It comes as no surprise that Sergei Bobrovsky will start a ninth consecutive playoff game on Sunday as he hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs for Game 4. The 36-year-old Russian netminder has had a less-than-desirable playoffs thus far, with his 5-3-0 record, 2.94 GAA and .875 SV%. He will look to even the series at two as Florida welcomes the Toronto Maple Leafs for Game 4, who are averaging 3.5 goals per game in the playoffs so far.
It comes as no surprise that Sergei Bobrovsky will start a ninth consecutive playoff game on Sunday as he hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs for Game 4. The 36-year-old Russian netminder has had a less-than-desirable playoffs thus far, with his 5-3-0 record, 2.94 GAA and .875 SV%. He will look to even the series at two as Florida welcomes the Toronto Maple Leafs for Game 4, who are averaging 3.5 goals per game in the playoffs so far.
Bobrovsky has uncharacteristically struggled through the opening two games of the second round as he and the Panthers find themselves in an 0-2 hole. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner allowed four goals in Game 2, stopping just 16 of the 20 shots he faced. The sportsbooks inevitably like Bob's odds of bouncing back on Friday, as the Panthers enter action at -225 on the money line.
Bobrovsky struggled in Game 1 vs. Toronto after allowing five goals on 30 shots against (.833 SV%) but will look to bounce back on Wednesday for Game 2. The 36-year-old had a sensational regular season campaign, with a 33-19-2 record, 2.44 GAA and .906 SV% across 54 appearances. He will face the surging Toronto Maple Leafs on the road on Wednesday, who are averaging 3.4 goals per game throughout the playoffs.
With Aaron Ekblad returning from a two-game suspension, Uvis Balinskis will be the odd man out for Game 2 in Toronto on Wednesday. The 28-year-old has appeared in four games so far in the playoffs and had a goal, two SOG and a +4 plus/minus.
Greer has appeared in Florida's previous three playoff games but will head to the press box after being replaced by Mackie Samoskevich for Game 2 on Wednesday. Greer enjoyed his best offensive season in 2024-25, with six goals and 17 points in 81 games played, but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday.
Samoskevich has not appeared in Florida's lineup since Game 3 of their opening-round series vs. Tampa Bay but will draw back into the Panthers' lineup for Game 2 in Toronto on Wednesday. The 22-year-old will replace A.J. Greer on Florida's fourth line. In 72 regular-season games this season, Samoskevich had 15 goals and 31 points in his rookie campaign.
Ekblad was suspended for two games for elblowing Brandon Hagel in Game 4 vs. the Lightning, but will be back in the lineup for Game 2 in Toronto. Ekblad has missed 22 of the last 24 games due to multiple suspensions, but made an impact in his only two games, scoring one goal with three SOG (eight attempts), six hits and four blocked shots.
The Panthers selected Jansson in the fourth-round (No.125 overall) in 2022. The 21-year-old defenseman spent the 2024-25 season in the SHL, where he scored one goal with three assists (four points) in 50 games with Lulea HF. Expect him to report to Charlotte (AHL) if he makes the move to North America in 2025-26.
After besting their state rivals in just five games, the Panthers will of course stick with Bobrovsky between the pipes for the opening game of their second round matchup against the Maple Leafs. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner dropped just a single game and posted a .904 SV% in round one, including a 26-save, series clinching effort in Game 5 on Wednesday. The reigning Stanley Cup champions enter action on Monday at -125 on the money line.
The Panthers will of course have their franchise netminder between the pipes when they search for a series clinching victory in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Bobrovsky turned in a solid performance in Game 4, allowing just a pair of goals on 20 shots in the 4-2 win. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has posted a 2.01 GAA and a .902 SV% through the first four games of the series. The Panthers enter action on Wednesday at -105 on the money line.
Balinskis played the first two games of Florida's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, recording a +2 plus/minus and four hits. He exited the lineup when Aaron Ekblad returned from a suspension in Game 3 but will draw back in on Wednesday for Game 5.
Ekblad was not penalized on the play and eventually scored the tying goal in Florida's 4-2 victory in Game 4. Hagel suffered an undisclosed injury and has already been ruled out for Game 5. Uvis Balinskis will likely draw back into the Panthers lineup in place of Ekblad.
After a 19-save shutout in Game 2, giving the Panthers a 2-0 series lead, Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 21 shots (.810 SV%) in Saturday's 5-1 game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, narrowing their series lead to 2-1. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.44 GAA and .905 SV% in 54 games (33-19-2). He will return to the crease for Game 4 on Monday. Florida enters the contest as -142 home favorites against Tampa Bay.
