- Sergei Bobrovsky starts for the Maple Leafs against Utah on Tuesday
- A win passes Henrik Lundqvist for the most wins by a goalie born outside North America
- Read below for how Bobrovsky’s rocky start in Toronto set this up
Sergei Bobrovsky can pass Henrik Lundqvist on the all-time wins list Tuesday night.
The Maple Leafs goalie gets the start against the Utah Mammoth at Scotiabank Arena (7 p.m. ET). A win moves him past Lundqvist’s 459 for sixth all-time and gives him the most wins ever by a goalie born outside North America.
The milestone arrives during a rough opening stretch. Bobrovsky is 3-5-2 with a 3.29 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage in 10 games, and he has allowed at least three goals in nine of them. Chayka has already said the Leafs have confidence in him.
His last start was a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 28. Auston Matthews tied it 4-4, then Brandon Montour scored the go-ahead goal with 33 seconds left. Some thought Anthony Stolarz might get a second straight start after that one.
Head coach Jim Hiller said that wasn’t much of a debate inside the building. He was asked about starting Bobrovsky on Tuesday.
“I’ve talked about it more today with you guys (the media) than we have talked about it in two weeks with our coaches and management.”
The Leafs also gave Bobrovsky’s mask its own post Monday:
Mats Sundin was Lundqvist’s teammate and Sweden’s captain at the 2006 Turin Olympics. He told NHL.com what a goalie at that level does for a roster.
“I think if you have a goalie like Bobrovsky or Henrik Lundqvist, I think it effects the whole team, the confidence of the team. And it gives you a chance to win every night you’re out there when you have a goaltender at the caliber like that.”
Matthews talked about what he has picked up from sharing a locker room with the two-time Stanley Cup winner (2024, 2025).
“I think he’s just such a true professional, just the way he carries himself, his mindset and just his perspective on things.”
Stolarz explained how a goalie handles a slow start.
“I think having a short-term memory for a goalie is huge. You just have to forget about it, flush out whatever happens.”
Toronto signed Bobrovsky to a three-year deal on July 1, betting that last season’s 27-23-1 record, 3.07 GAA and .877 save percentage with Florida came from the Panthers’ injuries and not his age. The Leafs sit sixth in an Atlantic Division where all eight teams are above .500, so they need the bounce back soon.
