Magenta Sport
As someone who’s spent over a decade writing and reading about sports on the internet, I know all too well how easy it is to succumb to the urge to deploy varying degrees of hyperbole when it comes to describing the nature of the many wild plays fans are treated to on a regular basis.
While I do what I can to avoid committing that particular transgression, I’m by no means innocent when it comes to overhyping certain highlights. With that said, there are also situations where I can genuinely say a particular play is some variation of “the craziest thing you’ll ever see.”
For example, I’ve still yet to see anyone top the creative nature of the goal a KHL player scored in a shootout earlier this year.
Now, I can safely say I’ve witnessed the most unique glove save in the history of hockey courtesy of what unfolded in the closing minutes of the third period when the Straubing Tigers and Augsburger Panther of Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) faced off against each other on Wednesday.
A German hockey game produced the strangest glove save of all time
The play in question took place with a little over a minute to go in a game that was all but over thanks to the 5-1 score that would remain unchanged by the time Straubing headed into the locker room with the win.
However, Augsburger put up a fight until the final buzzer blew, as they found themselves in the puck in the attacking zone and facing a vulnerable goalie after Florian Bugl had his trapper fall off his hand and land at the top of the crease following a collision initiated by a Panther skater.
It seems pretty likely any goal that was scored after that development would’ve been called off due to goaltender interference. With that said, Augsburger center Adam Payerl still tried to capitalize on a rebound by shooting a one-timer from the slot only to be foiled by a literal glove save after the stray piece of equipment blocked the puck from crossing the line.
https://twitter.com/animalsofhockey/status/1587946133753577473
You don’t see that every day—and there’s a good chance you’ll never see it again.