Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall for the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, making 24 saves en route to his 400th career win, as the Panthers claimed a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers. It was a special night for the 36-year-old veteran, who became just the 14th goaltender in NHL history to reach the 400-win milestone.
The Panthers seized control right from the opening puck drop. Anton Lundell struck just 44 seconds into the game, capitalizing on a clean look in the slot to beat Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin. Less than two minutes later, Carter Verhaeghe found the back of the net at the 2:42 mark, giving Florida an early 2-0 advantage.
Though New York responded quickly when Alexis Lafreniere scored at 4:44, cutting the Panthers’ lead in half, that would be the only crack in Bobrovsky’s wall for the night. The Panthers’ netminder delivered key stops in the opening period, including a breakaway save against Jonny Brodzinski and a pad save on Filip Chytil, while later stifling a close-range attempt from Chris Kreider.
In his sixth season with the Panthers and his 15th in the NHL, Bobrovsky reached the 400-win milestone in just 707 games, making him the fastest goaltender to accomplish this feat. With a career record of 400-226-56, he now sets his sights on surpassing Chris Osgood for 13th on the all-time wins list.
Bobrovsky’s career has been one defined by consistency, resilience, and big moments. Thursday night’s performance was no exception, as he led his team with poise against a Rangers squad that entered the game undefeated in regulation at 5-0-1.
The Panthers added to their lead in the second period when Sam Bennett found the net at 6:59, restoring Florida’s two-goal advantage in a rematch of last spring’s Eastern Conference Final, which the Panthers won in six games.
Florida has shown early resilience on the road this season, improving to 3-2-0 after finishing with an Eastern Conference-best 26-10-5 road record last year. Their solid performance against a surging Rangers team suggests the Panthers are once again ready to contend in the East.
For the Rangers, the loss marked their first regulation defeat of the season. Shesterkin held his own with 26 saves, but his efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Panthers’ early offensive burst and Bobrovsky’s steady presence in net. Artemi Panarin, who leads the Rangers with 13 points, was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season, a testament to Florida’s disciplined defensive play.
Bobrovsky’s early breakaway save on Brodzinski and his pad stop on Chytil helped stabilize Florida’s lead and set the tone for a determined defensive effort. With his milestone win in hand, Bobrovsky continues to write his own legacy as a cornerstone of the Panthers’ success.
As the Rangers prepare to host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, they’ll look to regain their offensive rhythm. Meanwhile, the Panthers remain in New York to take on the Islanders, hoping to carry forward their momentum and build on Bobrovsky’s historic night.
