Top 10 NHL Saves of 2013
The year of 2013 is quickly coming to an end and while all of us here at SabreNoise are Buffalo Sabres fans, we are also hockey fans who love to see highlight reel goals and jaw dropping saves. 2013 has featured some amazing goals and saves and we want to share them
with y’all as we take a look back at the best saves from 2013.
We’ll try not to let our Buffalo Sabres bias sneak through in the rankings, but you never know.
To be a goaltender in the NHL you need skill, size, strength, athleticism and a little bit of luck. These next 10 NHL saves have all of those attributes as these goaltenders leave you speechless. If you get an itch to strap on the pads and play a little ball hockey after this list, we apologize.
10. James Reimer on Alexandre Burrows
What’s better than one solid save? 2 amazing saves! In this save of the year candidate, James Reimer offers up 2 amazing saves take a look. Pay special attention to the second save against Alexandre Burrows.
The only reason Reimer’s save ranks 10th is due to the fact Burrows missed half of a wide open net. Regardless, Reimer was in the right position at the right time and was able to show his athleticism while making this save.
9. Craig Anderson on Claude Giroux
Anderson was one of the top goaltenders early in 2013 as he led the Ottawa Senators to the playoffs and while he hasn’t been at the same level this season he’s still got game. Check out this down and out, desperation save by Craig Anderson.
8. Ryan Miller on James Neal
Surprise, surprise there is a Ryan Miller save on this list, but he rightly deserves to be on the list. What separates Miller on this save from a lot of the other saves on this list, is the actual science of this save. If you look closely, Miller doesn’t just flip out a glove or pad in a desperate attempt to stop the puck. Instead he uses his strength and athleticism to get his body into position to make a very difficult save look fairly routine
7. Henrik Lundqvist on David Krejci
It would be very difficult to have a countdown of the best NHL saves without the king and despite the fact his monstrous contract seems to be tripping him up, the king still leaves us speechless with this save. Talk about a desperation save by Henrik Lundqvist.
6.Reto Berra on Jack Johnson
If there is one thing I like about the way Martin Brodeur plays it’s his unconventional style to stopping the puck. He is more of a hybrid old style net minder. In today’s NHL every goaltender is taught to drop into the butterfly and be square to the puck which is great and all but doesn’t exactly provide exciting saves. To see a netminder stack the pads and kick out his toe as he gets into position is pretty awesome to see.
5. Justin Peters on Jaromir Jagr
Justin Peters goals across crease, post-to-post to rob the legendary Jaromir Jagr of a sure goal by flashing the leather. Cam Ward may have been hurt a lot lately, but with goaltending like this the Canes shouldn’t have to worry between the pipes.
4. Ben Bishop on Ryan McDonagh
I know I’ve talked a lot about the athleticism of some of these saves, but as a former goaltender I know the struggle and desperation needed to make these saves. Here’s another gem from Ben Bishop as he’s down and out but manages to get back up into position in time to block the shot.
3. Jonas Gustavsson on Dion Phaneuf
There is no better feeling than being able to stick it to your former team who traded you away after giving up on you. This is exactly what Jonas Gustavsson does here to Dion Phaneuf as he flat out robs the Leafs defenceman. One of the best things about this save/video is the fact that Phaneuf starts to celebrate the goal before the puck even gets to Gustavsson. Jimmy Howard can take his time healing up, Gustavsson has got everything under control.
Honourable mention to an incredible behind the back save by Gustavsson, I truly don’t understand how these goaltenders make those behind the back saves.
2. Jake Allen on T.J. Brodie
The best part about this save isn’t the save itself, it’s Jake Allen’s nonchalant attitude after the save. I mean you have a save of the year candidate after you dive to stop the puck with your stick and then catch it in your glove and then just act chill as you turn away?! That’s goaltenders for you.
Save of the Year- Cam Ward on Adam Henrique
Like every other goal on this list, this save by Cam Ward required some luck, some athleticism and some amazing goaltending. I swear the best part of all these saves are the reactions of the opposition, utter disbelief as the net minder steals away a sure goal time after time. Not a bad save for a goaltender laying on his butt.
Honourable mention Kari Lehtonen on Jack Johnson
Not sure why we didn’t include this one in the top 10, perhaps because it was just pure luck but when you’re a goaltender you have to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good. Before you go, be sure to check out this head scratcher of save by Kari Lehtonen.
Thanks for checking out our list of the best saves from around the NHL in the year 2013. We sure were treated to some amazing goaltending performances and saves. You can change the equipment, make the nets bigger but no matter what you’re going to see some jaw dropping saves. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our top 10 goals of 2013.
Be sure to let us know which saves we missed in the comments below.