2011 NHL first round quarter-finals: A look at potential Most Valuable Player of the series
The National Hockey League playoffs came quickly this time around and the quarter-finals ended even quicker. There is a Most Valuable Player for the regulation season and the playoffs, but the players who perform in each series do not always stay consistent
throughout.
It is worth mentioning some players who are capable of being the MVP for a series who have led their teams to victory in the most difficult of times. These players might not get recognition for their efforts near the end, so this is a way to do just that.
The quarter-finals this time around were intense. There were a few disappointments and some series were close to changing the face of the playoffs forever but luckily did not.
Studying the quarter-finals which have now ended, we will take some time to mention the players who helped their teams advance and deserve to be called the MVP of their respective series.
If the NHL awarded an MVP award for each series, then one of these players would have surely won the laurel.
Alex Burrows (Vancouver Canucks)
The series against Vancouver Canucks and defending Stanley Cup champions Chicago Blackhawks was very exciting and intense.
The League leading Canucks not only faced a tough time against Chicago who barely made it into the playoff race, but were nearly eliminated.
Alex Burrows might be an exceptional case in this list, as he still in their semi-final series as the most consistent player for his team. Burrows was the man of the match in game seven and ultimately led the Canucks to victory. Not only did he score their
first goal of the game, he ended the matchup with a game-winning goal in overtime. Throughout their series against the Blackhawks, Burrows tallied two goals and one assist.
Danny Briere (Philadelphia Flyers)
In another near disappointment, the quarter-final series between Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres came down to a deciding game seven as well.
As Danny Briere was playing against his former team for the first time in a postseason series, it might have been hard for him to go full out.
Briere instead stepped up his game and showed them that he was now a Philly. He recorded seven points in the seven-game series consisting of six goals and an assist. It was his goal against the Sabres in game seven that really sparked a shooting spree when
he extended their lead 2-0 in the opening five minutes of the second period during a power play.
Dwayne Roloson (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Dwayne Roloson showed an outstanding performance in the net all the way through a heated series against Pittsburgh Penguins.
Tampa Bay were not having the best season and had not been deep in the playoffs since winning the Stanley Cup back in 2004.
Near the final moments, the Lightning picked up the pace and made their way up to the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference but were still considered weak against Pittsburgh Penguins.
Roloson was playing against Pittsburgh’s young superstar goalie Marc-Andre Fleury who was positive of outrunning the 41-year-old veteran, but Roloson played at par with the young goalie and finished victorious in the end.
After a 3-1 deficit in the series after game four, the Lightning had been put on the verge of elimination. Roloson’s quick action which included an 8-2 knockout in game five and a 1-0 shutout in game seven earned him a much-needed respect from the whole
League. They won three consecutive matchups to make a near impossible recovery and are continuing to do so in the semi-finals as they lead the series 2-0 against the first seed Washington Capitals.
Tags: