A Stanley Cup was the final piece for Sergei Bobrovsky's Hall of Fame-worthy resume

After signing a seven-year, $70 million contract ahead of the 2019-2020 season, Bobrovsky went on to post a combined .905 save percentage while allowing nearly three goals per game through his first four regular seasons with Florida. The Panthers were bounced from the playoffs early each of the first three seasons.

He returned to form during last season’s run to the Stanley Cup Final that saw them come up short.

This year, he was back to peak Bobrovsky from the very start.

He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy after finishing the regular season with a 36-17-4 record, a .915 save percentage, 2.37 goals against average and six shutouts in 58 starts.

His stats this postseason — a 2.32 goals against average and .906 save percentage — don’t look particularly flattering on the surface but there’s some context to be provided.

Bobrovsky held opponents to two goals or fewer in 16-of-24 starts, including a pair of shutouts (Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final against the New York Rangers and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton).

Of the 55 goals he gave up, 24 (or 43.6 percent) came in just five of the 24 games. Remove those outings, and his save percentage for the playoffs jumps up to .932.

It’s a big reason Bobrovsky was the second Panthers player to hoist the Cup following captain Aleksander Barkov.

“I think everyone knew it was going to go to him,” Barkov said. “He deserved it. He’s been incredible.”

Monday could have gone so much differently if Bobrovsky wasn’t in top form. He had allowed 12 goals during the previous three games against Edmonton to bring the series from a 3-0 Panthers lead to being tied and forcing a winner-take-all Game 7. His teammates took the blame for Bobrovsky’s undoing, saying they didn’t give him enough support and left him out to dry far too much.

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