Sergei Bobrovsky made a slow start to the series in Game 1, getting beaten five-hole on the first shot he faced from William Nylander just 33 seconds in and surrendering three goals on 12 shots overall in the opening 20 minutes.
During the 2023 playoffs, he didn’t allow more than two goals to Toronto in any of the five games and finished that series with a sparkling .943 save percentage.
Bobrovsky looked off in the early stages Monday night, losing his angle on Morgan Rielly’s rush goal to put the Leafs ahead 3-1 before a bobbling Chris Tanev point shot went through him at 7:50 of the second period. However, he tightened up considerably from there and gave the Panthers a chance to rally back.
Playoff Bob appeared to be back in his usual form in the third period, denying Max Domi on a breakaway, before eventually surrendering another goal to Matthew Knies when the Leafs winger got in alone.
It was the first time in these playoffs that Bobrovsky allowed more than four goals against.