstated.
Before he recorded an assist in Sunday's Game 1 loss to St. Louis, the Sharks were a perfect 8-0 through two rounds when Pavelski collected at least one point (he scored in seven of those games) and 0-4 when he failed to decorate the scoresheet.
His ninth goal, which gives him a share of the postseason lead, came nine minutes into Game 7 versus the Predators, helping set the table for a blowout in the do-or-die second-round tilt.
3) Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
As menacing a sniper that remains, Kucherov's wielding talents were largely responsible for Tampa Bay having cruised into a conference final in consecutive springs.
He shares the goal-scoring lead with Pavelski, but reached nine goals in two fewer games and on a more efficient 23 percent shooting clip, and he's also provided 27 percent of his team's total offense.
4) Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins
Murray's convinced everyone - including Vegas bookies - in his first 10 starts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The 21-year-old rookie kept the now-able Marc-Andre Fleury on the bench, and helped the Penguins emerge as Stanley Cup favorites heading into Round 3 after their six-game win over the 120-point Capitals.
He authored a .925 save percentage in the second-round meeting, which included wins with 36, 39, and 49 stops.
5) Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Hedman, the Lightning's minutes eater, was sensational in the club's second straight swift advancement - a five-game triumph over the Islanders.
Three of Tampa Bay's wins saw the mountainous defender record multi-point games, including a two-goal effort in the decisive Game 5.
And after one game versus Pittsburgh, he's in fixed bullet-point position on the opposition's white board.
In the running
Logan Couture: Rewrote a 22-year-old franchise record for points in a seven-game series and seized the postseason lead with 11 versus the Predators.
Phil Kessel: Two goals and an assist on Nick Bonino's overtime winner in the preeminent single-game performance of his career, and a tie for fifth in postseason scoring.
Ben Bishop: Injured, but still statistically superior to his peers.
Brent Burns: The Sharks' rover has had a hand in 38 percent of the team's total offense.
David Backes: St. Louis' captain is tied for third in goals, and two of his league-best three game-winners have come in overtime.
