Panthers’ goaltenders ‘playing unreal’ now
When it comes to choosing a goaltender on any given night, Panthers coach Paul Maurice doesn’t really have to worry these days.
For one thing, he leaves almost all decisions about who is in net to goaltender coach Rob Tallas.
For another thing, both of the goaltenders — starter Sergei Bobrovsky and backup Anthony Stolarz — are playing at an extremely high level as Florida continues to gain momentum ahead of the playoffs.
The proof: The Panthers have allowed no more than two goals over a franchiserecord 13 consecutive games, a run during which Florida has gone 11-2-0.
“Well, I don’t know anything about it, so that works pretty well for me,” Maurice said with a smirk last week when asked about the luxury of not having to think too much about his goaltenders. “Robbie Tallas works hard and puts effort into getting those guys what they need. He’s done a really good job of spelling them off . ... Our goaltending has been very, very good.”
Saying his goaltenders are playing “very, very good” might be an understatement.
Over this 13-game stretch, which started Jan. 22, Bobrovsky and Stolarz have combined to allow just 20 goals on 387 shots on goal — that’s a .948 save percentage — and each has a shutout.
Their combined 1.51 goals-against average over this stretch is the best in the NHL in that span. Florida’s goalies have faced 153 high-danger scoring chances during this stretch, according to the advanced hockey statistics website Natural Stat Trick. Only 10 of those have turned into goals.
“We like to play a defensive structure,” Stolarz said. “With that in mind, Bobby and I know you have to make big saves.”
Their production in net during this run is a continuation of what they have been doing all season.
Bobrovsky is 28-11-2 this season with a 2.36 goalsagainst average, .916 save percentage and three shutouts.
Stolarz is 10-5-2 with a 1.97 GAA, .925 save percentage and one shutout.
Of the 59 goaltenders in the NHL with at least 15 starts this season entering Monday’s games, Stolarz’s save percentage is the second-highest.
Bobrovsky’s is ninth. Florida is the only team with two goalies among the top 10.
“We have two really good goalies that are playing unreal for us right now,” defenseman Gustav Forsling said, “so we want to keep that going.”
Boston Florida Toronto Detroit Tampa Bay Buffalo Ottawa Montreal Metropolitan
NY Rangers Carolina Philadelphia New Jersey Washington Pittsburgh NY Islanders Columbus
Central
Dallas Winnipeg Colorado Nashville St. Louis Minnesota Arizona Chicago Pacific
Vancouver Vegas Edmonton Los Angeles Calgary Seattle Anaheim San Jose
59 34 12 13 81 199 161 58 38 16 4 80 191 140 57 33 16 8 74 214 179 58 32 20 6 70 205 183 60 32 23 5 69 206 201 58 27 27 4 58 169 175 55 25 27 3 53 186 193 58 22 28 8 52 163 209 GP W L OT Pts GF GA
59 39 17 3 58 34 18 6 59 30 22 7 58 29 25 4 56 26 21 9 55 26 21 8 57 23 20 14 57 19 28 10
81 197 163 74 191 163 67 177 175 62 191 203 61 144 175 60 166 151 60 167 195 48 170 210
59 35 16 8 78 215 179 56 36 15 5 77 172 133 59 35 19 5 75 216 188 59 32 25 2 66 184 187 57 30 25 2 62 167 178 58 28 24 6 62 186 193 57 23 29 5 51 166 188 59 15 39 5 35 123 208 GP W LOT Pts GF GA
60 38 16 6 58 32 19 7 55 33 20 2 56 29 17 10 58 28 25 5 57 24 22 11 58 20 35 3 56 15 36 5
82 218 166 71 186 165 68 197 166 68 174 152 61 181 182 59 159 166 43 151 207 35 118 215
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.
TUESDAY
Buffalo at Florida, 7
Arizona at Montreal, 7
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, 7 Vegas at Toronto, 7 Washington at Detroit, 7 Carolina at Minnesota, 8 Ottawa at Nashville, 8
St. Louis at Winnipeg, 8
Los Angeles at Calgary, 9 Dallas at Colorado, 9:30 Pittsburgh at Vancouver, 10 New Jersey at San Jose, 10:30
MONDAY
Ottawa at Washington
N.Y. Islanders at Dallas
Los Angeles at Edmonton Boston at Seattle
SUNDAY
Tampa Bay 4, New Jersey 1 Pittsburgh 7, Philadelphia 6 Winnipeg 4, Arizona 3, OT Detroit 3, Chicago 2, OT Buffalo 3, Carolina 2, SO Columbus 4, N.Y. Rangers 2 Nashville 4, Anaheim 2