Sergei Bobrovsky's days of shutting out the Edmonton Oilers are over.
Sergei Bobrovsky's days of shutting out the Edmonton Oilers are over.
EDMONTON -- Sergei Bobrovsky's days of getting a shutout against the Edmonton Oilers are numbered.
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Despite putting up a 32-save shutout for Game one, don't expect the Florida Panthers' goalie to get another one in Game two. Not if the Oilers have anything to say about it.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl spoke to the media yesterday about the challenge that Bobrovsky plays for the Oilers.
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"Obviously he is so good low," Nugent-Hopkins began, "when he gets moving side to side you want to get it high. He's an athletic goalie so he's going to take up most of the bottom of the net."
Nugent-Hopkins just revealed the trick to beating Bobrovsky - elevating the puck.
According to this tweet, only one shot fired by the Oilers in Game one hit the top third of the net. Of the 38 goals that have gone past Bobrovsky this post season, 23 were high. That's 60% of the goals that Bobrovsky has allowed. This needs to be how the Oilers approach the star netminder.
Another thing to consider is distance from the net. When looking at the NHL Edge analytics, they add further color to the Bobrovsky picture.
Bobrovsky's high danger save percentage is higher than his mid-range save percentage. He's had 18 goals scored on him within six feet of the front of the net, good for a .871 save percentage. Conversely, he's only allowed 16 from mid-range. Oddly enough, he's faced less shots from this distance, resulting in a lower save percentage (.845).
Mid-range is defined by the NHL Edge analytics as the portion of ice in between the faceoff dots. If I were the Oilers I'd attack this portion of the ice, elevate the puck, and watch the goals pour in.
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