Al Montoya makes brilliant, diving save of year candidate

Obviously no one told Al Montoya of the Montreal Canadiens that the save of the year has already been handed out for 2016. Because Carey Price’s understudy certainly had a late entry into that competition vs. his former team, the Florida Panthers, on Thursday night.

The Panthers were on the power play when Keith Yandle fired a shot from the point. It deflected off of Nick Bjugstad in front, and went right to where Florida’s Aaron Ekblad was ready to snap it into an open net.

Only Montoya had other designs.

That’s a full-body dive by Montoya, getting his catching glove on the puck as he dropped his stick to the ice. Desperation never looked so good.

Great save. But we’re comfortable in saying that Al Montoya is still no JEFF LERG.

—

Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY