Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky speaks after Florida's 4-3 win over Edmonton on June 13. Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had a rough night on Thursday in Edmonton. The Panthers starting netminder was pulled midway through Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final after allowing five goals on 16 shots to the Oilers. Bobrovsky had been playing lights out for Florida during the Cup Final entering Game 4. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Many had Bobrovsky as the leader in the clubhouse for the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the player deemed postseason MVP. During the Stanley Cup Final, Bobrovsky had allowed just four goals on 86 shots, good for a .953 save percentage and 1.33 goals against average. Prior to Game 4, Bobrovsky sported a .916 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average during the postseason to go along with a 15-5 record. Now, Bob’s save percentage is down to .909 and his goals against is up to 2.24. It’s something that Bobrovsky’s teammates are taking on the chin as much as he is, perhaps leading to extra motivation (not that they need it at this point) across the board heading into Game 5. “He's been unbelievable all year, all playoffs,” said Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. “That was more of a wakeup call to the forwards and the D, as opposed to…it had nothing to do with Bob. I think it was just more of a wakeup call to everybody. We know he's going to come back better than ever, but with that being said, none of them were his fault. I thought he still made some unreal saves. Everybody's going to come back ready to go on, whatever day we play next, at Game 5 at home.” As Saturday’s game progressed, Edmonton’s fans inside Rogers Place were certainly giving it to Bobrovsky, chanting “Ser-geiii, Ser-geiii” and giving a couple loud sarcastic cheers when Bob made his final couple saves. It was after Darnell Nurse scored at the 4:59 mark of the second period that Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice decided to make a change. “He’d had enough,” Maurice said. “If you think you’d be mounting a comeback, it won’t be because of the goalie makes the different for you, it’ll be something that happens at the other end of the ice.” Bobrovsky’s counterpart at the opposite end of the nice, Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, had by far his best game of the Stanley Cup Final. Skinner came up with several sparkling saves, including an incredible stretching stop with his arm on Carter Verhaeghe when the game was still only 2-1 in the first period. Bobrovsky will be right back in goal for Florida when they host Game 5 on Tuesday night in Sunrise. Don’t be surprised to see a big bounce back effort from both Bob and the Panthers. “Bob has been outstanding the whole season,” said Panthers forward Kevin Stenlund. “Whenever he gets going, we’ll get going.” Florida leads the best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final 3-1. The puck drops on Game 5 from Amerant Bank Arena at 8 p.m. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers crushed by Oilers in Game 4, Stanley Cup Final heading back to Florida [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-crushed-by-oilers-in-game-4-stanley-cup-final-heading-back-to-florida] Full circle moment for Florida Panthers ahead of potential Stanley Cup Final sweep [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/full-circle-moment-for-florida-panthers-ahead-of-potential-stanley-cup-final-sweep] Panthers aim to complete sweep of Edmonton, win franchise's first Stanley Cup [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-aim-to-complete-sweep-of-edmonton-win-franchises-first-stanley-cup] 'This job is not finished': Panthers players react to being one win away from Stanley Cup [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/this-job-is-not-finished-panthers-players-react-to-being-one-win-away-from-stanley-cup] The Hockey Show: Panthers one win away from Stanley Cup Championship [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-panthers-one-win-away-from-stanley-cup-championship] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
