Karlsson receives Conn Smythe vote despite not reaching finals

Remember Erik Karlsson's otherworldly postseason performance? The Professional Hockey Writers Association sure does.

The collective group of Conn Smythe voters - or at least one of them - deemed the Ottawa Senators captain worthy of playoff MVP recognition despite not reaching the Stanley Cup Final.

Here's the breakdown:

Crosby, like always, won overwhelmingly, while Karlsson's single third-place vote matched that of all Nashville Predators players - who actually freakin' competed for the Cup.

Karlsson's Senators ultimately fell to Pittsburgh in double overtime of Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Final, and the Norris nominee concluded his playoffs with 18 points in 19 games, in which he averaged 28:08 of ice time.

Oh, and he did all this while playing with two hairline fractures in his heel.