Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky is clear Conn Smythe favorite

The Florida Panthers are now one win away from capturing the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship. Sergei Bobrovsky is on the verge of being named the Conn Smythe winner as MVP of the playoffs. 

While veteran leaders Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov have been essential to the Panthers getting to this point, no one has been as valuable as Bobrovsky throughout their entire playoff run. 

Bobrovsky stopped 32 out of Edmonton's 35 shots to give Florida a 4-3 win and a commanding 3-0 series lead. Bobrovsky was the better goalie on Thursday night, just as he's been on most nights this postseason. 

Even though some could point to the Oilers' struggles to produce scoring chances, Edmonton has actually led in total shots in two of the three games so far, but it hasn't mattered. The man between the pipes has made sure nothing the Oilers try to do matters. 

Being able to rely on Bobrovsky is nothing new for the Panthers. Keeping in mind the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the MVP of the playoffs, not just the Stanley Cup Final, Bobrovsky has been a steady hand his team can rely on all postseason long. 

The 35-year-old netminder now owns a 15-5 record with two shutouts along with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage throughout the playoffs. He's also been progressively better each round. After allowing five goals to the Rangers in an overtime loss on May 26, Bobrovsky has only allowed more than two goals in a game once: this game.

This 2024 postseason is shaping up to be Bobrovsky's most memorable year of his career, especially because few predicted he would be a driving force of the Panthers making back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances and being on the verge of winning it all. 

Bobrovsky's NHL career has been a strange roller-coaster ride, to say the least. In 14 years, Bobrovsky has 213 wins, has played for three teams, been a starter and a backup, won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie twice and has three All-Star selections to his credit. 

Bobrovsky's postseason brilliance has also come at the expense of quality opponents in the Lightning, Bruins and Rangers. To no coincidence, the top players Florida has face have struggled against Bobrovsky.  

Brad Marchand was held without a goal and was only able to record two assists for Boston against Bobrovsky in the second round. New York's Chris Kreider only got the puck past Bobrovsky once in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Now the Oilers' usually potent duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both scoreless through the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final. 

The Panthers' path hasn't been easy, but they're on their way to becoming the deserving champion, mostly thanks to Bobrovsky. If they finish their mission, Bobrovsky's name will undoubtedly forever be etched in history as the 2024 Conn Smythe winner.