Panthers’ Bobrovsky locked-in, having fun
When fans see Sergei Bobrovsky on the ice, the Florida Panthers’ veteran goaltender is generally as stoic as can be. He’s locked-in as he enters the crease, laser-focused on the task at hand.
Behind the scenes, it’s a different story.
“We like to joke around, have some fun,” fellow goaltender Anthony Stolarz said. “It keeps things light. It’s a long year, so him being able to crack a joke here and there and get a couple laughs is always nice to see.”
There are plenty of reasons for Bobrovsky to smile nowadays. He is following up his playoff heroics from last season’s run to the Stanley Cup Final with his best regular season to date of his fiveyear tenure with the Panthers. It has resulted in the 35-year-old and 14-year NHL veteran being named an All-Star for the third time in his career and first time with the Panthers. The NHL All-Star Game is Saturday in Toronto.
He is the fourth goaltender to represent the Panthers in an All-Star Game, joining Roberto Luongo (2004, 2015, 2016), John Vanbiesbrouck (1994, 1996, 1997) and Tomas Vokoun (2008). He is also the third player to represent the Panthers in an All-Star Game at age 35 or older. Jaromir Jagr (age 43 in 2016) and Luongo (age 36 in 2016, age 35 in 2015) are the others.
“Sergei is different,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “My first thought was, ‘Boy it’d be great for him to get a rest,’ but he’s not going to rest anyway. The four days before we go back on the ice, he’s going to be working harder than anybody in the league, so he might as well go there… This is league-wide recognition for how good he’s been, and he’s earned it.”
Added Bobrovsky: “It’s been fun. We have a great group of guys and I’m happy to be part of this team, part of this group. It’s pretty important to have a good system. Everybody knows their role. It’s just fun to come over here to the rink and try to get better.”
That feeling of inclusion is key. When goaltenders feel like they are part of the group “and not just just the sixth guy of six,” Maurice said, “you’re going to go as hard as you can.
“You’re going to prepare. You’re gonna work hard and practice and then you’re gonna go play your butt off. You aren’t separated from the team. You’re a part of it. I think that’s what he feels. He feels like one of the guys because he comes to the rink and he sees all of the defenseman trying to block shots and trying to battle in the corner, and he’s a part of it.”
The results reflect the effort. Bobrovsky is 2310-2 on the season. He has two shutouts and 18 games in which he has allowed no more than two goals.
His 2.51 goals against average is on pace to be his best since the 2017-18 season. His .910 save percentage is on pace to be second-best in his Panthers tenure (.913 in the 2021-22 season).
And his performance when playing at 5-on-5 is even better. His goals against average this season when factoring only shots faced at full strength drops to 2.18, which is tied for the sixth-best among 27 goaltenders who have played in at least 25 games this season. His save percentage improves to .920, the ninth-best mark in that group.
It’s a continuation of sorts of the “Playoff Bob” that emerged last postseason. He started each of Florida’s final 18 games of the playoff run. The Panthers went 12-6 in those games, including a perfect 7-0 in games that went into sudden-death overtime. He was clutch in the moments when the Panthers needed him the most.
“It was definitely a huge experience from the playoffs,” Bobrovsky said. “It’s big. It definitely helps with the trust. It’s tough to speak for yourself when it’s a team sport, but it builds the trust and the belief. It proves that we are capable of doing the big things.”
Atlantic
Boston Florida Tampa Bay Toronto Detroit Buffalo Montreal Ottawa Metropolitan
N.Y. Rangers Carolina Philadelphia N.Y. Islanders Pittsburgh New Jersey Washington Columbus
Central
Colorado Dallas Winnipeg St. Louis Nashville Arizona Minnesota Chicago Pacific
GP W LOT Pts GF GA
49 31 9 9 71 173 128 49 31 14 4 66 158 127 50 27 18 5 59 175 164 47 25 14 8 58 166 150 50 26 18 6 58 176 161 49 22 23 4 48 146 155 49 20 21 8 48 136 175 47 20 25 2 42 158 170 GP W L OT Pts GF GA
49 30 16 3 48 28 15 5 50 25 19 6 49 20 17 12 46 22 17 7 47 24 20 3 47 22 18 7 50 16 24 10
63 161 142 61 163 144 56 147 148 52 143 166 51 138 126 51 161 168 51 115 146 42 148 184
49 32 14 3 67 190 153 49 30 13 6 66 183 151 47 30 12 5 65 148 109 49 26 21 2 54 141 153 51 26 23 2 54 153 160 48 23 22 3 49 143 147 49 21 23 5 47 149 166 50 14 34 2 30 105 177 GP W LOT Pts GF GA
Vancouver 49 33 11 5 71 186 127 Vegas 50 29 15 6 64 163 138 Edmonton 45 29 15 1 59 160 124 Los Angeles 48 23 15 10 56 152 132 Seattle 50 21 19 10 52 140 147 Calgary 49 22 22 5 49 149 155 Anaheim 50 18 30 2 38 129 170 San Jose 51 14 32 5 33 107 199
NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.
Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
All-Star Player Draft
FRIDAY
All-Star Skills, 7 (ESPN)
SATURDAY
All-Star Game
Teams TBA, 3 (ABC)
Teams TBA, 4 (ABC)
Teams TBA, 5 (ABC)
RESULTS
WEDNESDAY
Ottawa 3, Detroit 2 (OT) Los Angeles 4, Nashville 2 Anaheim 3, San Jose 2 (OT)