KHL defenseman prevents empty-netter with glove save of the year candidate (Video)
The early front-runner for the best glove save of 2014 comes to us courtesy the slick hands of Miroslav Blatak, who plays for Omsk Avangard. It's a great save, with Blatak coming across to keep his team in a game they trail 2-1.
But what makes this such a special glove save, when impressive glove saves happen all the time? Blatak is a defenseman. Check out this piece of absolute robbery as the blueliner prevents an empty-net goal that would have cemented his team's loss 30 seconds early.
No question that hurt. You can see Blatak shake his hand out in the corner shortly after he pops back to his feet.
Avangard currently sits 10th in the KHL's Eastern Conference, largely due to the fact that they give up a lot of goals. Only one other team in the league has surrendered more than their 151 goals against. No matter what they try, they can't stop the bleeding ("the bleeding" in this case being "shots at their net").
Seems to me they should try Blatak, who may have missed his calling. They've got him playing the wrong position.
