As the NHL playoffs heat up, hockey fans are eagerly anticipating the final showdowns in both the Eastern and Western conferences. On one hand, Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner has been on fire, racking up points in crucial games, and his hot streak has many wondering if he can keep up the pace. Meanwhile, Nathan MacKinnon's Colorado Avalanche are looking to make a deep run in the West, and the talented forward could be the one to take the spotlight away from Marner. But what about the Eastern Conference final? With the likes of Boston's Brad Marchand, Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov, and Carolina's Sebastian Aho, the competition for top scorer is fierce. In this in-depth analysis, expert Gary Pearson breaks down the key players to watch in both conferences and makes his predictions for who will come out on top.

Will Mitch Marner keep his hot streak going, or will Nathan MacKinnon take the spotlight in the Western Conference final? Who could be the top scorers in the East final? Gary Pearson looks closer for BetMGM.