It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the Panthers prized offseason acquisition will start on opening night. Bobrovsky has started 60-plus games for three straight seasons and has led the NHL in wins (115), tied for second in SV% (.922) and tied for third in GAA (2.35) over that span. You didn’t draft Bobrovsky to bench him, but he draws a brutal matchup to open the season.
Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Blue Jackets 4-3 loss in Boston in Game 5. Bobrovsky has now given up four goals in back-to-back games and the Blue Jackets are on the ropes. Bobrovsky has gone 3-1 while allowing just nine goals on 147 shots (.939 SV%) in his four starts at Nationwide Arena in the postseason.
Bobrovsky allowed one goal on 37 shots in the Blue Jackets 2-1 win in Game 3. Bobrovsky has played very well all postseason, but particularly vs. the Bruins, where he has stopped 99 of the 105 shots (.943 SV%) that he has faced. Bobrovsky will look to stay unbeaten in Columbus in Game 4—he is 3-0 while allowing just five goals on 101 shots (.951 SV%) in the first three postseason games at Nationwide Arena.
Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 31 shots in the Blue Jackets 3-1 win over the Lightning in Game 3. Bobrovsky has been excellent for the Blue Jackets, pushing them to a 3-0 series lead after a disappointing first period in Game 1—since then, Bobrovsky has stopped 69 of the 71 shots (.972 SV%) he has faced. Bobrovsky has put past playoff disappointments behind him and has the Blue Jackets in a spot to sweep the Lightning tonight.
Bobrovsky allowed one goal on 24 shots in the Blue Jackets 5-1 victory in Tampa Bay in Game 2. Bobrovsky has a history of playing poorly in the playoffs, but so far he has stopped 49 of the 53 shots (.925 SV%) that he has faced to give the Blue Jackets a 2-0 lead. Now they return to Columbus, where Bobrovsky was 18-13-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .907 SV% in 32 appearances this season.
Bobrovsky didn’t have his best season but finished the season extremely hot, going 6-1-0 with a 1.50 GAA, .947 SV% and three shutouts in his last seven starts of the year. Despite the hot finish, Bobrovsky is 5-12 with a 3.37 GAA and .898 SV% in 17 playoff games with the Blue Jackets. He will have a difficult time improving those playoff numbers against a Lightning team that won 62 games this season and outscored the Blue Jackets 17-to-3 in their three meetings this season.
Bobrovsky stopped all 38 shots that he faced in the Blue Jackets shutout win in Buffalo on Sunday. The suddenly red-hot Bobrovsky has won five in a row with a 0.80 GAA, .971 SV% and three shutouts and has the Blue Jackets sitting in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
