Potential save of the year occurs in Swedish Hockey League

The best hockey save of the year might’ve just happened in Sweden thanks to a goaltender who initially didn’t recognize he needed to make one.

Gustaf Lindvall is a goalie for Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish Hockey League. In a semifinal playoff game against Frölunda HC on Tuesday, he made a full-extension diving stick save to prevent a goal.

Lindvall watched from his crease as opposing goalie Lars Johansson got tangled up with Skellefteå forward Linus Lindstrom. The referee gave a delayed penalty to Lindstrom for goalie interference. Lindvall assumed that play had been stopped for the penalty and wandered from the paint to the corner of the zone, which he usually does when there’s a whistle.