‘It’s A Smart Thing To Do’: Sergei Bobrovsky A Fan Of Maple Leafs Three-Goalie Plan For Back-To-Back Games

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Toronto Maple Leafs carried three goaltenders on their roster over their stretch of back-to-back victories on Monday and Tuesday. They used an available roster spot to recall Artur Akhtyamov from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and create genuine rest days for Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz.

On Monday, Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, his strongest outing of the early schedule. The following night, while the Leafs traveled to Columbus and defeated the Blue Jackets 6-2 behind Stolarz, Bobrovsky remained in Toronto. The one-off road game became a full recovery day rather than a travel day, something the 38-year-old said he had never experienced in his career.

“I thought it’s a smart thing to do,” Bobrovsky said after the Sharks victory when asked about staying home. “I got the time to recover, to reset, get my food, sleep and to be in the structure. I think it’s just the one situation where I like it a lot.” 

Bobrovsky noted the flexibility it creates, practice or rest depending on how he feels, and confirmed the Panthers never employed the approach during his years there.

There are a lot of reasons to do this, but a close look at Bobrovsky’s splits over his NHL career tells quite the story. 

October has been his lowest-save-percentage month at .905 across 113 games through games played on Oct. 21, 2026, while March has been his strongest at .925 in 154 appearances. Early-season workload management is therefore less about the present standings and more about arriving at the stretch run in better condition.

Head coach Jim Hiller has spoken of having a mapped-out plan for the goaltending rotation that incorporates workloads, analytics, and input from the performance staff. The decision to carry Akhtyamov for the consecutive games against San Jose and Columbus is a clear extension of that approach, giving both established netminders a complete day off rather than the traditional backup role that still involves travel, meetings, and partial involvement. 

Bobrovsky himself framed the longer view when asked about load management in general. He referenced the support of performance coach Andy O’Brien and his group, then added: “Let’s not forget, it’s the long season, and then, we also be good in the playoff time.” 

The Leafs need consistent results in an 84-game schedule, but the front office and coaching staff have made clear that Bobrovsky’s availability and form in the spring remain a priority. Pairing him with Stolarz, a familiar partner from their Stanley Cup run in Florida, while maintaining a third option in Akhtyamov, the Calder Cup playoff MVP last spring, gives the organization the roster flexibility to implement those days without leaving the net short.

Akhtyamov backed up both games and returned to the Marlies on Wednesday, having provided the insurance that allowed the plan to function. For a team that signed Bobrovsky, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, to stabilize the position after last season’s struggles, the early willingness to grant full rest days, including skipping a road trip, signals that the management of his workload is being treated as a competitive advantage rather than a concession. Results will still be required night to night, but the Leafs appear determined to have their veteran starter in better condition when the games carry the highest stakes.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.