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Bobrovsky Shines in Tight Loss to Utah Mammoth
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 33 of 36 shots Tuesday but the Maple Leafs fell 3-2 to the Utah Mammoth at Scotiabank Arena.
Sergei Bobrovsky delivered one of his best performances of the season Tuesday night - and still ended up on the wrong side of a 3-2 result. The veteran goaltender stopped 33 of 36 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a close one to the Utah Mammoth at Scotiabank Arena, absorbing a tough early push from Utah while his teammates shook off the cobwebs from a West Coast road trip.
It was a sharper showing from the 38-year-old after a rough outing last Wednesday, when he gave up five goals on just 16 shots in a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Kraken.
A Rough Start to a New Chapter
Bobrovsky signed with Toronto on July 1, inking a three-year deal worth US$21 million (roughly CA$29 million). The two-time Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion came to town with a big reputation, but the first stretch of the season hasn't been smooth. He entered Tuesday's game with a 3-5-2 record, an .885 save percentage, and a 3.29 goals-against average - numbers that don't reflect the calibre of goaltender Toronto paid for.
Tuesday felt different. He made several crucial saves in the first two periods while the Leafs were still finding their legs.
"They pounded pucks on our net for the first two periods," said captain Auston Matthews, who contributed two assists. "He competes each and every night. I don't think any guy in this locker room has any concern for him. He's a true professional. He comes to the rink ready to play."
The Goal That Stung
The Leafs and their fans weren't happy when Utah's Barrett Hayton made contact with Bobrovsky's skate outside the blue paint on a second-period goal that made it 2-1, yet the officials ruled it good. Toronto chose not to challenge after head coach Jim Hiller said the team's internal data suggested an overturn was unlikely.
"What I hoped would have been an interference call by the referee," Hiller said. "Bobrovsky was out of the crease, but he got wiped right out. The rule, it's tricky to interpret. It really is. We've seen a lot of these."
Bobrovsky kept it short when asked about the sequence. "I am not in a position to judge the other guy's job," he said. "I just stick to the next shot. All I'll say is it's unfortunate - the circumstances are the circumstances."
Sharing the Crease
Toronto is managing a planned goaltending rotation, and backup Anthony Stolarz currently holds the better numbers: a 5-1-0 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.66 GAA. Bobrovsky hasn't pushed back on the arrangement.
"I just follow the recommendations," he said. "We have great people in the organization."
Hiller isn't concerned. "The ultimate pro and dialed right into his game," the coach said.
For Bobrovsky, the move from Florida to Toronto has been an adjustment well worth making. "It's exciting," he said of the transition. "You feel part of something big. Hockey is big. Everybody loves hockey. I love this responsibility."
Where the Leafs Go From Here
Tuesday's loss is a reminder that Toronto still has some fine-tuning to do, but Bobrovsky's bounce-back effort should provide some comfort. If he can string together performances like this one, the Leafs' goaltending picture gets a lot clearer. The bigger question now is whether the coaching staff gives him the runway to find his rhythm - or keeps leaning on Stolarz while the rotation plays out.