Panthers know Bobrovsky's importance in Cup Final. ‘We're not taking him for granted'
Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final had just ended and most of the Florida Panthers' went at full speed to celebrate with Brad Marchand, who scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to even the best-of-7 series with the Edmonton Oilers at 1-1.
Nate Schmidt went in a different direction when he got off the bench.
'Just wanted to hug Bob,' Schmidt said.
'Bob,' as most Panthers fans know, is Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida's veteran goaltender who has been a key factor in the team's run through the Stanley Cup playoffs.
And while the pure numbers might not indicate it, he has been stellar in the Stanley Cup Final.
Yes, Bobrovsky has given up eight goals through two games against the Oilers.
But considering the firepower he's facing in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Co., Bobrovsky's production has been above expected.
Consider the following entering Game 3 of the Cup Final on Monday:
▪ Bobrovsky posted an identical statline in both games, stopping 42 of 46 shots against in each matchup so far of the series — with Florida losing Game 1 4-3 in overtime and winning Game 2 5-4 in double overtime. He became the 11th goaltender on record with multiple 40-save outings in his Stanley Cup Final career and is the first goaltender on record to post back-to-back 40-save performances to begin a Stanley Cup Final.
At 5-on-5, Bobrovsky's save percentage is .944 (68 saves on 72 shots against).
▪ His expected goals against in the two games, according to the advanced hockey statistics website Natural Stat Trick? 10.23, meaning he gave up two goals fewer than expected based on the quality of shots he faced.
▪ Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 27 high-danger shots on goal against in the first two games of the series.
▪ In 47:34 of overtime over the course of the first two games, Bobrovsky has stopped 23 of 24 shots on goal
'I think because he's been here so long the players here have seen if one gets by him that he doesn't like, that has no impact on the next save,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. 'His ability to kind of move on, to be present but then move on, is incredible. I think it helps that he's a veteran guy that's been through so much in his career, he's seen so much. In that game, the ones that beat you aren't that important; it's the next one, and he has just this fantastic way of being calm.
'He's kind of this Zen dude in the net, and he's just very present with what he does.'
That sums up Bobrovsky throughout the entire playoffs, not just the Stanley Cup Final.
Entering Monday, Bobrovsky has a .912 save percentage and 2.21 goals against average over 19 games this postseason. His 7.40 goals saved above average are the highest in the league in the playoffs. He has three shutouts — one apiece in the first round, second round and Eastern Conference final.
'He gives us a chance every night,' Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues said. 'That's all you can ask for, right? Some big saves, key saves at key moments and we're not taking him for granted, that's for sure.'
Bobrovsky has been battle-tested throughout his 15-season career, which included stops in Philadelphia and Columbus before joining the Panthers. He's a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, and after struggles early in his Panthers tenure has returned to form as one of the league's more reliable goaltenders despite being 36 years old. He has come up at big moments and is once again giving the Panthers a chance to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
'Bob's been Bob,' said defenseman Seth Jones, who reunited with Bobrovsky this season after spending time together in Columbus. 'Even back then, when I got traded to Columbus when I was 21 years old and I was able to see that preparation up close at that young of an age. Still, to this day, I haven't seen preparation like that, day in and day out. The mentality of him just being locked into his craft, and even at his age now wanting to get better every day. Even if it's a backdoor goal, he's taking blame. He thinks he can make every save for us, and that's the way he wants it. For us, it's just an honor and a privilege to play in front of him every single game, knowing the saves he makes and the work ethic he puts into trying to make us a better team and trying to giving us really an opportunity to win every single game, regardless of how we play.'
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