Bobrovsky, Panthers Shut Out Blue Jackets, Push Winning Streak To 5
Bobrovsky, Panthers Shut Out Blue Jackets, Push Winning Streak To 5
Blog Article
Bobrovsky got the 423rd win of his career, tying Tony Esposito for 10th in NHL history. It was his fourth shutout of the season and second in his past three starts.
“It is a blessing to play in this league and to have the life I have,” Bobrovsky said. “I enjoy every moment I get to put the gear on and get to go out and play, whether it is practice or a game. I have fun with the guys, work for them, and try to be there when they need me. Again, it’s a privilege to be part of this team.”
As for the company Bobrovsky is keeping on the wins list, Florida coach Paul Maurice said, “Tony Esposito, right? He’s from my hometown (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario), and I need to talk to [Bobrovsky] about that. … When we were growing up playing street hockey, you were either Ken Dryden or Tony Esposito. Those were the two. The guys who picked first, always picked Tony. That’s a pretty good name.”
Bobrovsky's records his 4th shutout of the season, notching a new milestone
Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart each had a goal and two assists for the Panthers (39-21-3), who have won 10 of 12.
“We had a good first and second period, and we knew lately, our third hasn’t been that good,” said Barkov, the Florida captain. “We wanted to be a little better. They had a push, but we did a better job. We’re happy with that, and it helps us moving forward.”
Elvis Merzlikins made 33 saves for the Blue Jackets (30-24-8), who lost their second straight and were outscored 9-2 during their two-game Florida trip. They lost 6-2 at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday to end a four-game winning streak.
“They did not allow us to get to our game,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “They played a strong game, smart, obviously. They did a lot of good things; we didn’t get in on the forecheck, we could have done more aggressive stuff … simplify our game a little. We complicated things early, and it kind of fed into how they play the game.”
The Panthers had a 69-41 advantage in shot attempts.