{"id":190057,"date":"2026-03-13T11:25:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/190057\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T11:25:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:25:09","slug":"vintage-sergei-bobrovsky-helping-the-surging-florida-panthers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/190057\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Vintage\u2019 Sergei Bobrovsky Helping the Surging Florida Panthers"},"content":{"rendered":"

SUNRISE \u2014 Someone mentioned to Sam Reinhart about the game Sergei Bobrovsky played not only Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but last Friday night in Detroit.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, \u2018vintage\u2019 is a good word,\u2019\u2019 Reinhart said after his overtime goal lifted the Panthers to their third straight win, this one 2-1 over the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> with Bobrovsky making 30 saves.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know he\u2019s capable in there and we believe he has plenty left in the tank. Performances like that gives us belief.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Bobrovsky\u2019s stats, as we all know, could be better this season.<\/p>\n

But his past two starts have been, well, \u2018vintage\u2019 Bobrovsky.<\/p>\n

Last Friday in Detroit, hours after the NHL Trade Deadline had passed, Bobrovsky stopped 27 shots<\/a> in a 3-1 win over a Red Wings team pressing to make the postseason for the first time in almost a decade.<\/p>\n

There had been rumors circulating Bobrovsky could be on his way out<\/a> at the deadline \u2014 talk that Paul Maurice says was more gristle for the Canadian rumor mill than truth.<\/p>\n

He said there was much more talk outside the Panthers than in.<\/p>\n

Bobrovsky reiterated Thursday that he \u201cloves the team, love the organization, love the guys, love everything.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

And, if it was up to Matthew Tkachuk, well, Bobrovsky isn\u2019t going anywhere anytime soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had no idea what he was going through, what was going on, really,\u2019\u2019 Tkachuk said in Detroit<\/a>. \u201cFor him to come out here and do that, after lots of chatter. No one knew what would happen. But there is no other goalie we want to play in front of.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is the backbone, the biggest reason why we have two Stanley Cup rings. He is one of the biggest reasons why this organization is where it is at. Yeah, no other guy we want to play in front of right now.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Bobrovsky certainly was the backbone of Thursday\u2019s win.<\/p>\n

The Blue Jackets, like Detroit in the thick of the playoff race, came out flying against their former goalie.<\/p>\n

Bobrovsky was spectacular in the first two periods, stopping the first 20 shots he faced with the Panthers not getting much going.<\/p>\n

Florida went into the third down 1-0 but started the period on the power play.<\/p>\n

Sam Bennett tied it early in the third, and the Panthers started to push.<\/p>\n

Both goalies were strong.<\/p>\n

Then came overtime.<\/p>\n

Tkachuk drew a penalty on Adam Fantilli as he drove on Elvis Merzlikins \u2014 one Fantilli claimed was a dive by No. 19 \u2014 and Reinhart won it soon afterward.<\/p>\n

Fantilli can say what he wants, but his stick hit Tkachuk\u2019s skates. That\u2019s going to get called time and again. It could have been a penalty shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gave up 16 shots on net for 60 minutes. We dominated the game,\u2019\u2019 said Columbus coach Rick Bowness, whose team rides an eight-game point streak (4-0-4) into Philadelphia. <\/p>\n

\u201cGive Bob credit; he was the difference in the game, simple as that. We had our chances in overtime and missed the net by inches. They get the power play. But overall, for 60 minutes, very happy with what we saw. Sometimes the goalie is better than your shooters. That\u2019s the case tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the point, Columbus closed to within a point of Boston for the final wild-card spot \u2014 with Florida now nine behind the Bruins with 18 to play.<\/p>\n

Too little, too late?<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not what we expect. It\u2019s certainly tough to be this far out at this time of the year,\u2019\u2019 Reinhart said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it says a lot about us that we\u2019re able to hang in there and rattle off a few.\u201d<\/p>\n

ON DECK: GAME No. 66
\nFLORIDA PANTHERS at SEATTLE KRAKEN\u00a0<\/p>\n

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