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Panthers Pregame: Bobrovsky back in groove, faces Avalanche

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Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will start Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche after making 21 saves in a 3-1 win at Arizona on Friday night. // Photo courtesy @FlaPanthers

After one of the best starts in his storied career, Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and his numbers started to take a dip.

Friday night against Arizona, Bobrovsky looked a lot like he did in the first two months of the season.

Bobrovsky was calm, cool and did not battle the puck in a 3-1 win over the Coyotes.

โ€œHe was excellent,โ€™โ€™ Andrew Brunette said. โ€œYou can tell a lot of times when he is zoned in and I thought he was zoned in tonight.โ€

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Although his numbers were not all that impressive โ€” Bobrovsky only faced 23 shots โ€” the shot selection the desperate Coyotes threw at him in the third were all answered and it led to another Panthers win.

โ€œWe could say this every night: He is lights out,โ€ Sam Bennett said. โ€œHe gives us confidence and he gives us energy. He is playing unbelievable right now.โ€

In his first 10 games, Bobrovsky not only went 8-0-2 but he gave up two goals or fewer in eight of them.

Prior to playing Arizona, he gave up at least three goals in five of his past six games.

โ€œI thought guys did a great job,โ€™โ€™ Bobrovsky said. โ€œWe scored two goals right away that gave us a lead and this was a big win for us.ย Every win is big but this one was not an easy road trip. This was huge.โ€

On Sunday, Bobrovsky will be back in net and will face a stiff test against a resurgent Colorado team which is still the Stanley Cup betting favorite โ€” even with the Panthers atop the NHL standings.

Colorado has scored seven games in each of its past three games. Not only is that a franchise record, but the Avs are the first team to accomplish that in 25 years.

โ€œWe have to have a checking mentality,โ€ coach Andrew Brunette said Saturday. โ€œI thought we played with one in the third period (Friday).

โ€œThey come in waves, sort of like we do, and we had a fun game early in the season. It was entertaining โ€” perhaps not for the coaches โ€” but for the fans and the players. Two good teams. Weโ€™ll see how we do.โ€

FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK

FLORIDA PANTHERS AT COLORADO AVALANCHE

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