Flyers Goalie Preserves Win With Incredible Save in Closing Seconds
The Flyers currently sit on the outside of the playoffs, but they have a good chance to make up some ground in the next two weeks: Last night was the first in a six-game homestand. They were tied with the Minnesota Wild going into the third period, but Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s fourth goal of the season gave them a 3-2 lead.
That lead stood until the final buzzer. But it took an incredible save with just seconds left left by goaltender Michal Neuvirth to preserve the win. The Wild’s Charlie Coyle got the puck after a cross-ice pass and had a wide open net. But Neuvirth recovered somehow and kept it out of the goal.
“It’s got to be one of the best saves I’ve ever made,” he said postgame. “Never give up on the puck.”
If you watch, he actually knocks the puck down stick-side. It’s probably one of the best saves in the NHL this year, and it was magnified by coming in the final seconds of a game that the Flyers were ahead just by a goal. “That’s crazy,” Coyle said. “It’s a game of inches. Just a great save.”
The Flyers currently have 65 points; Pittsburgh is in the eighth playoff position right now with 68 points. There are some teams between the Penguins and the Flyers, so it’s going to be tough for the Flyers to make up ground this late in the season. But who knows! Last night’s big save was a great start to a potential playoff push.
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