Bobrovsky shuts out Oilers in Stanley Cup Final opener

Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves as the Florida Panthers shut out the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 on Saturday in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Panthers fired 18 shots on goal. It's only the third time Florida has been outshot in the postseason.

This is the first time in franchise history that the Panthers have held a series lead in the final.

Bobrovsky, 35, is the oldest goalie to post a shutout in the Stanley Cup Final since Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas in 2011. It's also the first Game 1 shutout in a final since 2011, when the Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo blanked the Bruins.

The win is Bobrovsky's 13th in this playoff run, setting a new franchise mark for a Panthers goaltender in a single postseason. Bobrovsky and John Vanbiesbrouck shared the previous record of 12, setting it last year and in 1996, respectively.

"Everything you want in a teammate, especially a goalie," star forward Matthew Tkachuk said, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.

Carter Verhaeghe opened the scoring four minutes into the first period of Saturday's game. Evan Rodrigues put the Panthers up 2-0 in the second, and Eetu Luostarinen sealed the victory with an empty-netter.

Oilers superstar Connor McDavid played 25:19 in his final debut. He recorded six shots and was a minus-2.

"Lots to like," McDavid said of the Oilers' performance, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli. "We didn't give up too much, what we did give up was dangerous. Not a ton of puck luck around their net."

Edmonton had an 18-6 edge in high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Game 2 is Monday at 8 p.m. ET.