Bobrovsky steals Game 1, sets two new records.
Sergei Bobrovsky steals the show in Game 1 with an incredible performance for the ages.
It was the kind of performance that will last in the memories of fans, on both sides, for a very long time.
On Saturday night, the Florida Panthers welcomed the Edmonton Oilers to Sunrise, Florida for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final and, in spite of all the star power on the ice, one man would steal the show. That man was Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped 32 of the 32 shots he faced from the Oilers onslaught on his way to a perfect performance in Game 1.
In the process Bobrovsky would add to his rapidly growing legend by establishing a brand new league-wide record as the oldest goaltender to ever open the Stanley Cup Final with a shutout at the age of 35 (and 262 days). In fact Bobrovsky becomes the first goaltender above the age of 35 to record a shutout in the Stanley Cup Final since Martin Brodeur did it for the New Jersey Devils all the way back in 2012.
That shutout would also prove to be the 13th win of these playoffs for Bobrovsky which is good enough to establish a new Florida Panthers record. Bobrovsky had previously shared the record with former Florida Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck after winning 12 playoff games last season, but he now has sole possession of that record.
The oldest goaltender to record a shutout in the opening game of a Stanley Cup Final prior to Bobrovsky's amazing performance last night was none other than NHL legend Patrick Roy who had established the record at 35 years of age (and 233 days) all the way back in 2001.
When your name starts being mentioned in records alongside the likes of Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy, you're probably doing something right.
