Sergei Bobrovsky blocked 23 shots and the Florida Panthers started the Eastern final on Wednesday, winning 3-0 over the New York Rangers.
Posted at 11:34 p.m.
This is a first shutout in the current series for the 35-year-old Russian.
Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett were the scorers at the expense of Igor Shesterkin.
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Tkachuk scored with less than four minutes remaining in the first period. His lively wrist shot, from the faceoff circle to Shesterkin’s right, beat the Russian on the glove side. The goalkeeper’s view was partially obscured by Adam Fox.
Bobrovsky was particularly brilliant in the final moments of the second period: he frustrated Mika Zibanejad while the Rangers deployed their power play, the third most effective in the current series, after those of the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche .
The Panthers thought they had doubled their lead midway through the third period, but Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s goal was disallowed due to interference from Ryan Lomberg.
At the end of the third period, Quebecer Alexis Lafrenière accidentally deflected the puck with his stick into his own net. Verhaeghe was credited with the goal.
Sam Bennett then sealed it in an empty net.
The second clash will be presented on Friday, still at the home of the Rangers.
