“Going into the postseason, there’s different challenges and moments you have to embrace,” he said. “But it doesn’t always land on me. There’s a tremendous group of leaders in there that kind of ease the pressure on each other.”

Toews’s play exemplified that attitude and lifted Chicago past the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. He scored the Blackhawks’ first two goals, cleverly floating through defenders to pounce on a rebound less than three minutes into the game, then fired a wicked no-look wrist shot high into the net five minutes later to further inspire his teammates.

Toews enters the finals having scored five goals in four games. He is tied for fourth in postseason goals, with nine, and tied for fifth in points, with 18.

“It gets everybody excited,” said Brandon Saad, who plays on a line with Toews and Patrick Kane. “You see that, and you follow under his charge.”

Stamkos, who switched from center to wing during the playoffs, has learned quickly in his first full season as captain and relied on the tone and tenor of his words while not scoring a goal in the Lightning’s first eight playoff games.

“He’s got a good leadership group around him,” said Dave Andreychuk, the former Tampa Bay captain whose banner also hung at Amalie Arena; he was the captain of the 2004 Stanley Cup champions. “That’s what helps. Really, it’s not about one guy wearing a letter. It’s about a bunch of guys that are with him. The addition of Anton Stralman, Brian Boyle and Callahan made his job a lot easier.”

Stamkos regained his sharpshooting with three goals against Montreal and four against the Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals. His seven goals put him in a tie for eighth in the postseason and his 17 points leave him just behind Toews.