“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.
“I think the goalies need to be protected.”@FriedgeHNIC and the panel discuss the Hurricanes’ persistent presence in Bobrovsky’s crease. pic.twitter.com/p9Tumrffj2
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 21, 2025
“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.
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