Sergei Bobrovsky is making NHL history in real time and Flyers fans can only watch with regret. The Florida Panthers goalie just became the first netminder ever to open a Stanley Cup Final with back-to-back 40-save games. As he chases a championship, his brilliance is a cruel reminder of the trade Philadelphia has never lived down.
Bobrovsky ’s historic run feels like salt in the Flyers’ wounds
At this point, Flyers fans might want to stop watching the Stanley Cup Final altogether. Because every time Sergei Bobrovsky takes the ice, it’s not just another brilliant performance, it’s a painful reminder of the one that got away.In a postseason that already feels like a career-defining stretch, Bobrovsky just made NHL history. With 42 saves in both Game 1 and Game 2 of the Final against the Edmonton Oilers, the Florida Panthers netminder has become the first goalie ever to start a Stanley Cup Final with consecutive 40-save efforts. It’s a stat that would be jaw-dropping on its own. But for Philadelphia? It’s downright gut-wrenching.With his Game 2 victory, Bobrovsky moved into 18th place on the NHL’s all-time playoff wins list, passing Tuukka Rask with 58. He’s now hunting down legends like Lundqvist, Hasek, and Vasilevskiy. Not bad for someone Philadelphia let go before he hit his prime.At 36, Bobrovsky is outplaying goalies ten years younger. This postseason, he’s 13-6 with a 2.21 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and three shutouts. In short, he’s doing exactly what the Flyers have spent over a decade searching for: anchoring a team, showing up when it matters, and stealing games when needed.Since the trade, Philadelphia’s goaltending situation has been a revolving door of inconsistency, injury, and frustration. Meanwhile, Bobrovsky has quietly built a Hall of Fame résumé and now, he’s closing in on the one piece missing from it: the Stanley Cup.Also Read: Auston Matthews leads Maple Leafs into new era as No. 16 Jersey retirement for Mitch Marner remains uncertainBobrovsky is making NHL history. But in Philly, it doesn’t feel like a league-wide celebration. It feels personal. Because the guy setting records in Florida could’ve and probably should’ve been doing it in orange and black.
