[OOT] MacKenzie Blackwood Save of the Year

[Monahammer]

Didn't see a thread for it yet and surprised.

Imo this is the best save I've seen in the last 10 years. But definitely will be the save of this year. MacKenzie blackwood is pitching a 1-0 shutout with 8 seconds left. Boston shot deflects off his own defenseman in front. He leaps across and flying kicks the puck from the opposite corner halfway through the goal line and preserves the shutout for the win.

https://streamable.com/moji7z

https://streamable.com/moji7z

[Winsor_Pilates]

Incredible save!
I agree it's the best save I've seen a long time.

[bluejays]

Really spectacular. Even better is Bill Clinton doing the commentary.

[AustinL_NHL]

It was an incredible save no doubt, but it seems everyone is overlooking the fact there's no way that would've counted even if it had gone in.

McAvoy clearly knocked the puck towards the net with a high stick. The end of that game was absolutely wild between that and Bergeron's goal that was called back after a goalie interference challenge (also in the final minute)

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

It was an incredible save no doubt, but it seems everyone is overlooking the fact there's no way that would've counted even if it had gone in.

McAvoy clearly knocked the puck towards the net with a high stick. The end of that game was absolutely wild between that and Bergeron's goal that was called back after a goalie interference challenge (also in the final minute)

Yeah, final touch was with a high stick...no goal

[t0rrent98]

Almost reminds me of the 04 goal except this one wasn't a goal.

[Jason14h]

That hurt my groin just looking at it

[slybomb]

I thought there was no way it was being stopped right up until the exact moment that it was...crazy!

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

It was an incredible save no doubt, but it seems everyone is overlooking the fact there's no way that would've counted even if it had gone in. McAvoy clearly knocked the puck towards the net with a high stick.

I agree with this... but it raises the question of how we judge big saves like this. Does the fact that it probably would have been overturned anyway make it less of a crazy save? What if the puck had been on end and had been over the line, would that change how people feel about it, even though that's just pure luck one way or the other?

Seems weird that we do this. "OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE HE GOT THAT - wait the play was offside anyway so... meh."

[nfotiu]

Why do they put an overhead angle up there, but keep it a few inches offset? It makes those calls pure guess work.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Why do they put an overhead angle up there, but keep it a few inches offset? It makes those calls pure guess work.

Since the crossbar is higher than the goal line it will obstruct the view, unless it was sized to be less than the goal line.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by slybomb

I thought there was no way it was being stopped right up until the exact moment that it was...crazy!

Every time I rewatch it I think "no way he's going to be able to get to that in time"

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Why do they put an overhead angle up there, but keep it a few inches offset? It makes those calls pure guess work.

The camera is up like 60 feet. The offset has less impact than the line being below the ice surface, and not being a particularly sharp line at that.

[FanIn80]

I don't give a fk if it would have counted or not. That was a ridiculous save.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I don't give a fk if it would have counted or not. That was a ridiculous save.

Why wouldn't it count?

[Mathgod]

That's basically a save version of Ovie's goal against the Yotes.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

The camera is up like 60 feet. The offset has less impact than the line being below the ice surface, and not being a particularly sharp line at that.

It seems you could size the goal line and the cross bar so that the back of the crossbar lined up with it exactly. Then have a camera angle that perfectly lines up the back of the cross bar with the back of the line, and you'd be able to see if the puck crossed the line. The angle in these videos is completely useless for judging it a puck even a few inches off the ice crossed the line, and not even useful for telling if a puck on the ice crossed the line for the ice dept issue mentioned. I suspect this puck probably did fully cross the plane.

[Kipper_3434]

Very cool save. The fact that it was on the goal line makes it cooler. That being said, the fact it would be no goal anyway does matter to me. Its basically like making amazing saves in practice. Cool...but the meaning is less. I also think he could have made that save easier by going for it with the stick like kipper did about 7-8 times. Overall v neat. Not save of the year for me. Not in the discussion for save of the decade imo. Also plz link replays that have real time and multiple angles so ppl don't have to leave the page to find em . Thx for sharing.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Very cool save. The fact that it was on the goal line makes it cooler. That being said, the fact it would be no goal anyway does matter to me. Its basically like making amazing saves in practice. Cool...but the meaning is less. I also think he could have made that save easier by going for it with the stick like kipper did about 7-8 times. Overall v neat. Not save of the year for me. Not in the discussion for save of the decade imo. Also plz link replays that have real time and multiple angles so ppl don't have to leave the page to find em . Thx for sharing.

Did you even watch it? His stick is caught in the players in front and he has to let it go halfway. IMO he actually did start to try to do this before losing his stick.

Also GTFO here with the last bit. I'm not your internet servant.

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I agree with this... but it raises the question of how we judge big saves like this. Does the fact that it probably would have been overturned anyway make it less of a crazy save? What if the puck had been on end and had been over the line, would that change how people feel about it, even though that's just pure luck one way or the other?

Seems weird that we do this. "OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE HE GOT THAT - wait the play was offside anyway so... meh."

It was definitely an incredible save no doubt. The athleticism was on full display and considering the context (final 10 seconds, 1-0, shutout on the line, etc.), it was 11/10 robbery.

Where my final judgement comes in is whether this can be considered the save of the year or not. On one hand, absolutely. Everything about it was brilliant. On the other hand, he didn't really actually save what would've counted as a goal on the scoreboard. It's amazing that he made the save nonetheless and it counts as a save on the box score, but whether the puck went in or not, Boston isn't getting a goal there either way.

Even though Blackwood played it as if it was a normal play that would've counted as a goal which makes the save super legitimate, the context (high stick, would've been no goal) is what easily eliminates this from contention for save of the year/decade. In my eyes.