Goalies set for Stanley Cup rematch: Bobrovsky and Skinner, matching wits once again

Tim Reynolds · The Associated Press

· Posted: Jun 02, 2025 3:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 hours ago

The lone times that Sergei Bobrovsky spent immoderate clip truly reflecting connected winning the Stanley Cup were the evident moments. The on-ice solemnisation that night. The time of the parade. Things similar that.

Otherwise, helium did what helium ever does. He looked astatine what was next.

It is simply a elemental attack and it works champion for the Florida goaltender, who is astir to play successful the Stanley Cup last for a 3rd consecutive season. At 36 and showing perfectly nary motion of slowing down, Bobrovsky's prevention percent successful these playoffs is higher than what helium posted a twelvemonth agone connected the mode to the title, portion his goals-against mean is lower.

And successful this rubric series, he'll apt beryllium matching goalie wits with Stuart Skinner again — the Edmonton netminder who was successful extremity for past year's Stanley Cup final, erstwhile Florida topped the Oilers successful a seven-game classic. Game 1 is successful Edmonton connected Wednesday night.

"You bask the infinitesimal and savour the moment," Bobrovsky said. "You're not trying to chopped yourself disconnected reasoning astir what's up oregon what's happened successful the past. So, you're conscionable trying to instrumentality vantage of the accidental again. It's a large opportunity. There's lone 2 teams left, and we're 1 of them and we person an accidental to triumph it all. It's an breathtaking time, and I privation to bask each spot of it."

Bobrovsky has been the lone goalie for Florida successful these playoffs. For Edmonton, it was a antithetic story.

Skinner had the starter occupation going into the post-season, past mislaid it to Calvin Pickard, past got it back. The Oilers needed 12 wins to get to the final, obviously: Skinner got six of those wins, Pickard got the different six.

But Skinner, earlier getting replaced successful the playoffs, conscionable didn't person the numbers helium has now.

He had a 3.39 GAA and an .872 prevention percent successful his archetypal six playoff appearances; helium had a 1.25 GAA and a .952 prevention percent successful the past 4 appearances, each of them wins implicit Dallas successful the Western Conference final. He seemed much confident; Skinner said that wasn't truly the case.

"I felt assured before," Skinner said. "That's the beingness of being a goaltender."

That said, Skinner did admit that determination was a antithetic consciousness to those games against Dallas.

"It ebbs and flows," Skinner said. "You tin consciousness it close away. Sometimes you don't consciousness it close away. I mean, I privation I felt it each the time."

Bobrovsky has astir made a vocation retired of trying to debar the ebbs and flows. The Panthers person enactment implicit spot successful him and what helium needs to bash to beryllium ready. Panthers manager Paul Maurice often says — and helium isn't kidding — that helium doesn't manager Bobrovsky. Robb Tallas is Florida's goaltender coach, helium works with Bobrovsky, and Maurice's occupation is to accidental hullo and small else.

Bobrovsky rewards that trust.

"I've said truthful galore times, I'm blessed with the squad that I have," Bobrovsky said. "The guys, the management, the coaches. The coaches let maine to bash my things, which is important, particularly astatine my age. To person the country to bash the things that I request and I believe, I admit everything — wherever I am, who's astir me. It's a blessing and I admit it."