Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was unperturbed by repeated contact from the Carolina Hurricanes in his Florida Panthers' 5-2 win in Game 1.
"It's OK. It's playoffs. They try to get under the skin. It's alright. I just focus on my things," Bobrovsky said postgame Tuesday, according to team reporter Jameson Olive.
Multiple Hurricanes players bumped Bobrovsky in Game 1. Most notably, Andrei Svechnikov caught the Panthers netminder in the head with his leg while flying by the crease.
The Hurricanes haven’t been shy about making contact with Bobrovsky in Game 1 pic.twitter.com/vqoat1wYrw
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 21, 2025
Svechnikov wasn't penalized for the play.
Bobrovsky made 31 saves on 33 shots and now has a .952 save percentage in his last four games.
The veteran netminder has played every second for Florida this postseason. He's the only goaltender still playing in the playoffs to do so. The 36-year-old has a .905 SV% and a 2.29 goals-against average in 13 starts and leads the postseason with nine wins.
Goaltender contact isn't new to Panthers games these playoffs. Forward Sam Bennett collided with Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz in Game 1 of the second round. Stolarz sustained a concussion and ultimately didn't play again, though he dressed as the backup for Game 7. Bennett didn't face supplemental discipline.
