How fatherhood has shaped veteran Bobrovsky

For most of his 14-year NHL career, Sergei Bobrovsky has been a man fixed in structure, defined by work ethic and living in the moment. He would be the first on the ice, the last off it and never thought about anything beyond what was directly in front of him.

Now, Bobrovsky is still that way… for the most part.

But the Florida Panthers’ 35-year-old has also softened up his approach a bit over the past couple years and adapted a little more of an open, free mentality.

At the center of that: His 2-yearold daughter, Carolina.

“Before, you can’t even imagine what you’re going to deal with or what you’re going to face. There was an imagination, but it’s not even comparable to reality,” Bobrovsky said. “My daughter changed my life a lot, changed my perspective and changed my priorities.”

Bobrovsky’s life isn’t just about work anymore. His sole focus isn’t just stopping opponents’ shots from going into a net and doing his part to help his team pick up two points when he steps on the ice.

And Bobrovsky said he feels better for it.

“I feel my life is in balance,” Bobrovsky said. “I enjoy it. I enjoy everything — my family, my work, my free time, everything. That gives me energy.”

That energy has been on display this season, with Bobrovsky playing at an All-Star level.

After Thursday’s victory he was 24-10-2 on the season, with his 24 wins the third-most in the NHL behind only the Vancouver Canucks’ Thatcher Demko (27) and Colorado Avalanche’s Alexander Georgiev (27). Bobrovsky has only lost back-to-back games in regulation three times this season, and he is 10-1-1 since Dec. 21.

“He’s just been a brick wall for us,” Panthers star winger Matthew Tkachuk said. “He’s just so calm and just gives us so much confidence. He’s been unreal all year for us.”

It was more of the same on Thursday, as Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 23 shots that came his way in Florida’s 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals in his first game back since the All-Star Break. After the Capitals went up 2-1 with about six minutes left in the second period, Bobrovsky stopped the final seven shots he faced as Florida rallied for the comeback win.

But perhaps his biggest stop came when he denied Washington’s Beck Malenstyn on a penalty shot attempt midway through the first period to keep the game 0-0.

“No surprise,” said Florida forward Ryan Lomberg, who scored the game-winning goal late in the third period.