Sergei Bobrovsky may be the best goalie in the National Hockey League.
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner is the only active goalie to have won the award, handed out to the NHL's best netminder, twice. In years past, when the cupboard was bare in Columbus, “Bob” was always there. Whether being a much needed face of the franchise to put butts into seats, or playing out of his mind to secure the team's second ever Stanley Cup Playoff berth in 2014, Bobrovsky has been everything the Blue Jackets could want in a superstar goalie.
Bobrovsky has a Penguins problem, however.
Fresh off a 5-4 overtime loss Thursday night, in his last 10 starts against Pittsburgh, he's given up four goals per game, is stopping just under 90% of the Penguins' shots – and most importantly – has helped his team to just win.
| Date | Game Type | Venue | Result | Saves | GA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APRIL 5, 2018 | REGULAR SEASON | NATIONWIDE ARENA (COLUMBUS) | LOSS (OT) | 43 | 5 | .884 |
| FEBRUARY 18, 2018 | REGULAR SEASON | NATIONWIDE ARENA (COLUMBUS) | LOSS | 23 | 5 | .783 |
| DECEMBER 27, 2017 | REGULAR SEASON | PPG PAINTS ARENA (PITTSBURGH) | LOSS (SO) | 37 | 4 | .892 |
| DECEMBER 21, 2017 | REGULAR SEASON | PPG PAINTS ARENA (PITTSBURGH) | LOSS (SO) | 41 | 2 | .951 |
| APRIL 20, 2017 | PLAYOFF | PPG PAINTS ARENA (PITTSBURGH) | LOSS | 32 | 5 | .844 |
| APRIL 18, 2017 | PLAYOFF | NATIONWIDE ARENA (COLUMBUS) | WIN | 31 | 4 | .871 |
| APRIL 16, 2017 | PLAYOFF | NATIONWIDE ARENA (COLUMBUS) | LOSS | 47 | 5 | .894 |
| APRIL 14, 2017 | PLAYOFF | PPG PAINTS ARENA (PITTSBURGH) | LOSS | 31 | 3 | .903 |
| APRIL 12, 2017 | PLAYOFF | PPG PAINTS ARENA (PITTSBURGH) | LOSS | 29 | 3 | .897 |
| APRIL 4, 2017 | REGULAR SEASON | PPG PAINTS ARENA (PITTSBURGH) | LOSS | 24 | 4 | .833 |
| TOTALS | 1–6–3 | 338 | 40 | .894 | ||
That's worth repeating: Bobrovsky has just one win in last 10 starts against the Penguins.
In the four games he's played against the Penguins this season, Bobrovsky is winless, having allowed 16 goals, while saving 90% of the shots he faced. In games played against everyone but the Penguins this season, Bobrovsky has a 2.32 GAA and a .933 save percentage – the Vezina-type numbers he typically produces.
But even that pales in comparison to how badly the Penguins roughed Bobrovsky up during the teams' first round playoff matchup last spring. In five games, Bobrovsky went 1–4 with a 3.88 GAA and a rather pedestrian .882 save percentage. In the series, he was handily outplayed by Pens goalie Marc-André Fleury, and Pittsburgh had little trouble advancing.
To be fair to Bob, the Penguins are the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, roll two of the best players the world in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and then you have Phil “Mr. Nice Guy, Tries Hard, Loves the Game” Kessel, seemingly blessed with a laser on his stick. It's little doubt the Pens have the league's best power play and they made the Jackets pay dearly Tuesday night, converting on two of their three attempts.
The Pens peppered Bobrovsky with at least 37 shots in three of the Pens' four wins against Bobrovsky this season, and he stood tall enough to take his team into overtime. But in his one start against the Penguins that did not go to overtime, he allowed five goals on 28 shots.
Sergei Bobrovsky has been a rock for the Blue Jackets for years. He'll be remembered as one of the best goalies to ever play the game. But if he wants to lead his to new heights, he'll have to solve the Penguins – Columbus' likely first round matchup in this season's playoffs – and their stable of snipers.
