Before he made 31 saves to anchor the Florida Panthers’ 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, Sergei Bobrovsky was doing Olympic lifts.
Yes — snatch squats, power cleans, wave pool recovery — all part of the 36-year-old goaltender’s relentless pregame ritual. The man doesn’t just prepare; he transforms into a machine before stepping on the ice.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice has long since learned to keep his distance.
“I saw it once. Froze. Never again,” Maurice quipped. “I didn’t even tell him he was playing. He just… knew.”
That work ethic, paired with razor-sharp focus, was on full display Tuesday night in Raleigh. From the moment he gloved Sebastian Aho’s early chance, Bobrovsky had a firm grip on the game — and he never let go.
Sure, Aho squeaked one past with 15 seconds left in the first. But even that couldn’t dent Bobrovsky’s armor. He reset, regrouped, and dominated the rest of the way, only allowing a late tap-in by Jackson Blake when the game was long decided.
“He’s always locked in,” said teammate A.J. Greer. “He’s not just a great goalie — he’s obsessed with being better every day. The guy never takes a shift off, even before the game starts.”
More Than Just Saves: Bobrovsky Sets the Tone
It wasn’t just about stopping pucks — it was about sending a message.
Florida, seeking back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, didn’t have their cleanest night. They were occasionally loose in defending the rush, and Maurice admitted there were “adjustments to be made.”
But it didn’t matter — because Bobrovsky had their backs.
“He’s the reason we can stay aggressive,” Maurice said. “That’s what Bob’s for.”
The Panthers played with swagger in front of him, knowing their goalie wasn’t flinching. The forecheck was ferocious, their special teams clinical, and their stars came through. But Bobrovsky was the calm in the chaos — especially after being barrelled into by Andrei Svechnikov in the second period.
“It’s the playoffs,” Bobrovsky shrugged. “They’re trying to get under your skin. I just focus on my things.”
And “his things” include now five straight games allowing two goals or fewer, with a ridiculous 1.21 goals-against average and .952 save percentage over that stretch.
That’s not just hot — that’s a goaltender hitting peak form at exactly the right time.
Greer summed it up best: “We’re not perfect every night. But when you’ve got Bob back there? You’ve always got a chance.”
Florida’s Depth and Detail Prove Too Much
Florida’s winning formula is no secret. They have a deep, cohesive lineup, a goalie who can steal games, and a knack for burying chances when it matters. All of that was on full display Tuesday night.
The Panthers capitalized on two of three power plays, while limiting Carolina to a cosmetic power-play goal late in the third — a telling special teams mismatch. Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe both found the back of the net with the man advantage, thanks to slick puck movement and traffic in front of Frederik Andersen, who had a tough night with just 15 saves on 20 shots.
“They’re the defending champs for a reason,” said Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis. “They made us pay for every mistake.”
Carolina had their chances — Aho had a breakaway, Logan Stankoven missed a tap-in, and Jarvis had a clean look in the slot. But Bobrovsky was rock-solid, and Florida’s defense limited rebounds and second-chance efforts.
Meanwhile, Florida’s third and fourth lines chipped in offensively. A.J. Greer scored a beautiful one-timer off a rush early in the second, showcasing the team’s enviable depth. Eleven different Panthers registered a point — a balanced attack few teams can match.
“We know who we are,” said Greer. “When we stick to our identity and play Panthers hockey, we’re a tough out.”
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