Sergei Bobrovsky’s shutout and more notables from the Panthers’ win over the Red Wings
Sergei Bobrovsky didn’t face much action on Saturday.
But as he has so many times this season, the Florida Panthers’ All-Star goaltender took care of everything that came his way.
Bobrovsky stopped all 21 shots he faced as the Panthers beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena in a game that could potentially be a preview of an opening-round matchup in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Panthers, at 41-16-4, are the top team in the NHL. The Red Wings, at 33-22-6, are in the Eastern Conference’s top wild card spot, two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the East’s final spot in the playoffs and seven points ahead of the Washington Capitals (the first team outside the field).
The shutout is Bobrovsky’s fourth of the season. He is one of just five goaltenders with at least four shutouts this season, along with Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry (six), Arizona’s Connor Ingram (five), Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko (five) and Buffalo’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (four).
Fittingly, two of Bobrovsky’s four shutouts this season have come in Detroit. He also had a 22-save road shutout at the Red Wings on Nov. 2.
Bobrovsky has also held opponents to two goals or fewer in each of his past 10 starts — a Panthers franchise record. Over those 10 games, Bobrovsky has a .949 save percentage (279 saves on 294 shots against).
Brandon Montour, Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues and Carter Verhaeghe scored for Florida, with Reinhart and Verhaeghe scoring on the power play.
Some more notables from the Panthers’ win on Saturday:
▪ Reinhart’s goal, which came on the power play, was his 42nd of the season. That’s tied with Verhaeghe for the third-most in franchise history. Pavel Bure owns the top two spots (59 in the 2000-01 season, 58 in the 1999-2000 season). Each of Reinhart’s past 15 goals have come on special teams (12 on the power play, three shorthanded).
▪ Rodrigues’ goal, a wirst shot from the right circle 4:39 into the third period, was his first goal since Jan. 26, snapping a stretch of 12 consecutive games without a goal.
▪ Montour had a goal and two assists for his fifth multi-point game over the past seven games.
▪ Center Anton Lundell had two assists on Saturday for his seventh multi-point game of the season.
Up next
The Panthers’ three-game road trip continues with. aback-to-back against the New York Rangers on Monday and New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
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