How Sergei Bobrovsky compares to the best goaltenders in NHL conference final history

Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Given the way Alex Lyon was playing at the end of the regular season, the thought of using Sergei Bobrovsky in the playoffs likely would have meant things were going south.

But then, the 34-year-old veteran led the Panthers to a shocking series comeback against the Boston Bruins, who were coming off the best regular season in NHL history. Bobrovsky and the Panthers then managed to keep Toronto to two goals or fewer in all five games for another upset series victory.

And now, here we are. Bobrovsky is playing the best playoff hockey of his career at a critical time. The most expensive goaltender in the NHL this year at $10 million has allowed just three goals in three games, starting with a 63-save quadruple overtime effort in Game 1. He then allowed just one in another overtime victory in Game 2 before shutting the door completely in Game 3, a 1-0 win to put the Carolina Hurricanes on the verge of elimination. We already know how hard it is to erase 3-0 series deficits, and with Bobrovsky boasting a 9-2-0 record, it makes it even more difficult.

What we’re seeing right now is truly special. Bobrovsky has a 0.69 goals against average, a .978 save percentage, as well as a 0.991 SV, 0.27 GAA, and 4.10 goals saved above average at 5-on-5 according to Natural Stat Trick. Only two goaltenders have ever put up better stats in the second-to-last playoff round in NHL history, and it could pay off in Florida’s second Stanley Cup appearance ever.

But, if the Panthers are going to pull through, Bobrovsky will need to change history a little bit, though. The goalies with the five best conference final performances in NHL history never ended up winning the Stanley Cup. Maybe it’s burning out, or just peaking at the wrong time, but clearly, show-stopping play in the conference final hasn’t led to success when it really matters. But right now, you can’t hold anything against Bobrovsky, who is doing everything in his power to help the Panthers knock off their third straight top-five team in the league.

So, how does he stack up against the best of the best? Here’s a look at five of the best goaltending performances in NHL conference final history:

Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Mighty Ducks (2003)

What Giguere and the Mighty Ducks were able to do in 2003 was truly something special. Giguere had three straight shutouts against the Minnesota Wild, including a 39-save double-overtime effort to open the series. The defense did an excellent job of limiting the scoring chances all series long, but it was Giguere who looked to be unstoppable. He finally allowed a goal early in the first period of Game 4, but two goals from Adam Oates helped mitigate the damage to give the Ducks their first Stanley Cup final berth in franchise history. Giguere finished the series with an incredible three shutouts, a .992 save percentage, and a 0.22 goals-against average – the best ever.

The Ducks ultimately lost to New Jersey in seven games. Giguere earned the rare honor of being named the Conn Smythe winner despite losing the Stanley Cup. After boasting a 15-6 record with a .945 save percentage and five shutouts and an estimated 18.8 goals saved above average, it’s easy to understand why.

Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins (2013)

Boston had its fair share of incredible goaltending performances during the early 2010s, but none match Rask’s brilliance in leading Boston to the 2013 Cup final. The Finnish keeper allowed just two goals in a four-game sweep, helped out by two shutouts, a .985 SP, and a 0.44 GAA. It started with Rask making a nabbing a shutout in Game 1 before winning 6-1 two nights later. In Game 3, Rask again came up big in a 2-1 double overtime win to put the Bruins in a clinching position. That’s when he bookended the series with another donut, edging Pittsburgh with a 1-0 victory to close it out.

At the time, Rask had taken over for Tim Thomas, who won a pair of Vezina Trophies and led the team to the 2011 Stanley Cup over Vancouver. Rask went on to win the Vezina and Olympic bronze the following year and went on to be one of the best goaltenders in the world over the next couple of years before retiring last season.

Arturs Irbe, Carolina Hurricanes (2002)

Irbe was a man of style, always donning his unique cage with plain white pads wherever he went. The Latvian goaltender had his ups and downs throughout his career, but it was the 2002 playoffs – the sixth of his career – where he permanently placed himself in the NHL history books. Irbe had a 10-8 record, but with a .938 SP and 9.5 GSAA, Irbe was the biggest reason why the Hurricanes overcame the Toronto Maple Leafs that year.

The team lost 2-1 in Game 1 before reversing the course with a pair of 2-1 wins themselves in overtime. Irbe then shut out the Leafs in Game 4 to force elimination, but Toronto answered back with a 1-0 win. Irbe made 35 stops in the series-clinching Game 6, arguably his biggest, and most important, performance of the playoffs. The Hurricanes fell in five games to Detroit in the Stanley Cup final, but it helped put the Hurricanes on the map less than a decade after moving to Raleigh. So for that, Canes fans will always appreciate Irbe’s brilliance.

Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins (2019)

St. Louis’ unlikely Stanley Cup run trumped whatever anyone did during the 2019 playoffs. But Rask’s play against Carolina to get Boston that far was truly spectacular. Rask allowed five goals total, but kicked play off with impressive 5-2 and 6-2 wins at home to get the ball rolling. Rask and the Bruins’ blueline managed to shut things down once the series moved to Raleigh, with Rask allowing just one goal in the next two outings to seal the deal and send the aging Bruins core back to the Stanley Cup final.

The Bruins led the final twice, but the Blues fought back and put Boston back on the brink of elimination. Rask played his best game of the series in Game 6 to trigger a Game 7, only for the Blues to play their own best game en route to the team’s first Cup. It wasn’t the result he wanted, but Rask came close to matching his numbers from the 2013 playoff run. Truly, a spectacular effort.

Anton Khudobin, Dallas Stars (2020)

Ah, Anton Khudobin. The least likely goaltender to lead an Cinderella team to the weirdest Stanley Cup final in recent memory. There was nothing normal about the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs in the two bubbles, and with Ben Bishop injured, the Stars looked destined to go out early. Instead, Khudobin had the best season of his career, which was aided by a playoff for the ages in his first as a starter. His overall numbers weren’t anything special, and it doesn’t help that he had a few stinkers along the way, but he was the most important player against Vegas in the Western Conference final.

It started with a shutout in Game 1, only for his team to get shut out in the second outing. Khudobin then responded with a nice 3-2 overtime effort in Game 3, one of his best games of the playoffs. He allowed just three goals the rest of the way as Dallas – a plucky underdog without the big guns we see today – held on for the Game 5 series clincher. Khudobin was spectacular in a Game 1 win over Tampa Bay, but the Lightning were too strong and ended up with the Stanley Cup. Khudobin was never able to regain that same magic and has spent much of the past two seasons in the AHL, making just one start in a rough 6-1 loss to Washington while with Chicago near the end of this season.

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