Swedish Hockey League has potential for saves this year

The best save in hockey this year may have happened in Sweden thanks to a goaltender who didn't realize he needed to make the save at first.

Gustav Lindvall is a goalie for Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish Hockey League. In Tuesday's playoff semi-final game against Frolunda, he made a save with his diving stick fully extended to prevent a goal.

Lindvall watched from the crease as opposing goalkeeper Lars Johansson tangled with Skellefteå forward Linus Lindström. The referee awarded Lindstrom a delay penalty for goalkeeper interference. Thinking the play was stopped because of a penalty, Lindvall wandered from the paint to the corner of the zone, as he always does when the whistle blows.

However, the whistle did not sound. Play had not yet stopped.

Frolunda forward Jaden Halpgewachs saw a wide-open net on the other side and shot the puck from the neutral zone. When Lindwall realized his mistake, he turned around and dove across the ice, raising the goalie stick high enough with his right arm to deflect the puck out of play with the shaft of the stick. .

In the end, Frolunda defeated Skellefteå AIK 2-0. Lindvall finished with 21 saves, including one that will be replayed on highlight reels for years to come.