The Panthers goalie rebounded from being pulled in his previous start to make 25 saves in in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final at FLA Live Arena on Thursday.
Florida still trails 2-1 in the best-of-7 series, with Game 4 here Saturday (8 p.m. ET; TNT, TBS, truTV, CBC, SN, TVAS), but has life now after rallying from 2-1 deficit with Tkachuk scoring the tying goal with 2:13 left in the third period and Verhaeghe scoring the winner 4:27 into overtime. But the Panthers wouldn't have been in position to pull out the first Stanley Cup Final victory in their history without Bobrovsky.
He was at his best in the second period, stopping 12 of the 13 shots he faced to prevent Vegas from building more than a one-goal lead.
"I can't even count how many huge saves he made tonight," Verhaeghe said. "Probably at least 10."
Panthers coach Paul Maurice scoffed Wednesday at the suggestion that Bobrovsky might not start Game 3 after he was pulled in the second period of a 7-2 loss in Game 2 on Monday after allowing four goals on 13 shots. So, Maurice couldn't resist asking the media postgame Thursday, "You want to ask who's starting next game?"
Bobrovsky didn't seem bothered that he was pulled in Game 2, saying, "It is what it is."
"I only can control the things that I can control," Bobrovsky said. "You try to give your best and sometimes it's happening, so it's OK. As long as you stay mentally [focused] and the series goes on, and tonight is a big win for us."
Still, Bobrovsky wasn't the same goalie in the first two games against Vegas as he had been in the second and third rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes, when he was 8-1 with a 1.51 goals-against average, .954 save percentage and one shutout.
Vegas utilized screens in front and took advantage of Florida's defensive breakdowns on rush chances to score eight times on 46 shots on Bobrovsky in the first two games. It helped that Florida played with better defensive structure in front of Bobrovsky on Thursday, but he also elevated his play to make big saves at key moments.
Among them was a glove save on defenseman Nicolas Hague's open shot from the left circle at 4:05 of the second period and a right pad stop on Jonathan Marchessault's shot from the left circle at 5:49 of the second to keep the score tied 1-1.
"He's been doing it for us all year and especially the last couple weeks," Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said. "When we're in lanes, we're kind of back defensively collapsing, it makes it a little bit easier on him and he's been making the spectacular saves at the right time, and that's what you need at this time of year."
"Every game he's giving us a chance to win the game," Panthers center Aleksander Barkov said. "And today, no different. He was incredible for us. Made some unreal saves in literally every period. He gave us the chance to win, and we used that chance."
Bobrovsky said he didn't feel that different than he did in Game 2.
"I felt pretty comfortable last game too, but I feel good tonight as well," he said.
Instead, he credited his teammates for the way they played in front of him.
"This game, the coaches gave us a pretty clear plan, and I thought the guys were executing it unbelievably tonight," Bobrovsky said. "We defended very well. We didn't give much space or room for them, or time, so that's a big win for us."
