- Leafs GM John Chayka says the team has “a lot of confidence” in Sergei Bobrovsky
- Bobrovsky is 3-5-2 with a .885 save percentage after allowing five on 17 shots to Seattle
- Read below for what Bobrovsky and Auston Matthews said after the loss
The Maple Leafs aren’t changing course in goal. Not yet, anyway.
General manager John Chayka stood firmly behind Sergei Bobrovsky on Thursday, one day after a 5-4 loss to the Kraken that left the veteran goalie answering for another rough night. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun relayed Chayka’s comments from the media session:
Bobrovsky signed a three-year, $21 million contract with Toronto this summer, a $7 million cap hit meant to settle the crease. Through 10 starts he is 3-5-2 with a 3.29 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage. He has allowed three or more goals in nine of those 10 games.
Wednesday in Seattle was the sharpest example. Bobrovsky gave up five goals on just 17 shots, and Brandon Montour beat him with the game-winner in the final minute of regulation. Montour spent the last few seasons as his teammate in Florida.
Bobrovsky was asked about that last goal after the game and put it on himself.
“I thought guys played well. You know, we deserved a point at least. It was good game. Was good mental challenge. And I thought I could help in the last goal, for sure,” Bobrovsky said. “Good shot above the pad.”
Auston Matthews was asked about his goalie and came to his defense, pointing at the skaters in front of him.
“Bob’s been great. I mean, he’s been great for us all year long,” Matthews said. “Every now and then there’s going to be a couple you want back. But in the end, I put it more on us as a five-man unit, not doing enough to help him out in certain situations where they’re coming down and getting Grade-A chances.”
Watch the highlights from the game in Seattle:
Anthony Stolarz is the one making the case for more starts. He is 4-1-0 with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage, and he has been the steadier of the two so far.
Toronto has played 15 of its 84 games. The Leafs close out a four-game road trip Saturday in Vancouver, and the goaltending plan for that one is worth watching. Chayka also has a history of making big swings, as we covered when he said he was open to another blockbuster.
