We're only through one round of these Stanley Cup Playoffs, but it's not too early to take stock of who's already asserted themselves with play that's been at or near a playoff MVP level.

Even though the second round has begun, we're focusing entirely on the players' Round 1 output, so we didn't factor Game 1 of the New York Rangers/Carolina Hurricanes second-round series into these rankings.

These are our top five contenders for the honor:

xGF% = five-on-five expected goals share
GSAx = goals saved above expected

5. Igor Shesterkin, Rangers

Shesterkin would likely be higher on this list if it weren't for a cupcake Round 1 matchup against a Washington Capitals team that had no business in the playoffs.

The Rangers netminder wasn't overly busy, facing more than 25 shots in just one game. Still, Shesterkin was sharp when called upon, and it wouldn't be fair to keep him off this list because of his opponent. He was the key piece in the only Round 1 sweep. Another strong series against a Hurricanes squad known to throw everything on net could push Shesterkin up these rankings if New York can prevail in Round 2.

4. Cale Makar, Avalanche

Makar, the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, has shown he has another gear in the playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche star is tied with Evan Bouchard for the playoff points lead among defensemen, and he's tied with forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen for a team high in points. Makar notched multi-point games in three of the five contests against the Winnipeg Jets and logged over 27 minutes of ice time in two matchups.

While Makar's underlying numbers aren't exactly off the charts, it's hard to deny him a spot on this list with the impactful splash plays he made from the back end.

3. Jeremy Swayman, Bruins

The Boston Bruins alternated goalies for almost the entire regular season and continued the trend for the first three games of the playoffs. But Swayman impressed head coach Jim Montgomery so much in a Game 3 win that he earned consecutive starts and ultimately got five in a row, including stopping 30 of 31 shots in Saturday's Game 7 overtime victory.

The Alaska-born netminder leads all playoff goalies in GAA, save percentage, and GSAx. Swayman allowed only nine goals in six games while saving 1.4 goals above expected per contest against a Toronto Maple Leafs squad that boasted the NHL's No. 2 offense in the regular season. In a series decided by the slimmest of margins, Swayman is the primary reason the Bruins are heading to Round 2.

2. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers

1. Connor McDavid, Oilers

We grouped the two Oilers superstars together for obvious reasons. They could easily be co-MVPs of Round 1, as both dominated in Edmonton's five-game series victory over the Los Angeles Kings. However, we lean toward McDavid for a few reasons.

While goals are harder to come by than assists, McDavid earned the primary helper on four of Draisaitl's tallies in Round 1. And these weren't cases where McDavid touched the puck before Draisaitl went end-to-end, either. McDavid was constantly zooming around the ice and finding passing lanes, putting the puck on a tee for Draisaitl to unleash his lethal sharp-angle one-timer.

McDavid was the more dominant player at even strength when the duo was mostly separated, as evidenced by the captain's superior underlying numbers. McDavid's line also drew the tougher assignments from the Kings, seeing a heavier dose of future Hall of Famers Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty.

While there are cases for both sides, it's hard to argue against the consensus best player in the world.

Honorable mentions: Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Zach Hyman, Wyatt Johnston, Seth Jarvis

(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)

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The NHL is throwing it back to the mid-90s for the 2023 All-Star Game uniforms. The league unveiled its Reverse Retro All-Star Game threads Thursday.

The jerseys include the 1994 "big star" design and colors indicative of South Florida. They're inspired by the All-Star Game played at Madison Square Garden in New York during the Panthers' inaugural season of 1993-94.

For the first time since 2009, every All-Star sweater will identify the player's conference.

The colors provide a hint of "Miami Vice" with the game being held in Florida, but the design is a clear nod to the classics worn from 1994-97.

The NHL All-Star Game will take place Feb. 4, with the skills competition going down Feb. 3. The league announced its initial rosters earlier this month.

Every NHL team introduced a Reverse Retro alternate jersey in each of the past two seasons.

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This is the 10th edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which will be published every two weeks during the regular season. It was compiled by editors Josh Wegman and Josh Gold-Smith.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (39-11-2)

This marks the fourth straight edition the Lightning have been on top, and it's difficult to envision them falling for the rest of the season. They're easily the deepest team in the league, and it wouldn't be surprising if they added a rental at the deadline for an extra push. - Wegman

Previously: 1st

2. Calgary Flames (34-14-5)

The Flames are second in the league in points and goal differential, trailing only the Lightning. The stars seem to be aligning for Calgary this season, as their top five players are all having career years, and David Rittich has answered the biggest question mark heading into the season by providing stellar goaltending. - Wegman

Previously: 2nd

3. Winnipeg Jets (34-16-2) ▲

The Jets have turned it up a notch lately, going 9-3-0 in their last 12 games. They've done so without their anchor on defense and the heart and soul of the team, Dustin Byfuglien. With his impending return along with a possible deadline addition, the Jets will be a force down the stretch. - Wegman

Previously: 6th

4. San Jose Sharks (30-16-7) ▲

The Sharks started slow after lofty preseason expectations, but are 16-5-2 in their last 23 outings. Erik Karlsson was playing his best hockey of the season before going down with a minor injury. With him and Brent Burns firing on all cylinders, when was the last time a team had two Norris Trophy candidates? The Sharks are clearly all-in this year, and could make a splash before Feb. 25. - Wegman

Previously: 5th

5. New York Islanders (30-15-6) ▼

If you're debating the best story of the NHL season for far, look no further than the Islanders. After losing their captain and franchise player after a season in which they were the sloppiest defensive club in the league, they've rallied together to become the league's stingiest team under Barry Trotz. Will they be able to overcome a lack of star power in the postseason against the Penguins or Capitals? Time will tell. - Wegman

Previously: 3rd

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (31-17-3) ▲

If there's a bright side to the Maple Leafs' recent skid it's that they hit their rough patch in January rather than April. The addition of Jake Muzzin is a significant upgrade on the back end, allowing Ron Hainsey to slide down into a more fitting, sheltered role. The Leafs are coming off a much-needed home win against Pittsburgh, and could very well get on a hot streak with a favorable schedule looming. - Wegman

Previously: 10th

7. Nashville Predators (31-19-4) ▲

If there's one team that needs a deadline push like Artemi Panarin more than the rest, it's the Predators. The club has had trouble finding the back of the net lately, highlighted by the league's worst power play. The Preds are in win-now mode, and need an offensive dynamo to push them over the top. If they could add such a player, they'd be awfully scary heading into the postseason. - Wegman

Previously: 9th

8. Boston Bruins (28-17-7) ▼

It doesn't get discussed often enough how many injuries in the early portion of the season the Bruins have overcome to stay afloat. They're back at full health now, but their lack of forward depth is no secret. They possess arguably the best line in hockey, but what comes after isn't very imposing. If the Bruins can add a difference-maker to their bottom-nine forward group, they could have a deep playoff run. - Wegman

Previously: 7th

9. Vegas Golden Knights (29-21-4) ▼

The Golden Knights have lost four straight games, but thanks to a top-heavy division, they don't have to worry about falling out of third in the Pacific. Having "The Fortress" behind them for a first-round matchup against the Sharks or Flames would go a long way, but there's work to be done to make that happen. - Wegman

Previously: 4th

10. Pittsburgh Penguins (28-18-6) ▼

The Penguins have just two regulation wins in their last eight outings. Are the additions of Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann what's needed to right the ship? Probably not, but the impending return of defenseman Justin Schultz will be a major boost. - Wegman

Previously: 8th

11. Montreal Canadiens (29-18-6)

Just as the Canadiens' offense has hit a roadblock, Carey Price has put the team on his back. Can he carry them all the way to the postseason? - Wegman

Previously: 11th

12. Dallas Stars (27-21-4) ▲

The Stars have won four straight contests just after they lost four consecutive games. The talent in this group is obvious, but is anyone a firm believer they can make noise in April? - Wegman

Previously: 16th

13. Washington Capitals (28-18-6)

With the Capitals spiraling, Todd Reirden is facing his first bit of adversity as head coach. If the Islanders keep winning, it's possible we could see Caps-Pens in the first round, which is likely something neither team wants. - Wegman

Previously: 13th

14. Minnesota Wild (26-22-4) ▲

The Wild may be the most middling team in the NHL. They're likely good enough to make the postseason, but don't pose any upset threat whatsoever. Could pending unrestricted free agent Eric Staal be a trade deadline causality? - Wegman

Previously: 15th

15. Carolina Hurricanes (25-21-6) ▼

It appears the Hurricanes will continue to be active in the lead up to the trade deadline. The puck possession darlings still struggle to finish, but adding some proven goal scorers would go a long way towards snapping the league's longest playoff drought, and a chance for their much-maligned post-win celebrations to hit the national stage. - Wegman

Previously: 14th

16. Columbus Blue Jackets (28-20-3) ▼

The futures of Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky remain uncertain, and meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are sputtering toward the trade deadline with five straight losses. The next few weeks will be critical for both the short-term and long-term outlooks of the franchise. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 12th

17. Philadelphia Flyers (23-23-6) ▲

The hottest team in the NHL made it seven straight wins with an impressive come-from-behind victory over the Oilers on Saturday. Carter Hart continues to provide stability in the crease, and while the Flyers are still outside the playoff picture, they'll be knocking on the door if they can keep this up. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 26th

18. Vancouver Canucks (24-22-6) ▼

A big road win over the Avalanche on Saturday lifted the Canucks back into a wild-card spot. With a healthy Elias Pettersson clicking with Brock Boeser and company, Vancouver still looks like a team that can make a sustained push in the paltry Pacific Division. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 17th

19. Arizona Coyotes (23-23-5) ▲

So much for this season being another forgettable one for the Coyotes, who've won six of 10 and now sit three points out of a playoff spot. Conor Garland potted his eighth goal in his last 11 contests on Saturday night - his 10th in just 24 games this season - as Arizona earned a big point against the Sharks. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 24th

20. St. Louis Blues (23-22-5) ▲

The Blues won two of their three games since our last edition, and goaltender Jordan Binnington allowed only three goals combined in the victories. He has shone since taking over as St. Louis' de facto starter, and he's helped the Blues sneak back into the playoff hunt out west. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 22nd

21. Buffalo Sabres (25-20-6) ▼

Remember when the Sabres were the hottest team in the league? That seems like ancient history now that Buffalo has lost seven of 10, including a humbling 7-3 defeat at the hands of the lowly Blackhawks on Friday. That was the first contest in a seven-game homestand on which the Sabres need to turn things around. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 19th

22. Florida Panthers (21-21-8) ▲

The Panthers dealt Bjugstad and McCann for pending UFAs Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan, leading some to wonder if Florida was clearing space for Panarin and/or Bobrovsky, at whom they reportedly hope to take a run. On the ice, Florida is still a long way from sniffing a postseason berth despite beating the Sharks and Golden Knights since our last edition. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 25th

23. Colorado Avalanche (22-21-8) ▼

The Avalanche haven't been themselves lately, with three consecutive losses and only three wins in their last 10, including a 5-1 defeat to the Canucks on home ice Saturday. Colorado head coach Jared Bednar split up the NHL's most dangerous line, but nothing seems to be working for him. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 18th

24. Edmonton Oilers (23-24-5) ▼

The Oilers finally fired general manager Peter Chiarelli on Jan. 23, but times are still tough in Edmonton as the club dropped their fifth consecutive contest Sunday. The mediocrity in the middle of the Western Conference standings has the Oilers only three points out of a playoff spot, but it's not hard to see this is a team with significant issues. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 20th

25. Chicago Blackhawks (20-24-9) ▲

The Blackhawks have shown some signs of life lately with four straight wins, and Dylan Strome has fit in nicely with 23 points in 29 games since being acquired, but they've still got a long way to go if they hope to get back in the race. Despite the win streak, Chicago still sits second-last in the conference with a minus-29 goal differential. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 31st

26. New York Rangers (22-22-7) ▼

Simply put, the Rangers can't score and they're getting scored on too much. They're also the second-worst possession team in the NHL, as only the lowly Senators have a worse Corsi For percentage at five-on-five. This just isn't New York's year. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 21st

27. Detroit Red Wings (21-25-7) ▲

Three consecutive victories - including another overtime win over the Leafs on Friday - might be cause for some mild optimism, but the Red Wings have dug themselves too deep a hole of which to climb out, especially now that Dylan Larkin might be out for a week or two. Time to start selling. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 29th

28. Anaheim Ducks (21-22-9) ▼

Randy Carlyle is once again on the hot seat after the Ducks were humiliated by the Jets on Saturday. Anaheim is only three points out of a playoff spot, but that's with the worst goal differential in the NHL, five fewer regulation or overtime wins than the Canucks, and five teams including Vancouver ahead of them in the hunt. More efforts like the one on Saturday would probably seal Carlyle's fate. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 23rd

29. New Jersey Devils (20-24-7) ▲

The Devils don't have much hope without Taylor Hall - not that they had enough depth to be competitive even before he got hurt - but Nico Hischier is doing his part with three goals in the last two games, including the tying marker and the winner Saturday. His future looks bright, even if New Jersey's present is bleak. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 30th

30. Los Angeles Kings (20-27-4) ▼

Only the Ducks have a worse goal differential this season than the Kings, and that's by a single goal. Los Angeles remains firmly entrenched in the basement of the Western Conference, without much hope of getting out. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 28th

31. Ottawa Senators (19-28-5) ▼

The Senators have lost four straight games, and more importantly, the impending decisions by Mark Stone and Matt Duchene about their respective futures loom large in Ottawa. - Gold-Smith

Previously: 27th

(Analytics courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)

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