With Knight still out of the lineup, Bobrovsky getting extended chance to find rhythm in net
For a span of about two weeks, Sergei Bobrovsky barely saw the ice. Starting with the Panthers’ game against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 23, coach Paul Maurice had gone with Spencer Knight in net for six of the team’s seven games, with Bobrovsky getting in net only for the second game of a back-toback.
But with Knight sidelined for the past week with an illness, the net has once again belonged to Bobrovsky, who is trying to work his way back into consistent playing time. Bobrovsky played in his fifth consecutive game — fourth straight start — in Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
And while the team results haven’t been there, Bobrovsky has done his part to keep Florida competitive in that stretch.
During his past 11 periods of action since entering in the second period against Winnipeg, Bobrovsky has a .904 save percentage, stopping 94 of 104 shots.
He allowed just one goal in two periods against Winnipeg, stopped 19 of 20 shots in a win against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday and kept the Panthers tied against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and within a goal against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday through two periods before Florida collapsed in the third period of both of those games.
“I’ve had some good work,” Bobrovsky said Sunday. “It’s about building good rhythm. I play some games and get the
feel of the games. I like that.”
Before this stretch, Bobrovsky had an .878 save percentage through 12 games and had allowed 15 goals in 57 shot attempts during his previous three games for a .737 save percentage in that
stretch.
He’s looked more composed in the net recently, which is in no small part because of the consistent playing time that is coming out of necessity.
“Good for him,” Maurice said, “because he came back in Winnipeg
and he had a tough time coming back into the net, and he’s been good. He was on a back-to-back. Goalies don’t see that much anymore here, but he was really good [Sunday], so good for his confidence. We’re going to need that. We’re going to need him to be confident.”
INJURY UPDATES AND MOVES
The Panthers placed defenseman Radko Gudas (concussion) on injured reserve and recalled forward Grigori Denisenko from AHL Charlotte.
Gudas and Knight were on the ice during the Panthers’ morning skate on Tuesday.
Gudas, who missed his fifth consecutive game Tuesday, wore a yellow noncontact jersey while he participated in the team’s
half hour on-ice session.
Maurice said Gudas could potentially return to the lineup either Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins or Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.
“We’re hopeful,” Maurice said, “but all of these concussions, we don’t push a minute early. Just his personality on the ice [is important]. He’s such a big part of the group.”
Knight faced shots Tuesday for the first time since being sidelined after the first period against Winnipeg on Dec. 6. Alex Lyon backed up Bobrovsky on Tuesday against Columbus.
As for center Anton Lundell, he missed his sixth consecutive game. Maurice said he has no timeline for Lundell’s return.
“Nope is the latest,”
Maurice said. “He’s not back in.”