Panthers riding goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s five-game winning streak in NHL playoffs

Going into Game 5 of the Panthers’ opening-round series against Boston, Florida coach Paul Maurice had a big decision to make.

He could have played Alex Lyon, the goalie who helped get the Panthers into the playoffs with a six-game winning streak, or go back to veteran Sergei Bobrovsky.

Bobrovsky got the call — and the Panthers have not looked back.

On Sunday at 6:30 p.m., the Panthers are back in Sunrise for Game 3 of their second-round series against the Maple Leafs.

When it comes to who starts in goal, Maurice does not have a decision to make at all.

The net belongs to Bobrovsky once again.

“To me, he has always been great,” captain Aleksander Barkov said following a light practice Saturday at FLA Live Arena. “He is the hardest working guy on this team. Since he has been here, he is the first guy in the gym and last to leave. But he is playing really good right now, and we have a lot of confidence playing in front of him. He has been awesome. It is Bob’s net right now.”

When the Panthers opened up against the Bruins, Maurice rode the hot hand of Lyon into the playoffs.

Lyon got Florida the win in Game 2 but after allowing three goals in Game 3, Bobrovsky was brought in to get some playing time. After all, Bobrovsky had not been in a game situation in almost a month.

Bobrovsky started Game 4, giving up five goals in a 6-2 loss — one many figured would be the final game in Sunrise this season.

Maurice decided to go with Bobrovsky again, saying he needed to feel the pressure of this series and have a chance to come up big for his team.

He certainly did.

Bobrovsky was absolutely fantastic in Game 5 at TD Garden in Boston, making 44 saves in a season-saving 4-3 overtime win.

The Panthers have not lost since.

“He is a veteran guy who is a very important part of this team,’’ Maurice said. “When you get into those elimination games, the players have to take that burden of leadership and he certainly did that. Every game teaches you something. Even at 3-1 to Boston, you gain confidence in a way someone plays. Sergei came in and has been solid and strong and consistent in that. And that’s how he makes the team feel in front of him.”

Bobrovsky’s personal five-game playoff winning streak is longest in franchise history surpassing the four consecutive wins by John Vanbiesbrouck in the team’s magical run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996.

This playoff run in special in many ways as well. Few thought the Panthers would be in this position right now, yet here they are.

“We have a good atmosphere in the locker room, we are growing closer together and there are a lot of good feelings,” said Bobrovsky, who has stopped 92 percent of the shots faced during this five-game winning streak.

“At the same time, we’re excited and humble because this is the playoffs. We’re playing good teams and anything can happen. We’re staying humble focused.”

The Panthers returned home from a very successful road trip feeling pretty good about themselves.

Florida won Game 7 in Boston on Sunday night then took the first two games in Toronto, taking its first 2-0 series lead since — you guessed it — 1996.

The Panthers are now home for the next two games, but the series is not close to being over.

In 2018, Bobrovsky and his Blue Jackets took a 2-0 series lead in Washington. The Capitals were not fazed and won the next four games in the series — including Games 3 and 4 in Columbus.

The Panthers have come a long way, but they are long way from being done with the Maple Leafs.

“This is hockey and anything can happen,” Bobrovsky said. “Tomorrow is a new game and everything starts 0-0. We’re not looking at the series because it is all about one moment, one game, one shift at a time.”