7 NHL goaltenders to record a shutout in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final series ft. Sergei Bobrovsky

By Ryan Gagne

Modified Jun 10, 2024 23:29 GMT

In Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, Sergei Bobrovsky earned a 32-save shutout to help the Florida Panthers go up 1-0 against the Edmonton Oilers.

Since the expansion in 1967, Bobrovsky became only the seventh goalie to earn a shutout in the first game of the Final. Who are the other ones?

7 NHL goaltenders to record a shutout in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

#1. Sergei Bobrovsky (Florida Panthers) 2024

Bobrovsky became the first goalie in Panthers history to record a shutout win in the Stanley Cup Final and remains the only netminder to secure a victory in the championship series for the franchise.

On Saturday, Bobrovsky stopped 32 shots to hold Connor McDavid and the Oilers off the scoresheet for their first shutout loss of the postseason. The Game 1 win was Bobrovsky's second shutout of the postseason and third in his career.

#2. Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks) 2011

Roberto Luongo, who serves as special assistant to the general manager in Florida, recorded five playoff shutouts during his Hall of Fame career, four of which came during the Vancouver Canucks trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011.

That season's Presidents' Trophy winners blanked the Boston Bruins in Game 1 on June 1, 2011, with Luongo stopping 36 shots. It was one of two shutouts for him in the series, as the Canucks won Game 5 by an identical 1-0 score.

#3. Chris Osgood (Detroit Red Wings) 2008

Chris Osgood is the only second goalie since expansion in 1967 to record back-to-back shutouts to open the Stanley Cup Final when he blanked Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008 championship series.

The Detroit Red Wings won Game 1 by a score of 4-0, with Osgood making 19 saves. In Game 2, the Red Wings won 3-0, and Osgood made 22 saves. Even though the two teams split the first four games, Detroit won the Stanley Cup in Game 6.

#4. Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) 2003

Martin Brodeur, the greatest statistical netminder in NHL history, won the 2003 Stanley Cup by collecting three shutout victories in the Final, which included holding the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to no goals through the first two games of the series.

On May 27 and May 29, 2003, Brodeur and the Devils opened up the series with consecutive 3-0 victories. After 120 minutes, Brodeur had 32 saves, making 16 in both contests. That postseason, he recorded seven of his 24 career playoff shutouts.

#5. Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche) 2001

Patrick Roy is no stranger to achieving things. He was once the winningest netminder in NHL history. He is the only player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe on three occasions. He recorded four shutouts during the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs, including Game 1 of the Final.

On May 26, 2001, against the defending champions, the Devils, Roy made 25 saves to give the Avalanche a series lead. Even though New Jersey would go up 3-2 after five games, Roy pitched another shutout in Game 6 to extend the series to a pivotal Game 7, which they won 3-1.

#6. Grant Fuhr (Edmonton Oilers) 1984

Grant Fuhr is a Hall of Fame goalie who won five Stanley Cups with the Oilers in the 1980s. Despite getting swept in the 1983 Final by the New York Islanders, Fuhr led Edmonton to the championship the following season.

On May 10, 1984, Fuhr earned a Game 1 shutout (34 saves) to give the Oilers their first lead in the Final. Less than two weeks later, on May 19, 1983, the Islanders' run as four-time champions ended with Edmonton winning their first title in Game 5.

#7. Billy Smith (New York Islanders) 1983

Billy Smith became the first netminder in the expansion era with a shutout in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on May 10, 1983. As the three-time defending champions, the Islanders shut down an upstart Oilers offense led by Wayne Gretzky.

In Game 1, Smith had 35 saves to give New York a 1-0 series lead, which would help propel them to a sweep on May 17, leading to a fourth championship banner.