'We Need To Help Out Bob': Sergei Bobrovsky Must Wait Longer For First Win, Kept Maple Leafs Alive In Shootout Loss To Golden Knights

October 9, 2026

The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to a 4-3 shootout defeat against the Vegas Golden Knights in their first road game of the season, settling for a point after a hard-fought performance. Despite an early 3-0 lead, the Leafs trailed 4-3 in regulation before forcing overtime and a shootout, where Sergei Bobrovsky’s stellar play kept the team alive.

The veteran goaltender, now with the Maple Leafs, stopped 40 of 43 shots faced in regulation and overtime, posting a .930 save percentage—his best outing in three starts this season. Though Bobrovsky has yet to secure his first win with Toronto, his efforts extended the game and earned the team a crucial point against last year’s Stanley Cup finalists.

Coach Jim Hiller praised Bobrovsky’s resilience, noting his ability to stabilize the game during shaky moments, particularly in the second period when the Leafs struggled to contain Vegas’ late surge. The team’s penalty kill also stood out, converting 14 of 15 opportunities in their first five games, with Bobrovsky making key saves to preserve leads under pressure.

Defenseman Chris Tanev emphasized the need for improvement, calling for better support to help Bobrovsky secure victories, while forward Easton Cowan earned a promotion to the second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander, backed by strong early possession metrics and aggressive forechecking under Hiller’s system.