Watch: Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky denies Canes of highlight-reel goal

With 6:30 left in the first, a sliding Jesperi Kotkaniemi made a ridiculous backhand pass from his knees to a charging Jack Drury, who seemed to have an angle on Bobrovsky's short side. However, the Panthers netminder calmly slid pipe-to-pipe, making an outrageous blocker save to keep Game 1 knotted at zero early on. 

Bobrovsky's first-period stop is only the latest in a line of huge saves he's made during a solid run during the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

The Panthers have ridden Bobrovsky as the starter since he relieved a pulled Alex Lyon in Game 1 of the first round against the Boston Bruins. After taking the loss in Game 2, Bobrovsky has dropped only one of his last eight starts. 

Bobrovsky was integral to the Panthers' series-clinching win over the Toronto Maple Leafs last week, making 50 saves in a 3-2 Game 5 victory. 

Heading into Game 1 of the conference final, Bobrovsky went 7-2 with a .918 save percentage in 10 games. 

If the Panthers hope to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1996, they'll need Bobrovsky to stay hot against a tough Hurricanes squad.