Bobrovsky's shutout brings Panthers to cusp of Stanley Cup Final

The Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 on Monday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final to take a 3-0 series chokehold, moving within one victory of their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 27 years.

Sergei Bobrovsky earned a 32-save shutout - the first of his postseason career - for his 10th victory in 11 starts dating back to the first round against the Boston Bruins.

The 34-year-old has posted a .978 save percentage in the conference final along with a 0.69 goals against average and 11.57 goals saved above expected.

"It's been great, I thought guys did a great job in front of me (the) whole series, whole playoffs," Bobrovsky told TNT after the win. "They box out, they work so hard to get that result. It's a team effort. You get (a) lucky bounce, you get lucky here and there, and you come out with this result. So I'm just fortunate and humbled to be in this spot."

The Hurricanes were thoroughly in control of the contest but failed to convert an array of opportunities. Carolina commanded 73.49% of shot attempts, 75.61% of scoring chances, and 77.83% of expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The Metropolitan Division champions have just one even-strength goal in the series, a first-period tally from defenseman Jalen Chatfield in Game 2.

Panthers forward Sam Reinhart scored the game's only goal - his seventh of the playoffs - on the power play midway through the second period.

Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday in Florida. The Panthers' lone Stanley Cup Final appearance came in 1996 when they lost in a sweep against the Colorado Avalanche.

Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.