Latest news with #Bobrovsky
Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
More lessons to be learned for Oilers' Stuart Skinner after another Cup loss
Article content What does Stuart Skinner learn from two straight painful Stanley Cup Final losses, even getting his team to Game 7 and Game 6? Article content That the wheel can turn, because there was a time when the Florida Panthers thought Sergei Bobrovsky's contract was a giant albatross, paying him $10 million a year. The fans wanted to run him out of town, and now? He's their loveable Bob, their two-time Stanley Cup winner who married his mental toughness with consistency. Article content Article content Skinner was outplayed by Bobrovsky in this Edmonton Oilers loss. Article content Article content Skinner knows it, the fans in Edmonton know it. Maybe management does too, and maybe GM Stan Bowman investigates the goalie market this summer after balking at any addition in net at the trade deadline. Article content Yeah, he would like the same trajectory as Bobrovsky. Article content 'I've been in the league for three years and he's had 14 years and you can tell,' said Skinner, who is 10 years younger. 'You can tell nothing changes with him. You can tell mentally he's in the same spot whether he lets in six or gets a shutout. Article content 'I couldn't tell the difference (staying the zone) until there were two minutes left in this game and he knew he had won the Stanley Cup. Article content Article content 'I would love to get in touch with him and try to fill his shoes.' Article content Article content Skinner tried to approach every game the same way as Bobrovsky but he couldn't get through the first periods in his starts without getting scored on. Article content It was draining for the team and for him. Article content 'Absolutely. After every first period I let in two goals. That's hard to take especially when you have to play them six times or in my case five (starts),' he said. Article content 'They're always ahead and it's a battle. You're always opening up (as a team) and they're getting chances because you have to go for it.' Article content Skinner gave up two goals in the first 20 minutes of Game 6, one when Sam Reinhart who busted past Mattias Ekholm after a giveaway by his partner Evan Bouchard and one in the last minute of the opening frame on a Matthew Tkachuk shot from the high slot when nobody picked up the trailing winger. Article content Maybe they could have used a big save on Reinhart because the Oilers were once again chasing the game, but the killer was Reinhart's deep into the second period, started by Skinner. He couldn't handle a harmless-looking 50-foot flip shot by Carter Verhaeghe, batted it away and right on to the stick of Aleksander Barkov. In five seconds it was off Reinhart's skate and in to make it 3-zip. Game over.
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
More lessons to be learned for Oilers' Stuart Skinner after another Cup loss
Article content What does Stuart Skinner learn from two straight painful Stanley Cup Final losses, even getting his team to Game 7 and Game 6? Article content That the wheel can turn, because there was a time when the Florida Panthers thought Sergei Bobrovsky's contract was a giant albatross, paying him $10 million a year. The fans wanted to run him out of town, and now? He's their loveable Bob, their two-time Stanley Cup winner who married his mental toughness with consistency. Article content Article content Skinner was outplayed by Bobrovsky in this Edmonton Oilers loss. Article content Article content Skinner knows it, the fans in Edmonton know it. Maybe management does too, and maybe GM Stan Bowman investigates the goalie market this summer after balking at any addition in net at the trade deadline. Article content For sure, Bobrovsky wasn't always this good. Article content Yeah, he would like the same trajectory as Bobrovsky. Article content 'I've been in the league for three years and he's had 14 years and you can tell,' said Skinner, who is 10 years younger. 'You can tell nothing changes with him. You can tell mentally he's in the same spot whether he lets in six or gets a shutout. Article content 'I couldn't tell the difference (staying the zone) until there were two minutes left in this game and he knew he had won the Stanley Cup. Article content Article content 'I would love to get in touch with him and try to fill his shoes.' Article content Article content Skinner tried to approach every game the same way as Bobrovsky but he couldn't get through the first periods in his starts without getting scored on. Article content It was draining for the team and for him. Article content 'Absolutely. After every first period I let in two goals. That's hard to take especially when you have to play them six times or in my case five (starts),' he said. Article content 'They're always ahead and it's a battle. You're always opening up (as a team) and they're getting chances because you have to go for it.' Article content Skinner gave up two goals in the first 20 minutes of Game 6, one when Sam Reinhart who busted past Mattias Ekholm after a giveaway by his partner Evan Bouchard and one in the last minute of the opening frame on a Matthew Tkachuk shot from the high slot when nobody picked up the trailing winger. Article content Maybe they could have used a big save on Reinhart because the Oilers were once again chasing the game, but the killer was Reinhart's deep into the second period, started by Skinner. He couldn't handle a harmless-looking 50-foot flip shot by Carter Verhaeghe, batted it away and right on to the stick of Aleksander Barkov. In five seconds it was off Reinhart's skate and in to make it 3-zip. Game over.
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
More lessons to be learned for Oilers' Stuart Skinner after another Cup loss
What does Stuart Skinner learn from two straight painful Stanley Cup Final losses, even getting his team to Game 7 and Game 6? That the wheel can turn, because there was a time when the Florida Panthers thought Sergei Bobrovsky's contract was a giant albatross, paying him $10 million a year. The fans wanted to run him out of town, and now? He's their loveable Bob, their two-time Stanley Cup winner who married his mental toughness with consistency. Skinner was outplayed by Bobrovsky in this Edmonton Oilers loss. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Skinner knows it, the fans in Edmonton know it. Maybe management does too, and maybe GM Stan Bowman investigates the goalie market this summer after balking at any addition in net at the trade deadline. For sure, Bobrovsky wasn't always this good. He's learned, he's lost and now he's won two in a row at 36. Yeah, he would like the same trajectory as Bobrovsky. 'I sure hope so. I'm definitely hoping that's for me too but it'll have to come from me,' he said, emphatically 'I've been in the league for three years and he's had 14 years and you can tell,' said Skinner, who is 10 years younger. 'You can tell nothing changes with him. You can tell mentally he's in the same spot whether he lets in six or gets a shutout. 'I couldn't tell the difference (staying the zone) until there were two minutes left in this game and he knew he had won the Stanley Cup. 'I would love to get in touch with him and try to fill his shoes.' Skinner tried to approach every game the same way as Bobrovsky but he couldn't get through the first periods in his starts without getting scored on. It was draining for the team and for him. 'Absolutely. After every first period I let in two goals. That's hard to take especially when you have to play them six times or in my case five (starts),' he said. 'They're always ahead and it's a battle. You're always opening up (as a team) and they're getting chances because you have to go for it.' Skinner gave up two goals in the first 20 minutes of Game 6, one when Sam Reinhart who busted past Mattias Ekholm after a giveaway by his partner Evan Bouchard and one in the last minute of the opening frame on a Matthew Tkachuk shot from the high slot when nobody picked up the trailing winger. Maybe they could have used a big save on Reinhart because the Oilers were once again chasing the game, but the killer was Reinhart's deep into the second period, started by Skinner. He couldn't handle a harmless-looking 50-foot flip shot by Carter Verhaeghe, batted it away and right on to the stick of Aleksander Barkov. In five seconds it was off Reinhart's skate and in to make it 3-zip. Game over. 'The third goal killed us a bit,' he admitted. 'I tried to squeeze it under my arm but it popped out off my blocker which is smart. I put it into a spot that I thought was OK but obviously it wasn't, for a second. He shot it on the backside and then Reinhart's in the right place. 'It starts with a nothing shot (Verhaeghe) but that's what you have to do, that's how goals go in in the playoffs. Guys are just around the net.' Corey Perry, who lost his fifth Cup Final but had a shocking 10 goals in the playoffs, gave Skinner a big hug after the final whistle. Skinner wouldn't say what Perry's words of encouragement were but he appreciated them from a guy who has played 237 playoff games, third most all-time. And felt for another close call. 'I feel for him. He brought tears to my eyes,' said Skinner. 'I'll keep that in my heart. 'Ah man, he's one of the greatest teammates I've ever had. He was playing like it was his second year in the league. He was incredible this whole time, actually incredible since he's been here.' But Perry's heroics weren't enough because Florida was too good. The series that could have been a sweep but for two Oilers wins in OT on Leon Draisaitl goals, in a series where Edmonton led for 34 minutes in six games? 'In my opinion it was just consistency. They didn't change how they played and I felt our game was up and down here and there. They play that game all year and it goes into playoffs. They stick to it, and do the exact same things. We weren't as consistent as they were,' said Skinner. He thought their consistency wore the Oilers down 'That's the end of the story. They played the same every single night… they kept coming, coming, coming,' said Skinner. 'Nothing changed with them, win or lose. Like in the second game, they scored an overtime goal (to tie the series 1-1) and next game they're were doing exactly the same thing. I thought we were consistent the first two games, but after that things shifted a bit and we got away from the script. We had peaks and valleys.' Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters . You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
CBS News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Sergei Bobrovsky's brilliance leads Florida Panthers to second-straight Stanley Cup title
The loudest cheers among Florida Panthers fans at Amerant Bank Arena are always for Sergei Bobrovsky. The "Bob-by!" chants lasted well into the early hours of Wednesday morning after Bobrovksy led the Florida Panthers to their second straight Stanley Cup championship. Florida fans know how important the veteran goaltender is to their team. Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) takes a break during the first period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. Lynne Sladky / AP So do the Panthers. It's why Florida never appeared rattled during its third straight Stanley Cup Final run. The Panthers remained even-keeled, never looking too far ahead, and certainly not harping on the past — mirroring the attitude of their unflappable, two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender. And Bobrovsky rewarded their trust in him with a brilliant showing in this year's playoffs, which he stamped with a 28-save effort in Florida's 5-1 romp over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6. "It's an amazing feeling, obviously," Bobrovksy said. "I wanted to say thank you to the group of guys. ... the dedication, the sacrifice it's been amazing. All of my career, I had so many ups and downs, not many people believed in me. That's why I thank God for this experience. I can't be more humbled and appreciative." He stopped 192 of 209 shots in the final. He nearly had his fourth shutout of the postseason Tuesday before Vasily Podkolzin broke up that bid with the Oilers' only goal with 4:39 left. With Tuesday's win, Bobrovsky moved to 13-8 in 22 series-clinching games, tying Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy (13-9) for the most among active goaltenders. He was even more dominant than last year's title run, when he was again a key piece in Florida's success with a .906 save percentage. Bobrovsky made 42 saves in each of the first two games of the series in Edmonton. Both of which were thrillers, both of which went to overtime. He then held the Oilers to one goal in a Game 3 win, stopping 32 shots to lift the Panthers to a 2-1 series lead. After the Panthers blew a 3-0 lead in Game 4, Bobrovsky stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced in a tremendous Game 5 effort by both the goalie and the Florida defense, putting them in a position to clinch the championship on home ice. "Bob impresses you on a daily basis with just how he prepares and all of the little things that he does to be the best goalie in the world," defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. "You almost don't want to look him in the eyes sometimes when you're walking around the dressing room because he's just so dialed in. But he really is a down-to-earth guy, too. He's not one of those goalies that worries about his routine and stuff. You can sit and have a chat with him. He's a good person, a good guy." Ask Florida's veteran goaltender what he thinks of his success and he will likely sum it up in a few words. He'll express his gratitude and talk about how great it is to play the game he loves. Then he will deflect the attention to his teammates. Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72), Matthew Tkachuk (19), Gustav Forsling (42) and Tomas Nosek (92) celebrate after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Fla., Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Nathan Denette / AP That's who he's been since he took the starting job three games into the first round in 2023 and what the Panthers have come to appreciate about him. He's been the calming presence in their locker room amid all kinds of chaos during this dominant three-year run. "We came in, worked hard, and here we are," he said. His focus is always on what it takes to win and his credit always goes to the ones around him. That simple approach has worked for him. Going back to the 2023 playoffs, no goalie has more wins, saves or shutouts than Bobrovsky. And he's doing it all at an age — 36 — that most would say he shouldn't — he's the second-oldest goaltender in the last decade with a playoff shutout. Entering Tuesday, only three other goalies since 1981-82 had won the Vezina Trophy twice and hoisted the Stanley Cup trophy multiple times. Bobrovsky joined that group on Tuesday. The others? They're all Hall of Famers.
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
More lessons to be learned for Oilers' Stuart Skinner after another Cup loss
Article content Skinner was outplayed by Bobrovsky in this Edmonton Oilers loss. Skinner knows it, the fans in Edmonton know it. Maybe management does too, and maybe GM Stan Bowman investigates the goalie market this summer after balking at any addition in net at the trade deadline. For sure, Bobrovsky wasn't always this good. He's learned, he's lost and now he's won two in a row at 36. Yeah, he would like the same trajectory as Bobrovsky. 'I sure hope so. I'm definitely hoping that's for me too but it'll have to come from me,' he said, emphatically 'I've been in the league for three years and he's had 14 years and you can tell,' said Skinner, who is 10 years younger. 'You can tell nothing changes with him. You can tell mentally he's in the same spot whether he lets in six or gets a shutout. 'I couldn't tell the difference (staying the zone) until there were two minutes left in this game and he knew he had won the Stanley Cup.
