Big Save Bob Is Alive And Well

SUNRISE, Fla. — The underlying numbers aren’t in Sergei Bobrovsky’s favor. Maybe it’ll catch up to him as the season goes on. But not yet. Not tonight. As it stands right now, Big Save Bob is alive and well.

Bobrovsky came into Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers allowing 2.97 goals per game and a .891 save percentage in 10 games. Subpar numbers for someone who was a Vezina finalist last year. But, at the risk of sounding elementary, he passes the eye test. And, boy, did he pass the eye test in Saturday’s 4-3 win.

The Flyers scored first when Joel Farabee buried a rebound five minutes into the game. It felt like Philadelphia should have scored a few more times in the opening frame. But while the Panthers offense struggled to get going early, Bobrovsky kept them in it.

Philadelphia scored again in the second period, but thanks to goals by Nate Schmidt, Dmitry Kulikov, and Sam Bennett in the period, the Panthers entered the third period up 3-2. Philadelphia scored once more when Garnet Hathaway deflected a puck off Uvis Balinskis and into the net with 10 minutes left in regulation.

That’s when Bobrovsky really shined.

The Flyers had four high-danger chances in the extra five. It felt like they spent the entire overtime period on odd-man breakaways. Maurice admitted that’s what happens when you use three forwards the entire time. But when it works, it works.

Somehow, the former Flyer stopped every sure chance Philadelphia threw at him. The icing on the cake was a leg save on Travis Konecny as time expired.

FINAL: Panthers 4, Flyers 3 (SO)

Cats improve to 11-3-1, stretch win streak to 7.

Bobrovsky was unbelievable in OT and the SO. pic.twitter.com/lgOsLRGpkx

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) November 10, 2024

Bobrovsky stopped four of five shots in overtime, ending it by stonewalling Morgan Frost.

“That was a fun challenge,” Bobrovksy said. “Enjoy the opportunity, enjoy the moment, play one moment. The opponent gave us a good game. They played hard, they competed on every inch of the ice.”

Bobrovsky stopped 34 of 37 shots he faced.

“Bobby gets better the bigger the game, the higher the stakes, the more intense it is,” Rodrigues said. “And today he showed that.”

Rodrigues had two assists and scored the game-winner in the shootout when he went backhand on Samuel Ersson. 

He now has points in four straight games, with six total in that span.