Bobrovsky truly reflected on winning the Stanley Cup only during the obvious moments: the on-ice celebration or the day of the parade. The rest of the time, as usual, he looked ahead.
This simple approach works for the 36-year-old Florida goaltender, who is preparing for his third consecutive Stanley Cup Final. He shows no signs of slowing down: his stats in the current playoffs (higher save percentage, lower goals-against average) are better than last year on the way to the title.
And in this final series, he will likely face Stuart Skinner once again – the Edmonton goaltender who was in net for last year`s Stanley Cup Final, when Florida triumphed in a classic seven-game series. Game one is in Edmonton on Wednesday night.
“You enjoy the moment and cherish it,” Bobrovsky said. “You don`t try to cut yourself off thinking about what lies ahead or what has already happened. You just try to take advantage of this opportunity again. It`s a great opportunity. There are only two teams left, and we are one of them, and we have a chance to win it all. It`s an exciting time, and I want to enjoy every part of it.”
Unlike Bobrovsky, who has been Florida`s only goaltender this playoff run, Edmonton had a different story. Skinner started as the number one goalie, then lost his spot to Calvin Pickard, and then got it back. The Oilers obviously needed 12 wins to reach the final: Skinner got six of them, and Pickard got the other six.
However, Skinner, before being replaced during the playoffs, wasn`t posting the numbers he is now. In his first six playoff appearances, he had a 3.39 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage; in the last four games, which were won against Dallas in the Western Conference Final, those numbers were 1.25 and .952 respectively. He seemed more confident, but Skinner himself denied this.
“That`s the life of being a goaltender,” Skinner said.
Skinner did, however, admit that there was a different feeling in the games against Dallas.
“It`s ebbs and flows,” Skinner said. “You can feel it right away. Sometimes you don`t feel it right away. I wish I felt it all the time.”
Bobrovsky, on the other hand, has spent almost his entire career trying to avoid these “ebbs and flows.” The Panthers fully trust him and what he needs to do to prepare. Panthers coach Paul Maurice often says (and he`s not joking) that he doesn`t coach Bobrovsky. Robb Tallas is Florida`s goaltender coach; he works with Bobrovsky, and Maurice`s job is just to say “hello” and nothing more.
Bobrovsky rewards that trust.
“I`ve said so many times that I`m blessed with the team I have,” Bobrovsky said. “The guys, the management, the coaches. The coaches allow me to do my things, which is important, especially at my age. Having the space to do what I need and what I believe in, I appreciate everything – where I am, who is around me. It`s a blessing, and I appreciate it.”
