Michal Neuvirth’s Save Of The Year Seals Flyers 3-2 Victory Over Wild

Minnesota Wild center Charlie Coyle raised his hands in the air, thinking he had just notched his 19th goal of the year and tied the game at 3 with less than 2.6 seconds remaining.

It was not to be, Philadelphia Flyer’s backup goalie, Michal Neuvirth made a spectacular stick save on Coyle’s would be game tying goal.  The puck was heading for a wide open net when Neuvirth, sprawling and twisting on the ice, got his stick in the air to stop the puck before it crossed the goal line.

The play was reviewed and upheld by officials and the Flyers earned their 27th win of the season.

“It’s got to be one of the best saves I’ve ever made,” Neuvirth said. “Never give up on the puck.”

Coyle was still in disbelief after the game, “That’s crazy, it’s a game of inches. Just a great save.”

The Flyers got the game winning goal when right winger Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored on a wrist shot while falling from a check, just 3:21 into the final period.

Philadelphia never trailed in the game, which both teams needed as both entered play on the outside looking in for the playoffs. Sam Gagner was able to get the puck past Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk just a little over a minute into the game, off a rebound from Brayden Schenn‘s wraparound attempt was blocked.

Mark Streit added a goal in the second period, less than four minutes after the Wild tied it at one on a Thomas Vanek goal, to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead.  Vanek would go on to assist another game tying goal when Mikael Granlund was able to beat Neuvirth on a backhand to tie the game at two.

The Flyers were playing their third consecutive game without center Claude Giroux (16 goals, 33 assists) while the Wild were without left winger Zach Parise (18 goals, 18 assists), for the second game in a row.  Both player s are dealing with upper body injuries.

“G is irreplaceable,” Gagner told CSN Philly. “I think you need to find ways to step up when you’re best players are out.”

Up next for Philadelphia is a Saturday matinee as the host the Arizona Coyotes (27-28-6) at 1 pm.  The Wild will look to get back on track tonight as they travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the league leading Capitals (44-11-4) at 7 pm.

PHOTO: PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 25: Michal Neuvirth #30 of the Philadelphia Flyers blocks the net with 1.6 seconds remaining against the Minnesota Wild at the Wells Fargo Center on February 25, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated he Wild 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Article by Nick Vigliotti