Sergei Bobrovsky led the way as the Florida Panthers performed what they do best. The formidable Edmonton Oilers will have to start again in the interim.
In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday, Bobrovsky was the star, earning a shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Oilers. As Florida defended home ice and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, he turned away 32 shots to go up against Connor McDavid and a potent Edmonton club.
The 35-year-old is the oldest goalie to record a shutout to start a Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers led the Oilers 1-0 in the first intermission of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, despite being outshot 14–4 in the first period. Carter Verhaeghe tied Oilers Zach Hyman (14) for the playoff lead with his 10th postseason goal just 3:59 into the game.
But in the first, Bobrovsky was the story. In the period, he denied Adam Henrique and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins one-on-one by blocking 13 attempts, including two distinct breakaways.
Evan Rodrigues added another early goal 2:16 into the second period to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Bobrovsky remained firm once more, stopping 13 more shots to help Florida maintain a two-goal lead heading into the third period, despite the ice being skewed in the Oilers’ favor for the majority of the play.
Leading the league in plus 13 in the third quarter in postseason going into Game 1, the Panthers demonstrated their late-game advantage and lethal ability. They confined the Oilers in the last quarter, limiting their attack to the outside and folding on any risky opportunities up front.
In the third, Edmonton managed to scrape together a chance, but Bobrovsky was equal to the challenge. He not only scored a spectacular one-time goal against McDavid at 4:33 into the game, but he also made other huge saves the rest of the way, one of which was an incredible cartwheel stop.
The Panthers did not perform to their best, losing 32–18, but Bobrovsky’s genius won Game 1. There is a bright side to the dismal result for the Oilers. They most likely win against any other goalie on any other night.
On Monday at 8 p.m. ET, the Panthers and Oilers will play Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise.
