(Sunrise) The Eastern Conference Finals have been a goaltending duel so far, and no one should have expected anything else.
It seems fitting that the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers are tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 on Sunday, given that both Russian goalies and former Vezina Trophy winners, Sergei Bobrovsky and Igor Shesterkin, have offered similar performances.
The first allowed only two goals to the Rangers, compared to three for Shesterkin, including an “own goal” from Alexis Lafrenière in the first confrontation.
And the similarities don’t end there.
“It’s really fun,” Bobrovsky said. The terms “hair-raising”, “gut-inducing” and “nail-biting” would also apply very well to the situation.
PHOTO JULIA NIKHINSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sergei Bobrovsky (72)
The Rangers tied the series 1-1 Friday with a crucial 2-1 overtime win at Madison Square Garden before heading to Florida. A 0-2 deficit would have been a big blow for the Rangers.
There’s been almost no wiggle room in the first two games: out of 134 minutes and 1 second of hockey so far in the Eastern final, 130 minutes and 13 seconds have been played with a gap of ‘one goal or less. The reason is very simple: the goalkeepers were difficult to beat.
“He’s been great, he’s been great this year and he’s certainly been great in the playoffs,” Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said of Shesterkin. The goalkeepers on both sides were good. »
If we remove Lafrenière’s goal in his own net, the statistics of the two masked men are almost identical. Bobrovsky blocked 52 of the 54 shots he received, for an efficiency rating of .963. Shesterkin, for his part, turned away 50 of the 52 pucks aimed at him, for an efficiency rate of .962.
It’s not news that Bobrovsky and Shesterkin have similar statistics. Including the season and playoffs, Shesterkin’s record is 45-20-2 and Bobrovsky’s is 45-21-4. They both have 36 wins in 2023-24 and nine so far in the playoffs. Shesterkin’s efficiency rating is .915, Bobrovsky’s is .914.
“There is a very good goaltender at each end of the ice,” said Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. It’s an exciting series with lots of checking and action. »
But not many goals.
“Obviously, these are two of the best goalkeepers in the world, and it’s quite a matchup,” Carter Verhaeghe said. We’re always looking to score, but they’re both playing exceptionally well. »
Furthermore, Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey will not return to the game anytime soon. Injured to the upper body in the second game after colliding with Ryan Lomberg, his case will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis.