Sergei Bobrovsky Shines in NHL Debut for the Philadelphia Flyers

For the first time since 1986, a Philadelphia Flyers’ rookie goaltender has won their first NHL game in the season opener.  The Flyers and “The Iron Curtain” Sergei Bobrovsky beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Thursday night and Bobrovsky looked sharp in his NHL debut. 

Sergei Bobrovsky joins Ron Hextall in this elite company and becomes the youngest to ever start in net for the Flyers.  Bobrovsky also gains maximum respect from his team and the hockey community with his stellar 29 save performance in his first start.

Take into consideration the factors that weighed on young Sergei Bobrovsky: this was his first game in the NHL, playing with a new team (minus some training camp) in a country that he is still unused to, and having to play in Pittsburgh on opening night in their new arena.  It takes some amazing concentration and persistence play well enough to win the top goalie spot and beat one of the most dynamic teams in the NHL.

Bobrovsky was rock solid through two periods, blocking everything that came his way.  It didn’t seem like the Penguins were on the same page, and Bobrovsky rarely seemed challenged by the shots he faced in the first two periods.

The Penguins came out firing in the third and Tyler Kennedy tallied a quick one on Sergei Bobrovsky.  Bobrovsky let up another goal around five minutes into the third; the goal was on a well setup power-play point blast from Alex Goligoski and the Penguins. 

Where a normal rookie in their debut would wilt like a rose, Bobrovsky continued to make saves and keep his head in the game.  The sign of a good goalie is the ability to instantly forget a goal, like a pitcher in baseball forgets a homerun. 

“The Iron Curtain” Sergei Bobrovsky came away victorious but the real winner in the long run is Philadelphia.  We haven’t had a homegrown goalie that captured the city’s collective heart since Ron Hextall over 25 years ago.  Bobrovsky has the confidence of the coaching staff and now his teammates and with the addition of Chris Pronger back to the lineup, Bobrovsky should only get better.

Bobrovsky finished the preseason with a 1.76 goals against average and a .939 save percentage and beat out veteran goalie Brian Boucher for the season opening start.

“I just think Sergei had a great camp, and [Laviolette] went with his gut,” Boucher said to the media before Thursday’s game.

I think Boucher will get playing time, but it will be interesting to see what Coach Peter Laviolette does with his goalie situation and if he keeps riding Bobrovsky’s hot hand.

For now, the Flyers can enjoy young Bobrovsky’s win and get themselves ready for another test against a pesky St. Louis Blues team on Saturday.

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