“We try to make it as easy as we can for him,” said the Panthers’ forward Anton Lundell after the Florida goalie, Bob Bobrovsky‘s pristine performance against the Maple Leafs in Game 7. Making 19 saves for the Cats, Bobrovsky was one of the key factors that helped the Miami team post a massive 6-1 victory against their divisional foes in the Round 2 final match and advance to the Conference Finals. However, it looks like the Hurricanes have little regard for the Russian netminder.

The first match of the best-of-seven series between the Cats and Canes is done. And while Carolina tried to make the most of its home ice advantage, the Panthers were just the better team on the night as they skated away with a 5-2 victory. But that victory was not cheap, as Sergei Bobrovsky took more than enough hits to even make some seasoned sportscasters feel unnerved by the Canes’ take-no-prisoners attitude.

In a post by Sportsnet on X from May 20, veteran hockey analyst Elliotte Friedman and his colleagues could be heard talking about how Bob Bobrovsky was looking like a walking punching bag for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1. Andrei Svechinkov & Co. bumped into the Panthers goalie as many times as they possibly could, sometimes even after the whistle was blown, and the Sportsnet panel was justifiably concerned.

“I think I made my position pretty clear in the last round, I think the goalies need to be protected,” Friedman said as the post’s accompanying video showed Bob Bobrovsky having to fend off the Canes’ attacks with his body on the line again and again. However, referring to how Bob kept his cool even when Toronto came at him again and again, Bobrovsky’s response against the hits tonight amazed Elliotte.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen Bobrovsky go to the referee and complain about it, which means it’s getting to him,” the sportscaster noted. With that, Friedman also mentioned that the Hurricanes’ attitude at today’s game made it apparent that the hosts looked to one-up the Panthers, who are known for their aggressive play style.

However, despite all the best efforts by Carolina, Bob Bobrovsky showed his mettle without any subtlety. The Florida netminder saved 31 of the 33 shots fired at him by the Canes (.939 save%) as compared to Frederik Andersen’s 15 saves out of 20 shots faced, giving the Panthers the lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

But Sergei Bobrovsky can’t relax just yet.

Bob Bobrovsky has proved himself dependable time and again

The Panthers’ star finished the regular season with a 2.44 GAA and a .906 save percentage. In the postseason so far, Bobrovsky boasts an impressive .905 save% despite having faced 317 shots in the first two rounds of the playoffs and today’s first game against the Canes. Naturally, his colleagues can’t help but have high regard for the goalie. After all, with 15 seasons in the NHL, the expectations shouldn’t be any less, either!

“Bob’s routine is built over his entire career,” Paul Maurice stated before Game 1 on how Bobrovsky could be the scale-tipper in the series against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Panthers faced in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the first round of the playoffs. Thanks to Bob’s remarkable performance throughout the series, the Cats eliminated the Bolts from the postseason for the second straight year, and the coach could hardly contain his glee. “Incredibly emotionally consistent,” Coach Maurice lauded the goalie.

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals will return to Raleigh in two days’ time. Do you think Bob Bobrovsky will continue his emphatic show on Thursday as the Panthers look to extend their lead against a beefy Canes? But will Carolina once again look to make the Cats’ lives miserable with another physical game? But bear in mind that Florida loves to get aggressive on the ice themselves. After transferring to Miami from Boston, former Bruins captain Brad Marchand, known for his highly attacking play style, noted how it was easy for him to adapt to the Panthers’ way of playing. Do you think after today’s game, the Panthers would look to repay the Hurricanes in kind on Thursday?

Tell us in a comment!