This is the first edition of theScore's rankings of the top candidates to be named 2019-20 playoff MVP. We've featured only players still competing in the postseason, which officially included the qualifying round and round-robin stage.

1. Carter Hart

One of the biggest question marks heading into the playoffs was how Hart would perform in his first taste of postseason action, but the 22-year-old Philadelphia Flyers goaltender has delivered in spades. His save percentage ranks first among puck-stoppers who've played at least three games, and he boasts the third-best goals saved above average at five-on-five among all netminders in the postseason.

Hart's play is even more impressive when considering he's excelling without much offensive help from his teammates. The Flyers have managed only 2.44 goals per game - second-lowest among teams still playing - and yet he's looked more than comfortable in the Philadelphia crease, making the strongest case to be the Conn Smythe Trophy front-runner.

2. Nathan MacKinnon

MacKinnon is arguably the leading candidate for the Hart Trophy this season, and the Colorado Avalanche superstar continues to provide immense value in the playoffs, as well. Prior to the start of the second round, he sits tied for first in both points and assists despite playing fewer games than his counterparts. He's also logged his usual 20-plus minutes per contest while registering truly dominant possession figures.

Several other Avalanche players have made big contributions during the team's run, but there's no doubt MacKinnon's been the catalyst and one of the most impactful players this postseason.

3. Miro Heiskanen

Now that John Klingberg has six seasons under his belt, Heiskanen has emerged as the Dallas Stars' best young defenseman and been critical to their playoff success. The 21-year-old has looked like a grizzled vet since the restart.

The talented blue-liner erupted for four points in the Stars' series-clincher against the Calgary Flames, joining a relatively short and impressive list in the process. However, it wasn't just that one game that cemented his spot on this list. Heiskanen sits in a tie for second in points among all skaters through first-round action, and only Tampa Bay Lightning rearguard Ryan McDonagh has logged more ice time among players on teams still competing.

4. Elias Pettersson

If these playoffs have taught us anything, it's that Pettersson has shed the "phenom" label and is now a full-fledged star. The 21-year-old is tied with MacKinnon for the postseason points lead through the opening round, albeit in two more contests than the Avalanche dynamo.

Pettersson has been typically consistent in his first taste of playoff competition. The productive Swede was held off the score sheet only once in the Vancouver Canucks' six-game series win over the St. Louis Blues, and, similarly, just once did he fail to notch a point in the four games the Canucks needed to dispatch the Minnesota Wild in the qualifying round.

5. Semyon Varlamov

Varlamov is the biggest reason the New York Islanders made such quick work of both the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers. New York's No. 1 goaltender has been stellar throughout the postseason, sitting in a tie with Vancouver netminder Jacob Markstrom for the most wins and ranking second behind Markstrom in GSAA at five-on-five despite playing one fewer game than his Western Conference counterpart through the opening round.

The Islanders goalie hasn't needed to make more than 27 stops in any of his nine postseason appearances, but New York wouldn't have eliminated the Capitals in five or the Panthers in four without him.

Honorable mentions: Mark Stone, Nazem Kadri, Anthony Beauvillier, Markstrom, Philipp Grubauer, Bo Horvat, Brayden Point, David Krejci

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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