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New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Why have Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner looked so strong in the playoffs? Let's break down their highlights
Whether it's fair or not, goaltenders are credited with wins and losses more than any position in hockey. They're the only players with a record next to their stats, and those results hold the most weight in the Stanley Cup Final, which begins Wednesday night in Edmonton when the Oilers host the Florida Panthers. Advertisement A championship can rewrite the narrative for a goalie's career, or further cement his place amongst the all-time greats. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, about to play in his third consecutive Cup Final, has done a bit of both over the last few years. Not too long ago, he was viewed as a supremely talented athlete with little postseason success. He had two Vezina Trophies by the age of 28, but had only 17 postseason wins over his first 12 NHL seasons and had never been beyond the second round. He's won 40 playoff games in the last three seasons. With four more, he would claim his second Stanley Cup championship and join Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur (the consensus faces of the Mount Rushmore of goaltending) as the only goalies to win multiple Vezinas and championships since 1981. In the other crease, Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner is looking to solidify himself as a true franchise goalie. On one hand, the 26-year-old has been replaced by backup Calvin Pickard in each of the last two postseasons. On the other hand, he just tied Bill Ranford for the second-most playoff wins in Oilers history (trailing only Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr). A second straight loss in the final would leave Edmonton with questions about its future in net. A win would make Skinner one of only eight active goalies with his name on the Stanley Cup. He would also join Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jonathan Quick and Matt Murray as the only active goalies with multiple finals appearances and a championship. There's a lot on the line. How do these two stack up? In last year's seven-game series, Skinner actually had the higher save percentage, but Bobrovsky allowed only four total goals over the first three games as Florida took a commanding 3-0 series lead and capped it with a brilliant Game 7 performance. Advertisement Let's analyze how each has gotten back to this point, highlighting some details in their game that have them as the last two goalies standing once again. At 36, Bobrovsky is the sixth-oldest goalie in the NHL, and the oldest to start a game this postseason. His game is still defined by his incredible athleticism. He explodes across his crease with rare speed and precision, and contorts his body into positions we really only see from him. That lateral quickness is helpful against any opponent, but will be particularly important against a fast Oilers squad that passes the puck superbly. Bobrovsky's explosiveness is obvious at times, like on this ridiculous save on Carolina's Logan Stankoven in the Eastern Conference final. The amount of force Bobrovsky generated with the push off of his left skate was impressive, especially considering how wide his stance was when he made the move. The wider a goalie's skates get, the less power they typically have to move side-to-side, but Bobrovsky's leg strength and balance gives him the unique ability to get low when the puck is in tight while maintaining mobility. His Olympic weight lifting routines are well-documented, and the fruits of that labor are unmistakable on the ice. Even the way Bobrovsky recovers from shots, jumping back to his skates without using his hands as leverage, shows off his strength and flexibility. There are other, less obvious, ways that his leg strength helps him make saves, like on this glove save on Toronto's Auston Matthews in the second round. This was a sensational read by Bobrovsky. On a lateral, high-to-low pass like that, it's easy for a goalie to default to a butterfly slide, especially with the shooter on his one-timer side. However, in this case, Bobrovsky realized it was a lengthy pass and he had the speed to beat it on his feet. Because he stayed tall, by the time Matthews released the shot, there was no room high to the short side. Bobrovsky has dominated the last three postseasons, leading the league in wins (40), shutouts (six) and goals saved above expected (36.71). As one of the goalie union's elder statesmen, Bobrovsky does a wonderful job of blending old school and new school. He has great modern technique, but isn't afraid to break out of that structure when necessary. One of the best examples of this is how he uses his stick when the puck gets near his crease. Advertisement Bobrovsky has the most active stick of any goalie in the league, but in most cases, he doesn't use it in a traditional poke check. Part of the reason the old technique has nearly disappeared from today's game is that it's a bit of an all-or-nothing play that typically leaves the goalie exposed. Rather than selling out with an aggressive lunge, Bobrovsky maintains an upright torso and still reacts to the shot while fishing for a poke check to make the shooter uncomfortable. Given how dangerous Edmonton's rush game is, and how good Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are at setting teammates up on the backside of the play, Bobrovsky's aggressive stick could play a factor in the Cup Final. Watch how he slides his blocker hand up to the knob of his stick, allowing him to stab out at the puck and cover a significant area in front of his net. The biggest key, though, is that Bobrovsky has the balance and athleticism to still make the saves even when his poke attempts fail. Outside of the obvious change in stick grip, he doesn't alter his stance or the way he's reading the play in these situations. He pokes to take valuable real estate away from the shooter, eliminating the chance for a deke in tight, but still keeps visual attachment to the puck and reads the shot. This save on Toronto's Max Domi in Game 1 of the second round is a perfect example. He uses the poke, forcing Domi into a quick shot, but still makes the glove save. Now for Bobrovsky's magnum opus. For my money, this is the most impressive sequence of saves in this entire postseason, and it shows off every aspect of Bobrovsky's game that we've discussed to this point. It was the signature save in Florida's series-clinching Game 5 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. First, Bobrovsky tried to poke the puck off the stick of defenseman Erik Cernak as he cut back against the grain. Bobrovsky narrowly missed the poke, but dug his left skate into the ice and exploded over for a beauty of a right-pad save. Bobrovsky was in a full extension splits when the rebound went straight to the stick of Lightning forward Gage Goncalves, but he sprung back up to his skates and exploded the opposite direction. Elite balance, leg and core strength on full display. He was still holding the knob of his stick, fishing for the potential poke check, but read Goncalves' shot high to the glove side, and got the cuff of his glove on the shot for a sensational save. Truly magnificent stuff from one of the best to ever do it. One hundred eighty-four feet across the ice, Skinner has the unenviable task of trying to best Bobrovsky. As mentioned earlier, his .909 save percentage and 2.38 goals saved above expected in last year's Cup Final were both superior to Bobrovsky's numbers. He'll need to do something similar this year if Edmonton is to win its first championship in 35 years. Advertisement He gave an interesting perspective on that game within the game following Edmonton's Game 4 win over Dallas in the Western Conference final. 'I know you guys love the goalie battle, but if you asked (Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger) the same question he would say he doesn't really care, and I would say the same thing,' Skinner said. 'I'm just trying to outplay him. He's trying to outplay me, but that's not going head-to-head. It's a little bit different when you're a goalie. I can't body-check him. He can't cross-check me. So it's a little different, but as a goalie he gave his team a chance to win tonight, and so did I.' Since reclaiming the Oilers' net in Game 3 of the second-round series against Vegas, Skinner has given his team a chance to win as regularly as any goalie in these playoffs. His 6-2 record, .931 save percentage and 9.19 GSAx since then trail only Bobrovsky, and his three shutouts are tied for the most this postseason. Skinner has found his game over the last two series. He ended the second-round series against Vegas on a 127-minute shutout streak, holding the Golden Knights scoreless for each of the last two games, including a 1-0 overtime win in Game 5. He followed that up with an equally impressive stretch against Dallas in the conference final, allowing only two goals on 88 shots across games 2, 3 and 4. What has been the biggest difference in his game? It certainly looks like he's playing with a lot more confidence, and as a result he's making faster reads. Skinner is a blocking-style goalie, opposed to a more reactive goalie such as Bobrovsky. He prefers to do his work prior to the shot, positioning his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame to take away angles. It may feel like his hot streak has coincided with Edmonton playing better defense in front of him, but the numbers actually say the opposite. The Oilers have allowed more scoring chances, high-danger chances and expected goals per 60 minutes in Skinner's last eight starts than they did in his first two of the playoffs. Edmonton's layered zone defense has consistently held teams out of the dangerous areas, but Skinner's personal improvements have been a major difference. When he's at his best, he maximizes his size well, showing shooters very little net. He does this through several means, the first of which is great posture in his butterfly. Advertisement When Skinner drives his knees to the ice to seal the lower part of the net, he keeps his hips high, rather than going back on his heels, which shrinks net coverage. He doesn't get compressed, and the height of his shoulders almost doesn't change when going from standing to butterfly. This save on Golden Knights leading scorer Pavel Dorofeyev is a good example of that. It's a dangerous turnaround shot from a player with a tricky release, but Skinner makes himself big and easily shrugs the shot off with his shoulder. Watch how Skinner's head and shoulders stay at the same height throughout the save, even though he's dropping to his knees. Not only does this cover the top of the net, but the stillness of his head also leads to better puck tracking. Skinner makes a lot of saves in this fashion. They aren't flashy, but they're efficient, repeatable and easier to execute on shots through traffic, which is going to be a big key when facing a Panthers team that sends waves of players to the front of the net. This shot by Dallas' Mikko Rantanen was a missile of a wrist shot directly off the faceoff, and Skinner had three Oilers defenders between himself and the shot, completely hiding Rantanen's release. Skinner actually missed the puck with his glove, which is understandable on a screened shot from that close, but because he stood tall in his butterfly, it hit his shoulder. When dealing with compromised sight lines, positioning is paramount. Skinner has excelled at stopping these types of shots throughout his career. He has allowed only 26 goals on 962 shots from long range in his career for a stellar .973 save percentage. In the playoffs, when traffic and screens increase, he has given up only seven goals on 203 shots (.966). Lately, Skinner has also looked noticeably calmer in chaotic situations, when it's tough to find the puck through bodies. This save on Dallas' Jason Robertson highlights that. On Robertson's initial shot, Skinner did a good job of looking around the screens without compressing himself or losing his posture. He dropped into the butterfly, but the shot didn't make it through the five bodies between Skinner and the puck. In this situation, he could've easily panicked and stood up – opening the bottom of the net – but instead he calmly remained in his butterfly, fought through contact with Sam Steel at the top of the crease with a shove with his glove hand, and found the puck just before Robertson got to it again. Because he was already down, tracking the shot to his glove side was a bit easier, and he snagged the puck for a huge stop. Advertisement These are the types of plays Skinner will have to make consistently to win this series against Florida. No team creates chaos in front of the goalie better than the Panthers, so this will be his toughest test yet. The same could be said for Bobrovsky, whose lateral explosion and creativity will be tested by the Oilers' high-octane attack. It won't be easier for either goalie. It shouldn't be. Whoever comes out on top will earn a career-changing win. Either Bobrovsky will cement his spot in the Hall of Fame with a second Stanley Cup, or Skinner will silence the doubters to end Canada's 32-year Cup drought. (Photo of Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
As stage gets bigger, Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky stays grounded eyeing Stanley Cup repeat
Sergei Bobrovsky knows what's ahead of him and the Florida Panthers. They're about to play in their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final with a chance to repeat as champions after winning it all for the first time last year. It's the biggest stage of the NHL season. Bobrovsky also knows that, at its core, what's ahead is just another game. That's how Bobrovsky operates. After 15 NHL seasons, including a lot of good but also its share of rough times, the goaltender has become a creature of living in the moment. He can't let what happened in the past affect him. He can't let what might happen creep into his mind. That mentality, he and the Panthers hope, will work to their advantage when Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Rogers Place as a rematch of last season's Cup Final gets underway. 'You enjoy the moment and savor the moment,' Bobrovsky said. 'You're not trying to cut yourself off thinking about what's ahead or what's happened in the past. You're just trying to take advantage of the opportunity. It's a great opportunity. There's only two teams left, and we're one of them and we have opportunity to win it all. It's an exciting time, and I want to enjoy every bit of it.' Bobrovsky has had an exciting postseason — and his teammates certainly have enjoyed it. Through the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Bobrovsky has a 2.11 goals against average and .912 save percentage. He has three shutouts in 17 games — one in each round — and has held opponents to two goals or fewer in 11 of those 17 games. His 6.04 goals save above average according to Natural Stat Trick are the most among all goals this postseason. 'There's not much that can get him off his game,' defenseman Dmitry Kulikov said. 'He can have an off day for him, which is a pretty good day for a good goalie in the NHL, but he always bounces back because he has this foundation — he has his routine every day that he does. And when he's [in] net, we feel very, very confident.' Especially since they know the work he puts in to get ready for each game. Bobrovsky has a regimented plan of attack for every day. After being in the league as long as he has and having the success he has — two Vezina Trophies, finalist for a third, top-10 in the NHL in goaltender wins and finally a Stanley Cup champion — Bobrovsky and only Bobrovsky truly understands what he needs to be ready. And his teammates marvel at it. 'He knows exactly what his body needs,' forward Carter Verhaeghe said. 'He's so dialed in. If there's a pro that you want to emulate, it's him. But his routines aren't like any other. I've seen Bobby do it ever since I've been here. It's special. He's special.' It has the Panthers on the cusp of doing something special by repeating as Stanley Cup champions if they can knock of the Oilers in the Cup Finals again. That's the moment the Panthers are in — and the moment Brobrovsky is prioritizing. 'I guess it's experience,' Bobrovsky said. 'I've been around for a little bit, and I know how tough it is to get into that stage. It has to be lots of things coming together. I just want to be thankful and appreciate and be humble about the opportunity.'
Toronto Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Maple Leafs think they haven't seen Sergei Bobrovsky's best yet
Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers is beaten by a shot by Max Domi (not shown) of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game 2. Getty Images Sergei Bobrovsky isn't playing like a future Hall of Famer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Whether the Florida Panthers goaltender eventually winds up with his own plaque in hockey's shrine probably isn't up for much debate. His resume includes a Stanley Cup, two Vezina Trophies and a gold medal with Russia at the 2014 world championship. It's what has happened most recently that matters most right now, though, and the Maple Leafs have built a 2-0 lead in the series against the Panthers partly because Bobrovsky hasn't been consistently sharp. The Leafs have scored nine goals on 50 shots on Bobrovsky, but they figure they're going to see a better version of the 36-year-old once the puck drops in Game 3 on Friday night in Sunrise. 'He's a gamer, he's a great goalie, he's a worker,' said Leafs coach Craig Berube, who was on the Philadelphia Flyers coaching staff when Bobrovsky was an NHL rookie in the 2010-11 season. 'We're going to have to make life difficult for him. I liked how we went to the blue paint (in Game 2) on some situations. We have to do it even more.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bobrovsky has a sub-par .876 save percentage in seven games in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. That said, his teammates' belief in what he is capable of doing apparently hasn't taken a hit. Read More 'Our confidence in him is never wavering,' Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said before the club travelled back home on Thursday. 'We feel we have the best goalie in the world back there. Our job is to make it as easy as possible on him and I think we can do a better job of that.' The goaltending, as it usually does in every playoff series, already has become a storyline on both sides. While the Panthers want to see more from Bobrovsky, the Leafs will be sticking with Joseph Woll as Anthony Stolarz continues to recover from an undisclosed injury. 'Joe has been great, and it says a lot about his character, not playing through the first round and having him come in (in Game 1) and make a few big saves, and then the performance he put up (in Game 2), it just shows that he truly cares,' Leafs forward Steven Lorentz said. 'He's a top-notch pro. The guys in here love him.' tkoshan@ X: @koshtorontosun Toronto Maple Leafs Canada Editorial Cartoons Celebrity World
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Connor Hellebuyck and his playoff struggles
Connor Hellebuyck is one of the NHL's top goaltenders as widely recognized. With two Vezina Trophies and a likely third this season. With the help of his consistency and durability in the regular season. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Based on this he became a cornerstone for the Winnipeg Jets . Despite his impressive track record; Hellebuyck has struggled in the playoffs. Throughout his career, Hellebuyck has faced criticism. That too for his inability to elevate his game in the postseason. This issue has resurfaced in the 2025 playoffs. Where he is again struggling to perform at a high level. After a tough 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. And now the series is now tied 2-2. Hellebuyck's save percentage stands at a disappointing .810. This continues a trend from previous years when he posted an .866 save percentage in the 2022-23 playoffs. This is ranking last among goalies with at least 10 games played. Goaltending Concerns in Carolina Hurricanes Blues CHASE Hellebuyck AGAIN 😱👋🥳 The Carolina Hurricanes are in a strong position. Based on their series against the New Jersey Devils, leading 3-1. However, the issue that is raising concerns is their goaltending situation. Frederik Andersen has been steady this season. But he was injured after a collision with Timo Meier. If Andersen is sidelined, in future rounds, Carolina could face bigger challenges. Andersen's injury is a situation to watch closely. While the Hurricanes still lead the series. Carolina's playoff chances could be jeopardized, if he misses more games. In the later rounds, goaltending could make or break their run as every mistake is magnified. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Montreal Canadiens Are Still a Year Away Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets defends the net against Jordan Kyrou #25 and Brayden Schenn #10 of the St. Louis Blues in the second period of Game Four (Credit: Getty Image) There is a rebuilding within the Montreal Canadiens that is promising. They have made significant progress, after years of struggle. The future looks bright, as the team's young players are showing potential. Though it has exposed some of their current shortcomings, their first-round series against the Washington Capitals. Montreal has struggled to keep pace with the more experienced Capitals, despite their effort. The Canadiens now trail 3-1 in the series, Washington's depth and skill have proven too much. Montreal is learning that they are still a year or so away from being true contenders, though they have fought hard. Read more: On Hellebuyck playoff hopes rest A major concern for the Winnipeg Jets is the position of Hellebuyck's playoff stance. When it matters most, the Jets rely on him to elevate his game. Their chances of advancing further in the playoffs remain slim, if he continues to underperform. The focus will be on Hellebuyck, as the series progresses. Winnipeg still has a shot at advancing, then the Jets need him to deliver in critical moments to regain his form. If he can. Their playoff hopes could quickly fade, if not.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NHL playoff highlights: Top-seed Capitals rally, take 3-1 lead; NHL-best Jets falter again
NHL playoff highlights: Top-seed Capitals rally, take 3-1 lead; NHL-best Jets falter again Show Caption Hide Caption Paul Bissonnette on Ovechkin becoming greatest NHL goal scorer of all-time Paul Bissonnette discusses Alex Ovechkin surpassing Wayne Gretzky to become the greatest NHL goal scorer of all-time. Sports Seriously Andrew Mangiapane scored the go-ahead goal with 3:37 remaining in the third period and the visiting Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Sunday night. Dylan Strome controlled a stretch pass at center ice from Trevor van Riemsdyk, crossed the blue line and dropped the puck to Mangiapane, who scored his first goal of the series on a high wrist shot from the slot. Brandon Duhaime scored into the empty net with 2:39 left and Tom Wilson did so with 55 seconds remaining for the 5-2 final. The Capitals lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, and Game 5 is Wednesday night in Washington. Duhaime scored two third-period goals and Strome had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who are the No. 1 seed from the Metropolitan Division and in the conference. Van Riemsdyk had two assists and Logan Thompson, who left Game 3 with a lower-body injury, started and made 16 saves. Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield scored for the Canadiens, who are the second wild card from the East. Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson each had two assists and Jakub Dobes, starting in place of the injured Sam Montembeault, made 21 saves. Montreal was 2-for-4 on the power play; Washington was 0-for-5. Blues light up Connor Hellebuyck again, tie series Jake Neighbours scored his first playoff goal and added two assists as the St. Louis Blues defeated the visiting Winnipeg Jets 5-1 on Sunday to tie their Western Conference first-round playoff series at two games apiece. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Winnipeg. Captain Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist while Robert Thomas and defensemen Tyler Tucker and Justin Faulk also scored for the Blues. Defenseman Colton Parayko had two assists and Jordan Binnington stopped 30 shots. "Playoffs are full of momentum swings," Schenn said. "We're happy with where we're at right now." Kyle Connor netted the goal for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck made 13 saves on 18 shots before being pulled early in the third period. It is the second consecutive game that Hellebuyck has been removed; he has allowed 11 goals on 43 shots in the last two contests. Hellebuyck has won two Vezina Trophies as the NHL's top goalie and is the favorite to win his third this season. He was replaced by Eric Comrie, who stopped six shots. "Tired of watching them make nice plays and put the puck in the net," Jets coach Scott Arniel said. "That's on us." Hurricanes lose goalie but take 3-1 lead Andrei Svechnikov's hat trick helped the Carolina Hurricanes overcome the second-period loss of goalie Frederik Andersen to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Sunday in Newark, New Jersey, and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The Hurricanes, the only NHL team to win at least one playoff round in each of the last four seasons, will attempt to close out the Devils in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series on Tuesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina. Svechnikov, the lone player in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history to post a hat trick in a postseason game, did it for the second time on Sunday. He scored in the opening minute of the first and second periods, and then iced the win with an empty-netter with 3:17 left in the third. Svechnikov posted his first playoff hat trick on Aug. 3, 2020, when he scored three times against the New York Rangers in a qualifying-round game during the COVID-19 bubble tournament. Jaccob Slavin scored in the first and Brent Burns began adding insurance by scoring with 5:46 left in the third. Burns added an assist, and Sebastian Aho and Jackson Blake had two assists apiece.
