FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Sergei Bobrovsky reflects on his moments of victory in the Stanley Cup only during special occasions. These include the festivities on the ice, the jubilant parade, and a handful of similar events. Apart from those times, his focus shifts rapidly to future challenges.
As the Florida Panthers’ goalie, Bobrovsky has embraced a straightforward yet effective mindset. Now preparing for his third consecutive Stanley Cup Final at the age of 36, he shows no signs of diminishing performance. His save percentage in this year’s playoffs is even higher than last year, and his goals-against average has improved.
In the upcoming final series, he will likely face off against Stuart Skinner once more, the Edmonton Oilers’ goaltender who also participated in last year’s epic seven-game finale where Florida triumphed. The series begins with Game 1 in Edmonton on Wednesday night.
“You savor the present moments,” Bobrovsky explains. “It’s about cherishing the now without overthinking what could happen next or dwelling on past events. Being among the last two teams standing is a fantastic opportunity to clinch the title. It’s thrilling, and I want to enjoy every second.”
During these playoffs, Bobrovsky has been Florida’s sole backstop. The Oilers, however, had a varied approach. Stuart Skinner started as the postseason goalie for Edmonton but temporarily lost his role to Calvin Pickard, only to regain it later. The Oilers required twelve victories to reach the final, with Skinner and Pickard securing six wins each.
Initially, Skinner lacked the impressive statistics he holds now, with a 3.39 GAA and an .872 save percentage over his first six playoff outings. In comparison, his last four appearances, all successes against Dallas in the Western Final, saw him achieve a 1.25 GAA and a .952 save percentage. Despite noticeable improvement, Skinner maintains that his confidence level remained unchanged.
“I always felt confident,” Skinner stated. “That’s the nature of being a goalie.”
Although Skinner admits a unique intensity characterized his matchups against Dallas.
“It fluctuates,” Skinner noted. “You sense it immediately at times, other times not so much. It’s something I wished to experience constantly.”
Bobrovsky, on the other hand, has built a career evading such fluctuations. The Panthers entrust him entirely, allowing him the autonomy to prepare in his own way. Florida’s head coach, Paul Maurice, often jokes—though earnestly—that he doesn’t coach Bobrovsky. Instead, goaltender coach Robb Tallas collaborates with Bobrovsky as Maurice sticks to casual greetings.
His self-directed regimen rewards the team’s trust.
“I often voice my gratitude for this team,” Bobrovsky says. “Everyone, from the players to the management and coaches, allows me to operate on my terms, which is crucial at this point in my career. The freedom to do what’s necessary is a gift, and I’m sincerely thankful for my situation and the people around me. It’s truly a blessing.”