Panthers’ Bobrovsky Has Been Stellar Between the Pipes This Season

Photo via Getty Images

When the Florida Panthers went out and signed then-unrestricted free agent two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a seven-year, $70 million deal back on July 1, 2019, a lot was expected of the Russian goaltender.

Bobrovsky, 35, was expected to get the Panthers into the Stanley Cup playoffs regularly and do so by putting up great numbers. While he did get his team into the postseason in his first three seasons, his numbers were not great, and it looked like the signing was a big bust.

That sentiment changed in last year’s postseason. Not only did the Panthers get to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 27 years, but Bobrovsky was the main reason why they got so far.

In the playoffs last year, Bobrovsky was 12-6 with a 2.78 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage, and one shutout. Had the Panthers managed to beat the Vegas Golden Knights, there is no doubt that Bobrovsky would have added a Conn Smythe Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in the postseason to his resume.

It appears that Bobrovsky has carried his strong play from last year’s playoffs into this season. His strong play between the pipes has led the Panthers to a record of 20-12-2 for 42 points (good for second in the Atlantic Division and ninth in the league) going into his team’s game against the New York Rangers on Friday night, December 29th.

For starters, Bobrovsky’s statistics this season are more than solid. He is currently (as of Friday night, December 29th) 16-9-01 with a 2.48 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and two shutouts.

This has not always been the case in the regular season during his time with the Panthers. His numbers in the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2022-23 regular seasons were not great, so the regular season that Bobrovsky is having right now for the Panthers is an improvement.

Secondly, Bobrovsky is playing with a ton of confidence. He is making timely saves, not allowing as many soft goals, and he is showing the Panthers and their fans why he was more than a worthy investment.

A big reason why he is playing with so much confidence is because of the way he played in the postseason last year. Even though he has been in the league for a very long time, last year’s playoff performance was a rebirth for Bobrovsky, and he has carried that mentality into this season.

Another reason why Bobrovsky is playing so well is because he is having fun. Before this season, there was a lot of pressure placed on him because of the amount of money the franchise is giving him and because he needed to show that he can play at a high level when it matters most.

That is all behind him now. Bobrovsky took them to a Cup Final and was brilliant in doing so. Yes, both he and the team came up short, but there is no doubt that Bobrovsky earned every penny with his unbelievable play between the pipes in last year’s playoffs.

If the Panthers continue to have success and make another run in the postseason this year, it will be because of the great play from Bobrovsky.

ITR 45: Everything Is Happening Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they get you up-to-date on all the latest signings and trades heading into Free Agent Frenzy!
  1. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening
  2. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again
  3. ITR 43: It's Winning Time
  4. ITR 42: Ripe For Repeat?
  5. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Patrick Hoffman

Patrick covers the NHL for Inside The Rink. He has previously covered the league for The Ultimate Hockey Fan Cave, WTP Sports, Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

Leave a Reply

Tanner Jeannot of the Los Angeles Kings

Player Profile: Tanner Jeannot

Tanner Jeannot was born on May 29, 1997, in Estevan, Saskatchewan. The left-shooting forward played for three seasons with the Estevan Bruins from 2010-13. In his first two seasons with the U15 club, Jeannot scored 29 goals and collected 18 assists in 42 games and five goals and three assists in ten postseason games. Jeannot […]

Read More
Gage Goncalves of the Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning Make Significant Player Signings To Start July

As free agency has started in the National Hockey League, many teams, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, are making significant roster moves with free agents and player extensions. Just yesterday, July 1, for day one of free agency, the Lightning extended young 24-year-old Portuguese forward Gage Goncalves to a two-year contract worth $1.2 million a […]

Read More
William Moore 2025 Draft Profile

Breaking Down Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney’s Draft

Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has been in his position for ten years now and has seen success with one Stanley Cup Finals appearance and one historic regular season. This past season was the first time since 2016 that the Bruins failed to make the playoffs. Sweeney has added pieces to the prior core […]

Read More