LAS VEGAS – Before leaving Las Vegas, head coach Paul Maurice silenced speculation that the Florida Panthers might be bailing on Sergei Bobrovsky.
The franchise’s $70-million investment had been sublime through the first three rounds of the playoffs and entered the Stanley Cup Final as a Conn Smythe Trophy favourite.
Yet he surrendered four goals in Saturday’s Game 1 loss, a first since April 23.
Then he got lit up for four more through the first 27:10 of Monday’s Game 2.
Maurice yanked Bobrovsky in favour of backup Alex Lyon, who mopped up the remainder of a 7-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Postgame, Maurice said he pulled Bobrovsky mostly due to rest, but noted that he had two days to decide on his Game 3 starter at home.
The coach endorsed Bobrovsky Tuesday morning before hopping the team charter back to South Florida.
“If we were playing tomorrow, or two days as we are, he’ll have a game plan for it,” Maurice said. “This isn’t a fatigue thing. We’ve been off the ice for a block. He was very, very good in Game 1.”
Good isn’t enough.
Bobrovsky has allowed eight goals on 46 shots in the final. And while the Panthers’ thinning defence corps hasn’t been strong in front of him, Florida has relied on elite goaltending to reach the championship series.
“I thought Sergei was like our team,” Maurice said of Game 2.
“I thought we were just slightly off it. We didn’t give him a chance. He didn’t maybe quiet the game early for us when we needed it quieted by the goaltender. But I got complete faith in what he’ll be able to do in Game 3.”
