Sports

American Crowd Repays Canadian Respect, Goalie Makes Game-Winning Save

Mickey Hanley Contributor
Font Size:

On Tuesday night, Nashville Predators fans repaid the respect of their Canadian friends, and Predators goalie Carter Hutton entered the conversation for “Save of the Year.”

Back on Nov. 18, the Predators played the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto. The infamous game was a disaster for the Maple Leafs who lost 9-2, prompting fans to throw their jerseys on the ice. The blowout loss was one of the first steps that led to the firing of former Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle.

However, it was what happened before the game that proved most newsworthy. During the performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, singer Michelle Madeira’s microphone stopped working. Thankfully, our Canadian brethren came to the rescue, finishing the national anthem without missing a beat.

WATCH:

On Tuesday, the Maple Leafs visited the Predators for the first time since the November matchup. To repay Maple Leafs fans, Predators fans joined in during “O Canada.” It is refreshing to see this level of mutual respect between fans of professional sports teams.

WATCH:

The ensuing game featured a mind-blowing save. With about three minutes left in the third period, Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak blasted a slapshot from the boards, and winger Daniel Winnik tipped the puck on net. The redirection skipped past Hutton toward the goal, but in an astonishing display of reflexes, Hutton spun around in time to swat away the puck with his stick before it crossed the goal line. The save preserved the winning margin as the Predators hung on to defeat the Maple Leafs 4-3.

WATCH:

Believe it or not, Hutton is not even the Predators’ starting goalie. Their usual starter, Pekka Rinne, has been sidelined with a sprained knee for three weeks. More than halfway through the season, Rinne is a Hart Trophy candidate and has the surprising Predators sitting atop the Western Conference (and tied for most points in the league). He is set to return to the lineup against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

As suggested by Deadspin, check out this other Hutton gem from last season.

WATCH: