Bobrovsky, Maple Leafs looking for traction

TORONTO – Sergei Bobrovsky arrives in Toronto with a long and impressive resume.

A pair of Stanley Cups ring out along with two Vezina Trophy awards as the NHL’s leading scorer sits right at the top.

However, early in his tenure with the Maple Leafs, the 38-year-old and his teammates are still looking for traction.

Bobrovsky’s record dropped to 1-3-2 after Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders.

The Russian puck-stopper couldn’t be blamed for any of the three goals he conceded before the visitors added an empty-netter, but his save percentage now stands at .891 along with a goals-against average of 3.29.

“I feel good,” Bobrovsky, who signed a three-year, $21 million contract as a free agent, said of his start to the 2026-27 schedule. “There were a lot of opportunities, a lot of hard work. I tried to give the team the best chance to win the game. It (doesn’t) always go your way, but it didn’t work out.

“I remain patient and prepare for the next shot.”

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said the rest of the group didn’t provide much support during a period that saw Toronto (3-4-2) lose four of its last five games (1-2-2).

“We’ve really let it dry out here these last couple of starts,” the star center said. “We have to be better. He did his job. He made some big saves.”

Bobrovsky, who hoisted the Cup in 2024 and 2025 with the Florida Panthers, said coming north was an adjustment as part of a major summer roster overhaul.

“The style is different,” he said after making 16 stops against the Islanders. “New guys, it’s a new team. We’re all working together to build chemistry, to build trust. We have a great group of guys – guys who have great skills, professional guys.

“We just need to find our game and have to come together and play on the same page.”

The Maple Leafs have also been impacted by injuries.

Stoppage defenseman Chris Tanev, who was on the ice after Saturday’s morning skate, remains out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, while veteran center John Tavares has the same return-to-play designation after suffering a lower-body injury in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday.

“It’s tough, but this is the NHL,” said Toronto center Colton Sissons, who scored his team’s only goal on Saturday. “You keep losing players – important players – and other players have to step in. Maybe no one person needs to do the job. What is needed is all of us collectively.”

He added that, regardless of the outcome, watching Bobrovsky go through the process was impressive.

“Consummate professionals,” Sissons said. “There aren’t many players in this league who can nail the routine and the way he takes care of himself like he does. That’s why he’s been elite for so long.”

Bobrovsky, meanwhile, has now conceded three or more goals in each of his six starts.

He didn’t seem worried either.

“I remain patient and prepare myself for the next opportunity,” Bobrovsky said. “You might be thinking, ‘What if this, what if that?’ But that’s how it is. I’m sure. I feel comfortable with my game.

“I’m excited for the next opportunity.”

GETTING ON TRACK

The Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks on Monday and the New York Rangers on Thursday before returning to action.

“It’s very high,” Sissons said when asked about the urgency. “You can’t spend too much time here trying to solve problems – not in this league, not in our division. We are fully aware of that. At the moment there are some players who are down, we all have to deal with it collectively.

“We have full confidence.”

FROM THE BENCH

No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna took four shots and created a chance with the puck in 17 minutes, 56 seconds of ice time after sitting on the bench on Thursday.

“I don’t think there’s anything that’s really going to shake him,” Matthews said. “He’s confident in his game. He knows what he can do out there.”

McKenna was not available for reporters post-match.

IN

Toronto head coach Jim Hiller was at a loss to explain his team’s inability to reach center ice on Saturday.

“That’s a good question,” he said. “We came out (for) the third period, we scored right away doing that, right? There was nothing fancy about the goal. I’ll give them credit. They played their game to perfection. Their defensemen, I thought, did a really good job in the corners, pressing us and playing tight and not letting us out of the corners with the puck.

“There are some, but we don’t think they’re good enough.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2026.

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