The Florida Panthers, the defending Stanley Cup champions, have shockingly found themselves on the back foot in their playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After entering the postseason as the favorite, Florida is now down 2-0 in the series after two tough games, largely due to some questionable performances from their star goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky.
Bobrovsky, a future Hall of Fame goalie, has allowed nine goals over the past two games. Although Florida’s offense made each game competitive, they ultimately fell short both times. As the series heads back to the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, the Panthers are facing a critical must-win scenario, and Bobrovsky’s struggles are adding to the mounting pressure.
Despite the series deficit, the Panthers have rallied around Bobrovsky in their locker room. After all, he has been the backbone of their team, leading them to two consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances. His remarkable contributions helped the Panthers claim their first-ever Cup last season. And despite his current struggles, Florida remains confident in their veteran goalie.
“Didn’t love his first game,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said about Bobrovsky’s performance in the series, via NHL.com’s Dave McCarthy. “I thought up until the fourth (goal in Game 2), I don’t look at him for any of the first three. We haven’t given up a tremendous amount tonight but the danger on the rush is significant so the goalie is going to be fine.”
The Panthers find themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing 2-0 in a playoff series. The last time they faced such a deficit was in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. They went on to lose that series in five games, but the team is determined not to let past failures define their current fate.
“We’re OK in here, we have a lot of belief in our group, in our room and our experience,” Panthers forward Brad Marchand said, via McCarthy. “They’re fighting for their lives. They came ready to play in this round, we see that. These series can change on a dime and it’s all about that next one. We’re living for tomorrow right now and that’s how we will prepare.”
Marchand’s words carry weight, considering his own experience with resilient teams in the past. He was with the Boston Bruins in the 2023 playoffs when they faced the Panthers in the first round. Despite holding a 3-1 series lead, Boston ultimately lost three straight games, ending their historic 65-win season with an early exit. Marchand knows how quickly a series can flip, and he believes the Panthers can turn things around.
The faith in Bobrovsky is rooted in past success, particularly in last year’s playoffs. Florida and Toronto met in the second round, after the Panthers had already defeated the Bruins. In that series, Bobrovsky was nothing short of spectacular, allowing just 10 goals on 174 shots faced for a .943 save percentage. His performance was instrumental in the Panthers winning the series in five games.
Bobrovsky’s dominance didn’t end there. He continued to shine in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, helping lead the Panthers to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. While the veteran goalie has faced some struggles since joining Florida in 2019, there’s no question he remains one of the best in the world when he’s on his game.
And the Panthers know it. His track record speaks for itself, and his teammates have nothing but admiration for him. “Legend. Yes. God-mode. That’s what we have come to love about ‘Bobby,’ not to mention he’s the greatest person on Earth as well,” defenseman Aaron Ekblad said of Bobrovsky, via McCarthy.
Bobrovsky’s ability to bounce back from adversity is one of the reasons why Florida is confident in him despite the early series deficit. He’s proven time and again that he can deliver in the biggest moments, and the Panthers believe he’ll find his form again soon. The team is rallying behind their goalie, knowing that with his leadership, they still have a chance to turn the series around.
As the Panthers head back home to Sunrise for Game 3, the pressure is squarely on Bobrovsky’s shoulders. He’s faced adversity before, and his teammates believe he has what it takes to rise to the occasion once again. The Panthers are far from out of the fight, and with a Hall of Fame goalie like Bobrovsky in their corner, they’re hopeful that their postseason dreams are far from over.