X-Factors Could Tilt the NHL Conference Finals

The conference finals always turn into a search for the one guy who can bend a series without filling the box score. That is where the spotlight lands on names like Caufield and Nelson, because playoff hockey loves the unexpected driver almost as much as the obvious star. These are the kinds of matchups where one hot hand, one matchup edge, or one timely adjustment can tilt a whole round. The margins are razor-thin now, and the teams that identify the right X-factor first usually sleep better.