Bobrovsky shutout in Game 3 puts Panthers a win away from Stanley Cup Final

Florida has held the Hurricanes to just three goals through three games of the conference final

The Florida Panthers are one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.

On the shoulders of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, the Panthers continue to shock the hockey world during this incredible playoff run.

It’s amazing to think that Florida has scored a total of six goals through the first three games of the series and came away with victories in each of them.

Monday’s game was as playoff-y as they come.

It was low scoring with extremely tight checking and lots of physicality after the whistles.

Florida was masterful in front of Bobrovsky, keeping his sightlines clean and clearing away any loose pucks from around the crease.

For Bobrovsky, Monday's shutout was his first ever in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He'd previously started 56 postseason games without earning a clean sheet. 

The big question heading into Wednesday’s Game 4 will be the health status of Panthers captain Sasha Barkov.

He left the game during the first period and did not return, officially being listed as questionable with a lower-body injury.

After the game, Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice gave a quick “no” when asked if there were any updates on Barkov.

FIRST PERIOD

Matthew Tkachuk logged the first shot of the game 29 seconds in, and afterwards he and Brent Burns met in the corner and exchanged two-handed slashes across the legs.

Tkachuk and Sebastian Aho were chirping at each other for a good minute as they skated to their respective benches around the twelve minute mark of the period, and then Ryan Lomberg joined in because of course.

Lomberg is generally considered the best and most eager chirper by his teammates.

One thing that was clear early in the game was that there would be a lot of chippiness. Players were pushing and shoving after every whistle.

Aho got himself a good look on Bobrovsky while the teams were skating 4-on-4 but Bob made an excellent poke check to turn away the scoring chance.

Bobrovsky came up big a few minutes later after Aho threaded a pass to Stefan Noesen that sent him in on a breakaway.

Bob came out to cut off the angle and snared Noesen’s shot with his glove, causing a loud ovation from the packed FLA Live faithful.

Florida’s first power play came late in the period after Jordan Staal hit Nick Cousins in the face in Carolina’s end of the ice.

The Panthers got several good looks on Andersen but couldn’t put one home.

After the first period the game remained scoreless, with Florida holding the edge in shots 9-7.

SECOND PERIOD

Florida captain Sasha Barkov did not come out for the start of the second period after missing the final 7:04 of the first. He was officially listed as questionable with a lower-body injury.

Less than a minute into the middle frame, Brady Skjei rung the crossbar with a quick shot from the left circle.

Bobrovsky made another high-end stop on Aho with his blocker, pushing the rebound toward the boards and away from trouble.

He then come out to the top of his crease and swallowed up a quick look by Martin Necas after the speedy winger got loose along the side boards.

Through the first seven-plus minutes of the period, Carolina was outshooting the Panthers 8-0.

Carter Verhaeghe would log a couple shots for Florida, including a hard wrist shot from the left faceoff dot that Andersen snapped up with his catching glove.

The Panthers were then given a power play after Skjei was called for holding the stick of Anton Lundell in front of Carolina’s goal.

It didn’t take long for Florida to cash in.

Sam Bennett dug the puck free below the goal line and sent it up the boards to Tkachuk, who found a wide-open Reinhart in the slot.

Reinhart quickly turned and fired a shot over Andersen’s blocker.

It was the first time in the series that the Panthers scored first.

Not long after that Florida went back on the man advantage after Aho was called for slashing.

Once again it was Reinhart getting a good look from in front of the net, but this time Andersen made a couple nice saves.

With twenty seconds remaining in the Aho penalty, Jordan Martinook was called for slashing, giving Florida a brief 5-on-3.

Jordan Staal won the crucial faceoff though, leading to a zone clear and the killing of the two-man advantage.

Florida didn’t generate much during the rest of the Martinook penalty, with only Anthony Duclair putting a shot on Andersen.

Carolina ended up outshooting the Panthers 14-6 in the second period, but thanks to Bobrovsky the Panthers took a 1-0 lead into the final frame.

THIRD PERIOD

Bennett found himself all alone in front of Andersen with the puck in the opening moments of the third. He tried going forehand-backhand but Andersen got the toe of his right pad on the shot.

Just under three minutes into the period Brett Pesce got the puck with some space between the circles in Florida’s zone but his shot clanged off the post behind Bobrovsky.

The first half of the period went by quickly, with very few whistles as Florida tried to limit the Hurricanes’ zone time.

Even so, Carolina was outshooting the Panthers 7-2 as they fought to get the game back to even. The difference, as it has been throughout the playoffs, was Bobrovsky.

The Hurricanes continued to throw everything they could at Florida as the period went by.

They pulled Andersen with around three minutes to go, their season essentially on the line.

Marc Staal appeared to score into the empty net about a minute later, but the play was whistled dead moments prior due to Shayne Gostisbehere down on the ice with an apparent injury.

No matter.

Florida closed out the final two minutes to claim its third victory of the series in as many games.

The Panthers will enter Wednesday’s Game 4 with a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

GAME NOTES