The Florida Panthers did what they do greatest, with netminder Sergei Bobrovsky main the best way. In the meantime, the high-powered Edmonton Oilers should return to the drafting board.
Bobrovsky was the star on Saturday, posting a shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Oilers in Recreation 1 of the Stanley Cup Closing. He was excellent between the pipes towards Connor McDavid and a high-powered Edmonton staff, turning away 32 pictures to assist Florida defend residence ice and take a 1-0 benefit within the best-of-seven collection.
The 35-year-old is the oldest goaltender to open a Stanley Cup Closing with a shutout.
Regardless of being outshot 14-4 within the opening interval of Recreation 1 of the Stanley Cup Closing, the Panthers took a 1-0 benefit over the Oilers into the primary intermission. Solely 3:59 into the primary, Carter Verhaeghe scored his tenth postseason purpose, inserting him solely 4 behind Oilers Zach Hyman (14) for the playoff lead.
Nevertheless, Bobrovsky was the story within the first. He stopped 13 pictures within the interval, together with two separate breakaways, denying Adam Henrique and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins one-on-one.
One other early purpose, scored by Evan Rodrigues 2:16 into the second interval, gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Even with the ice tilting the Oilers manner for many of the interval, Bobrovsky once more held agency, stopping 13 extra pictures to assist Florida preserve its two-goal benefit going into the third.
A league-leading plus 13 within the third interval this postseason heading into Recreation 1, the Panthers confirmed why they’re so lethal with a late-game lead. Within the ultimate interval, they trapped the Oilers, protecting many of the assault to the skin whereas collapsing on any harmful possibilities in entrance.
When Edmonton did squeak out a possibility within the third, Bobrovsky was as much as the duty. Not solely did he stone a McDavid one-timer 4:33 into the interval, however he made numerous large saves the remainder of the best way, together with an impressive cartwheel cease.
Outshot 32-18, the Panthers didn’t play their greatest, however Bobrovsky’s brilliance stole Recreation 1. As for the Oilers, the disappointing final result has a silver lining. On another evening, towards another goaltender, they most likely win.
The Panthers will host the Oilers in Dawn for Recreation 2 of the Stanley Cup Closing on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.
