Insulate Sergei Bobrovsky
Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky is a bit of an enigma between the pipes. For years, he struggled in the playoffs, posting below-average metrics across the board and a record below .500. But things changed in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bobrovsky was sensational after being called off the bench in Round 1, helping his team to the final before running out of steam. He's following a similar pattern in this year's postseason, and Florida needs to continue insulating their goaltender if they hope to advance.
Bobrovsky hasn't looked exceptional during this playoff run, but he's been what the Panthers need him to be. He has a middling 90.2% save percentage and 2.37 goals against average while facing just 24.0 shots per game. That's hardly a passing grade or vote of confidence for a Panthers team that will face a more sincere challenge from New York.
Florida needs to play a structured defensive system to prevent the Rangers from gaining offensive momentum. In the end, it cost the Panthers the Stanley Cup last year, and they can't demand too much from Bobrovsky in the Eastern Conference Final.
