Why Sergei Bobrovsky puts his trust in Maple Leafs video coaches

It was a close call to challenge for interference on a key Utah goal and though puzzled about rule, goalie respects the process.

Published Nov 04, 2026  •  2 minute read

Utah Mammoth winger Dylan Guenther performs a wrap-around as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky covers the net. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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The Leafs have been taking too many costly penalties of late and didn’t want to risk adding one Wednesday when they had the right of first refusal. 

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Fear of incurring a minor kept coach Jim Hiller cautious with his challenge when goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was bumped by the Mammoth’s Barrett Hayton at the top of his crease on the second Utah goal Tuesday.

A day later, Goalie Bob was still trying to figure out the National Hockey League standard. 

“In my understanding, if the goalie is not in the crease, that’s the reason (contact can be tolerated). But there is lots of gray area. In that particular moment I couldn’t do my job, to stop the puck. There are lots of questions,” Bobrovsky said.

Bobrovsky said he didn’t want to lobby hard for a challenge, putting his faith in the coaches, especially the long-time video tandem of Jordan Bean and Sam Kim.  

“I trust them completely on that,” he said. “They can see it from different angles and know the rules deeper than me. I only focus on what I should do in the moment.” 

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The 38-year-old Bobrovsky stayed in the gym Wednesday following his bounce-back performance of 33 saves against the Mammoth.

Saturday’s divisional start against Montreal would appear to be his ahead of Anthony Stolarz, on a big night for goalies with Carey Price and Pekka Rinne at Scotiabank Arena ahead of their Hall of Fame inductions.

The actual Hall of Fame Game is the next night at Scotiabank Arena against the New Jersey Devils, games that Stolarz doesn’t mind versus his home state. 

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Hiller assured Bobrovsky wasn’t lazing about in the players’ lounge at the Ford Centre. 

“He might have taken a day off the ice, but trust me, he’s going through his full routine,” Hiller said. “We don’t need him after a game to stop pucks for 35 minutes. He can re-generate in that time.”

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