Florida Panthers Paul Maurice reveals what he was thinking as Bobrovsky crossed the ice vs the Sharks.
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Jonathan Ouimet
Jan 22, 2026 (4:07 PM)
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Photo credit: screenshot
Florida Panthers Paul Maurice Sergei Bobrovsky moment turns into Daniil Tarasov start
It was the kind of scene you replay twice just to make sure you saw it right.
Sergei Bobrovsky left the crease and went hunting in a third period scrum against San Jose.
That cross ice charge felt like a goalie breaking character mid movie. Bobrovsky is usually all calm edges, no chirps, no theatrics, just reads and resets.
Not because it was boring, but because he needs those hands making saves, not trading punches.
''And there goes Sergei blasting. My two concurrent thoughts: The first is, you know, he's kind of deserved to have a little bit of fun (.....) Then there's the thought of, hands or face, like if you're gonna break something, I don't wanna, just for him personally, I don't want it to be his face. I'd rather be his hand, but his hand might be harder for you. That's a lot that blasts through your brain and then really, really happy when it's over.'' Maurice said.
The backstory matters too. Florida had just watched three goals go in during a brutal stretch, and the game had already tilted the wrong way.
Bobrovsky said he felt the play crossed a line and he made a decision in the moment. That is basically the most aggressive sentence he has ever owned.
Now, with Winnipeg on deck, the Panthers are flipping the page with a practical move. Maurice is going with Daniil Tarasov in net, and the rest of the lineup stays the same.
Paul Maurice protects Sergei Bobrovsky
The funny part is that the goalie fight was a jolt of emotion in a game that needed one. The dangerous part is that it only takes one awkward fall.
Bobrovsky has carried Florida through plenty of messy nights, especially when rebounds start bouncing into the slot.
When he is battling pucks, the whole team plays nervous.
When a backup comes in, the assignment is simple hockey. Freeze what you can, steer the rest to the corners, and let the bench breathe again.
Against the Jets, that calm matters because Winnipeg lives around the blue paint. If Florida gets loose on box outs, the crease turns into a pinball machine.
Maurice is also protecting the bigger picture. A rested Bobrovsky is still Florida's best bet when the schedule tightens and the games get meaner.
If Tarasov delivers a steady night, it is not just two points, it is a reset button.
And after seeing Bobrovsky go full superhero mode against the Sharks, Florida could use normal.
Paul Maurice Back in Winnipeg: Florida Panthers at Jets Pregame
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