2021-22 Season Rewind: Sergei Bobrovsky

The Florida Panthers scored the most goals in the NHL this past season.
But with how well Sergei Bobrovsky played, they certainly didn't need all of them.
Standing tall between the pipes all season long, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner posted an exceptional 39-7-3 record to go along with a 2.67 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and three shutouts while successfully shouldering the bulk of the workload in net for the Cats.
Per MoneyPuck.com, he also ranked fourth in the NHL with 23.4 goals saved above expected.

"There's lots of good positive things you can take from this season," Bobrovsky said after cleaning out his locker in May. "As a team, as an organization, we made a step forward, a step towards our goal. Personally, I had so many good things to be happy and feel good about. I'm looking forward to this summer to get better, to get stronger, and to get ready for the next one."
Helping the Panthers pocket points nearly every time he touched the ice, Bobrovsky's 39 wins were not only tied for the most in the NHL this past season, but also set a new franchise record.
"It's a team record," Bobrovsky said after surpassing Roberto Luongo's previous single-season franchise record of 35 wins in early April. "It's not me. It's all about the team. By myself, I'm nothing. As a team we're strong, but individually we're nothing.
"You play and don't think about those things. You focus on the moment and one shot at a time. But it is nice, for sure. I'm happy with that. I'm happy with how things have gone for me and for the team this season here. I just continue to enjoy the game."
Taking a closer look, Bobrovsky's epic win total is littered with scorching hot stretches.
From March 3 through April 23, he earned wins in 13 consecutive decisions. In that stretch, he won seven straight starts, which stands as the second-longest such streak in franchise history. Not done there, he also strung together three separate winning streaks of at least six games.
For his efforts throughout March, Bobrovsky was named the NHL's "Third Star of the Month" after going 7-0-0 with a 2.13 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and two shutouts.
Ending that month with a bang, he made 37 saves in a 4-0 win against Chicago on March 31.
"When you have that result, when you have that success or feel good, you still have to stay humble and work hard because you never know how outside circumstances are going to play out," Bobrovsky said. "That's why it's so important to just focus on one step at a time and be in the moment and be focused and do the things to develop myself into the best version of myself."
In addition to setting records with the Panthers, Bobrovsky achieved another notable personal milestone when he recorded the 300th win of his NHL career in a 4-1 win over the Avalanche on Oct. 21, becoming just the third Russian-born goalie in NHL history to hit that substantial mark.
"It definitely means something," said Bobrovsky, whose career win total currently sits at 336, including 81 wins with Florida. "I've been fortunate to play with great players, with great defensemen, forwards and teams. I appreciate them for this milestone."
A calming presence for the Panthers in the playoffs, Bobrovsky owned a .911 save percentage over 10 games in the postseason. After backstopping Florida to its first series win since 1996 in Round 1 against Washington, he put the Panthers in a position to win every single night against the Lightning in Round 2, posting a stalwart .919 save percentage over four games in the series.
Reflecting on this past season, Bobrovsky believes he's built a foundation for future success.
"This season was really big for me," he said confidently. "I thought I overcame a huge deficit [from] the physical and the mental standpoint. I'm looking forward to building on top of it."
COOL STAT
Bobrovsky was at his best in front of the home crowd this season.
Nearly unbeatable in his own barn, he posted a 26-3-0 record at FLA Live Arena with a 2.57 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and two shutouts. Getting off on the right foot, he earned victories in eight of his first nine starts on home ice to kick off his resurgent campaign.
As a team, the Panthers set a franchise record with 34 wins at home in 2021-22.
"It's been great," Bobrovsky said of playing in Sunrise. "We have unbelievable support. The building energizes us. It's just so much fun to play. It's home, and it really feels like home."
BEST GAME
It's rare that a goaltender takes center stage in a blowout win, but this was one of those games.
Helping the Panthers weather an early onslaught, Bobrovsky turned aside all 40 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the season in a 6-0 win over the Oilers at Rogers Arena on Jan. 20.
"He was the best player on the ice by far," forward Carter Verhaeghe said after the game. "He made some unbelievable saves on the PK and all night long. He really kept us in it early on. The game could have gone a lot different without him back there, for sure."
Making 17 saves in the first period to keep the Panthers in position to pounce later on, Bobrovsky's biggest save of the game was arguably when he sprawled out to rob Jesse Puljujarvi right on top of the blue paint in the waning seconds of the opening period to keep it 0-0.
That save was one of eight high-danger stops he made on the night, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
"We have a great team, and we have a tight group," Bobrovsky said. "I love the guys and believe in the guys. I think we've built a great atmosphere in the locker room. I've said it so many times, but I'm just happy and it's so much fun to be a part of this group."
SAVE OF THE YEAR
Two is always better than one, right?
Showing off his crazy flexibility, Bobrovsky sprawled out to rob Nicklas Backstrom not once, but twice in rapid succession in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Washington on May 3.
In terms of highlights from Florida's series win, this clip is right near the top.