Sergei Bobrovsky

Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe (23) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during first period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Panthers look every bit like reigning Stanley Cup champs in routing Hurricanes to open Eastern final

The Florida Panthers showed their championship mettle from last year’s run to the Stanley Cup by taking control early in their 5-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes to open the Eastern Conference final Tuesday night.

Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho (20) has his shot frozen by Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the third period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Reigning Stanley Cup champ Florida Panthers beat Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in Eastern final opener

Florida Panthers centre Sam Reinhart (13) celebrates his goal with teammates Aaron Ekblad (5) and Gustav Forsling (42) during the third period of Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Toronto, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes meet again in Eastern final

Florida Panthers centerAnton Lundell (15) scores against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during the second period of Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Toronto, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Panthers rout the Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference final

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, center, rear, talks with players during the third period in Game 6 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Paul Maurice says Game 7s represent ‘freedom.’ It awaits the Panthers and Leafs on Sunday night

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Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren saves the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals end losing streak with 3-1 win over Carolina Hurricanes

St. Louis Blues center Dylan Holloway (81) and Florida Panthers left wing Jonah Gadjovich (12) fall to the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Barkov scores power-play goal late in OT, Panthers beat Blues 2-1

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) defends his net against Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Tkachuk scores twice, Panthers defeat Wild 6-1

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, left, celebrates his goal with center Aleksander Barkov during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Matthew Tkachuk’s 2 goals lead Panthers past Wild 6-1

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) blocks the net during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Stars beat Capitals 3-1 with Hintz’s two goals, Oettinger’s 25 saves

Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett (9) and Carter Verhaeghe, right, celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during third-period NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Verhaeghe gets tiebreaking goal in 3rd period as Panthers beat Oilers 6-5

Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen, left, stops Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Lankinen stops 27 shots for 3rd shutout of season as Canucks beat Panthers 4-0

Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust, center, celebrates after his hat trick with teammates Sidney Crosby (87), Erik Karlsson (65) and Rickard Rakell (67) during third-period NHL hockey game action against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Penguins score 6 in third period to rout Canadiens 9-2

Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, right, stops a shot by Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann, center, during an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Seattle. The Panthers won 2-1 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Barkov and Reinhart help the Panthers beat the Kraken 2-1 in a shootout

Colorado Avalanche's Artturi Lehkonen, right, celebrates with Mikko Rantanen, left, after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Avalanche defeat Penguins 6-2, Rantanen records 10th career hat trick

Boston Bruins' Trent Frederic (11) scores past Philadelphia Flyers goalie Aleksei Kolosov during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Zacha scores in overtime as the Bruins rally past the Flyers for their 4th straight win

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) defend the goal against San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72), left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tkachuk scores 2 more goals, Panthers stay hot with 3-1 win over Sharks

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) acknowledges the crowd after an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

With Bobrovsky and his wife expecting a baby, Panthers recall Driedger from AHL’s Charlotte

Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov (16) moves the puck away from Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Martinook (48) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Greer, Lundell help Panthers beat back Hurricanes 6-3

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Panthers get 2nd win in last 8 games, roll past Maple Leafs 5-1

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky hoists the NHL hockey Stanley Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 24, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Sergei Bobrovsky’s growth into a top goalie is complete: ‘Bob’ is now a Stanley Cup champion

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad raises the NHL hockey Stanley Cup trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Top Cats: Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers 2-1 in Game 7

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stands on the ice before Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Sergei Bobrovsky’s growth into a top goalie is complete: ‘Bob’ is now a Stanley Cup champion

Top Cats: Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers 2-1 in Game 7

Florida Panthers' Gustav Forsling (42) and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) follow the puck as Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman (18) tries to get to it during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. The Oilers won 5-1 to tie the series. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Bobrovsky gets a day off from practice, Perry not done yet and the Cup will be on the move again

Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) gives up a goal to Edmonton Oilers' Adam Henrique (19) during the first period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky gets pulled after allowing 5 goals in Stanley Cup Final Game 4

Florida Panthers' Oliver Ekman-Larsson (91) and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrate after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

Barkov, Bobrovsky and the Panthers beat the Oilers 4-3 to move within win of Stanley Cup title

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky falls to the ice during the second period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Edmonton Oilers Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Bobrovsky makes 32 saves as the Panthers shut out the Oilers 3-0 in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky acknowledges the crowd after his team defeated the New York Rangers in Game 6 to win the Eastern Conference finals of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky isn’t slowing down at age 35. And the Stanley Cup Final awaits

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) blocks a shot by the New York Rangers during the third period of Game 2 during the Eastern Conference finals of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Friday, May 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Bobrovsky, Shesterkin matching each other save-for-save in Panthers-Rangers series for East title

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) deflects a shot by New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) as Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) looks for the rebound during the second period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoff finals, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Bobrovsky makes 23 saves for first shutout of the postseason, Panthers beat Rangers 3-0 in Game 1

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky deflects a shot during the first period of Game 5 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Sergei Bobrovsky makes 31 saves, Panthers beat Lightning 6-1 to advance to 2nd round

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) blocks a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Dumba (24) during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

A day later, ‘The Save’ still had Panthers marveling at Bobrovsky’s NHL playoff heroics

Florida Panthers players celebrate after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 during an overtime period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Verhaeghe scores OT winner, Bobrovsky makes some fantastic saves, and Panthers top Lightning 3-2

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) blocks a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Dumba (24) during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Bobrovsky makes incredible save during Panthers-Lightning playoff game