Bobrovsky wins 400th career game, Panthers beat Rangers 3-1 in Eastern Conference Finals rematch

NEW YORK (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves for his 400th career win, and the Florida Panthers defeated the New York Rangers 3-1 on Thursday.

Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe scored early first-period goals for Florida. Lundell opened the scoring 44 seconds in, beating Igor Shesterkin alone in the slot. Verhaeghe added to the Panthers' lead at the 2:42 mark.

Alexis Lafreniere scored 4:44 into the game to halve Florida's early lead, but it was the only time New York was able to beat Bobrovsky.

Sam Bennett gave the Panthers a two-goal lead 6:59 into the second period.

Florida held on to win in a rematch of last spring’s Eastern Conference Final, which the Panthers won in six games.

Shesterkin finished with 26 saves for the Rangers.

New York: The Rangers lost in regulation for the first time after a 5-0-1 start.

Florida: The Panthers improved to 3-2-0 on the road after finishing with an Eastern Conference-best 26-10-5 away record last season.

Bobrovsky denied Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski on a breakaway at 5:47 of the first, then made a pad save on Filip Chytil at 6:35. He also stopped Chris Kreider from in close at 15:20 of the opening period.

Bobrovsky became the 14th goaltender in NHL history to reach the 400-win milestone. The 36-year-old netminder, in his sixth season with the Panthers, has a career record of 400-226-56 in 15 seasons. Bobrovsky is the fastest goaltender to win 400 games, reaching the milestone in 707 contests. He needs two wins to pass Chris Osgood for 13th on the all-time wins list.

Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, who leads the team with 13 points including six goals, was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season.

The Rangers host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, while the Panthers will remain in New York to play the Islanders on Saturday.

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New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) stops a shot by Florida Panthers' A.J. Greer (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett (9) skates toward his bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Florida Panthers' Evan Rodrigues (17) drives past New York Rangers' Vincent Trocheck (16) and Reilly Smith (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Florida Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov (7) looks to pass the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Florida Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky (72) protects the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Rangers' Alexis Lafrenière (13) looks away from Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and A.J. Greer (10) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Florida Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops a shot by New York Rangers' Jonny Brodzinski (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SYDNEY (AP) — David Warner’s lifetime captaincy and leadership ban has been lifted by Cricket Australia, a move which could see the retired test player captain the Sydney Thunder in the Twenty20 Big Bash league this season.

Warner received the penalty for his role in the 2018 sandpaper scandal in South Africa, on top of a one-year ban from cricket, which was also imposed on Steve Smith with a lesser playing suspension given to Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on film rubbing and scuffing the ball with yellow sandpaper at a test match in Cape Town.

But the leadership sanction was lifted Friday by an independent three-member review panel who deemed the opener had met the necessary criteria.

Warner appeared before the independent panel content earlier this month. It ruled that he met the criteria to be considered for future leadership roles.

“The respectful and contrite tone of his (Warner’s) responses, as well as the content impressed the Review Panel and led it to the unanimous view that he was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct,” the panel said in a statement Friday.

“Mr. Warner’s conduct and behavior since the imposition of the sanction has been excellent and he appears to have made a substantial change, one example of which is that he no longer sledges or tries to provoke the opposing team."

Warner played his final test match in January against Pakistan, an Australian win. He has also said he will no longer play one-day internationals, only the T20 format of the game.

The move could also be considered an early birthday present from Cricket Australia — Warner turns 38 on Sunday.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

FILE -Australia's David Warner bats during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Bangladesh in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Thursday, June 20, 2024. David Warner’s lifetime captaincy and leadership ban has been lifted by Cricket Australia, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, a move which could see the retired test player captain the Sydney Thunder in the Twenty20 Big Bash league this season.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)