Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky speaks after Florida's 3-2 win against Tampa on April 23. We may still be in the opening days of the postseason, but we may have already seen the save of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It came during the second period of Game 2 between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. With six minutes on the clock and the game tied at two, Tampa’s Anthony Cirelli brought the puck into Florida’s zone and fired a shot that went wide of Sergei Bobrovsky. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] The puck hit off the back boards and bounced back toward the slot on the other side of the net, where Steven Stamkos was driving toward the net and poked the puck back toward the slot. All this action caused Bobrovsky to get completely turned around. Facing Stamkos, Bob turned his body to his left, almost doing a complete circle while diving backwards to cover any part of the net he could. As Bobrovsky did that, Matt Dumba, on his backhand, one-timed the puck into what he thought was a wide-open net. That’s when Bob’s arm, the back of his left elbow to be exact, somehow got into the path of the puck and kept the Lightning from taking their first lead of the series. After the game, a few of his teammates were asked about the sparkling save. Oliver Ekman-Larsson: “That was unbelievable. I mean, obviously we know that he can make those saves, but that was something else.” Carter Verhaeghe: “Bob has been unbelievable. He's our backbone back there. It's crazy, every night he amazes me. That was a huge save at a huge time. I think they could have went up by a goal at that time. It seems like every time he needs to be there, he's there. He's unbelievable. Aaron Ekblad: My vantage point was the bench, in shock. It was incredible. You love to see it. The only thing almost as good as the save was the reaction on social media afterwards. Scroll below for a variety of some of the posts on X. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Three takeaways: Special teams going Panthers way, goaltending great on both sides [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/three-takeaways-special-teams-going-panthers-way-goaltending-great-on-both-sides] Verhaeghe overtime goal gives Panthers 2-0 series lead on Tampa Bay [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/verhaeghe-overtime-goal-gives-panthers-2-0-series-lead-on-tampa-bay] Sam Bennett leaves Game 2 early with apparent injury [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/sam-bennett-leaves-game-2-early-with-apparent-injury] The Hockey Show: Talking playoffs with Panthers Coach Paul Maurice [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-talking-playoffs-with-panthers-coach-paul-maurice] Panthers aim to take 2-0 lead as physical series with Tampa Bay expected to continue [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-aim-to-take-2-0-lead-as-physical-series-with-tampa-bay-expected-to-continue] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
