Rob Simpson: Don’t blame Bob for Florida Panthers’ loss to Islanders

Column from Rob Simpson, writing from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto

TORONTO — This was a pretty good Russian goaltending duel.

Semyon Varlamov (“Varly”) from Kuybyshev for the Islanders and Sergei Bobrovsky (“Bob”) from Novokuznetsk for the Panthers.

Heard it’s lovely there this time of year.

Not sure how many of Bob’s hometown fans would have seen this match, but they shouldn’t be upset with him. Bob wasn’t the problem.

Matt Martin’s goal at 6:12 of the second period that tied the game at 1-1 for New York came off a failed clear along the left wing boards and then pure discombobulation between Keith Yandle and Brian Boyle in their D-zone coverage.

I referred to them on Twitter as being from the “Island of Misfit Toys.” After those two collided with one another, Martin was all alone in front when he took a drop pass from Tom Kuhnhackl.