Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk points out Sergei Bobrovsky's displeasure with early goal in Game 2

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Jun 11, 2024 19:51 GMT

Matthew Tkachuk recently praised Sergei Bobrovsky's stellar goaltending performance on The Pat McAfee Show. He also talked about Bobrovsky's displeasure with an early goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Edmonton Oilers, despite their high-scoring reputation, have struggled to penetrate Bobrovsky's defense in the finals. Game 1 saw the Oilers shut out with a 3-0 loss, a result of Bobrovsky's monumental performance in goal.

Game 2 ended similarly, with the Oilers managing just one goal. This loss has put them in a 0-2 hole as the series shifts to Canada.

During a virtual presence on the show, Tkachuk said:

"He's been amazing," Tkachuk said. "He's just a great human being and so fun to be around the rink. His work ethic is off the charts — unbelievable. And you know, he's our backbone. He was so good for us in Game 1."

Tkachuk admitted Sergei Bobrovsky's critical role in the Panthers' success, particularly in Game 1. Despite the Panthers' lackluster performance, Bobrovsky kept them in the game. Tkachuk added:

"We didn't like our game too much in front of him. We picked it up in the third period, and I really felt that the third period kind of bled into Game 2 for us," Tkachuk added.

In Game 2, Tkachuk noted the Panthers' improvement, attributing their strong performance to Bobrovsky. However, the early goal on the first shot, a two-on-one situation, didn't sit well with Bobrovsky.

"Last night, I thought we were strong from start to finish, including Bob," Tkachuk said. "The one goal that Bob let in was on the first shot, and it was a two-on-one. That's not how you draw it up for us. Sure, he wasn't too happy about that. But you know, we really tightened it up in Game 2 compared to Game 1."

Sergei Bobrovsky's spectacular goaltending in Stanley Cup finals

Sergei Bobrovsky's stats from the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals series show his dominance. On June 8, 2024, he stopped all 32 shots for a shutout win.

In the following game on June 10, 2024, he allowed just one goal on 19 shots, with a .947 save percentage. These performances are enough to be labeled the Panthers' backbone.

The Panthers are two wins shy of making history. If they win the next two games, the Panthers will win their first Stanley Cup Championship.

Last season, the Panthers missed the Cup after coming so close. But this season, they are making sure to leave no room for error. They are hungry for the cup and Sergei Bobrovsky is leading the charge.