George Richards, FHN Publisher
Sergei Bobrovsky made history Thursday night.
The Florida Panthers goalie became the fastest goalie to win 400 NHL games.
Of course, what Bobrovsky wanted to talk about afterward was his team’s 3-1 win over the New York Rangers.
For Bobrovsky, the win is always the most important thing — even on a night when everyone just wants to celebrate him.
“At the moment, I don’t think too much about that,” Bobrovsky said. “It’s a big two points for us. We beat a really good team, a really balanced team … it’s a big moment for us.”
Yes, Sergei, it was.
“We’re celebrating him,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “He is the backbone of our team.’’
Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers Hall of Famer, got his 400th NHL win in his 727th game; Bobrovsky did it in 704.
Lundqvist was at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
So, too, was Bobrovsky’s first coach.
Bobrovsky’s first NHL win came just over 14 years ago in his debut on Oct. 7, 2010.
The fresh-faced rookie was a surprise starter in the first-ever game at Pittsburgh’s new downtown arena.
Instead of going with Brian Boucher in such a monumental moment, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette picked Bobrovsky.
At 22 years 17 days, Bobrovsky was the youngest goalie to start a Flyers opener.
“It wasn’t anything too extraordinary,” Bobrovsky said through an interpreter afterward. “I wasn’t too nervous. I was ready for this.”
Bobrovsky made 29 saves, and was named the game’s First Star in a 3-2 win over the Penguins.
He was off and running in a career which has seen him win the Vezina Trophy twice with the Columbus Blue Jackets and, finally with the Panthers on June 24, a Stanley Cup championship.
Not bad for a guy who was not drafted and worked his way not only into the NHL, but into its record book as well.
“I have been fortunate to skate with some of the best players in the world and play for the best coaches,” Bobrovsky said.
“I thank my teammates for the win. I will enjoy this moment for a long time. I enjoy playing this game like a little kid.”
Thursday night, Bobrovsky thanked Laviolette who had a front row seat for his first NHL win — and No. 400.
“He gave me the chance, the opportunity to play in this league,” Bobrovsky said of Laviolette, who now coaches the Rangers. “I appreciate him, and thank him for the opportunity.”
Bobrovsky only spent two seasons with the Flyers — he got 42 of his 400 wins in Philly — and became a cornerstone goalie with the Blue Jackets where he won 213 more and was tortured, perhaps for that debut win, by the Penguins in the playoffs.
He ended up leaving Columbus for the Panthers and the first few years were not all that great.
Things turned around in the 2023 playoffs where he all but carried the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final.
Now, not only has Bobrovsky secured a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but it is pretty likely his No. 72 will join Roberto Luongo’s No. 1 in the rafters in Sunrise.
Bobrovsky is now the fourth undrafted goalie with 400 career wins — the draft started in 1963 — joining Ed Belfour, Curtis Joseph, and Tony Esposito.
His 145 wins with the Panthers is second only to Luongo and his 230.
“It’s incredible,” coach Paul Maurice said. “I don’t mean any disrespect, but his first nine years in the league he wasn’t necessarily playing in front of an elite team. He had to grind for those wins.
“Those numbers are hard earned and that winning percentage is incredible. To do something like that, with the great netminders this game has had, I am really happy for him that he gets that recognition at the top of his game. I know the players really enjoyed it afterward.’’