Jhonas Enroth, Sabres Goalie, Makes Save With No Mask (VIDEO)

Rookie goaltender Jhonas Enroth kept Buffalo in the playoff race this week, with 5 of a possible 6 points in relief of injured Sabre Ryan Miller. He was named the NHL's 3rd star of the week for his play.

But Enroth's biggest save was probably on Saturday at Carolina, when the Swede stopped Jussi Jokinen without a mask -- first a point-blank shot, then two subsequent swipes at the puck.

Frustrated by a loose mask, Enroth tossed it to the net behind him. He was still able to move from his left to his right quickly enough to rob Jokinen, and stop two attempts after that.

The Sabres went on to win the game 2-1 in overtime. Enroth finished with 35 saves. Watch the amazing sequence below.

WATCH:

Comments

[Harold Kozlowski]

10:48 AM on 04/06/2011

The best part of that video isn't the save but seeing #16 Jokinen of the Hurricanes get leveled by #8 McCormick of the Sabres. Then Jokinen took out another Hurricanes player on the way down. THAT"S how you clear a crease, my boy!

[lecloche]

10:29 AM on 04/06/2011

Jacque Plante lives!!

[Ruprect44]

09:44 AM on 04/06/2011

Old Time Hockey! Gump would be proud.

[benji85]

07:11 AM on 04/06/2011

Really?

There really isn't much of a need to make that one save, the puck stayed low, didn't fly close to his head that he catches, it's a kick save.

My question is, there's four officials on the ice, why didn't one of them blow the play dead before then? At least one of them had to have an eye on the goalie since the play was happening around him.

[Ruprect44]

09:53 AM on 04/06/2011

You are right , there was no "need to make that one save" ... except for the pesky fact that the 'Canes would have scored .... and probably won the game ... and made the playoffs instead of the Sabres. No biggie.
Plus, do a little experiment for me ... watch this clip with a whistle in your hand ... once the mask comes off try and blow the whistle BEFORE the save is made. Now add a second or so to make up for the fact that you already KNOW that the mask is coming off.
Did you try it? Got anything to say about the officials now?

[benji85]

09:29 PM on 04/06/2011

Sorry I meant to say with the mask off to make the save.

And second last I checked officials are able to wave off goals.

[SuperRyan]

01:29 PM on 04/05/2011

Should have been a penalty.

[kelly heft]

02:07 PM on 04/05/2011

play should have been whistled dead as soon as his mask came loose. further proof that the NHL isn't taking player safety seriously

[SuperRyan]

04:01 PM on 04/05/2011

How are the refs suppose to know that the goalies mask is slightly out of place?
Goaltenders are responsible for their own equipement, and if a piece comes loose they are to fix it during play or wait for a stoppage. Goaltenders removing a mask while the opposing team controls the puck is an automatic penalty. This is covered in NHL rule 9.7.

[Andy Clark]

01:13 PM on 04/05/2011

i know they used to go maskless and visorless- but in this era it is crazy to see a guy without one- especially a goalie. Crazy!

[Montcalms Revenge]

06:22 AM on 04/05/2011

Prior to Jacques Plante of the Canadiens wearing one full time in 1959, all goalies went mask-less... although most of them were a little "touched in the head"... LOL! Also back then, hockey sticks didn't have curved blades like they do now. It was harder to lift a shot. There were no slapshots in hockey prior to Bobby Hull and Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion in the 60s.

[hemorrhage]

03:05 PM on 04/05/2011

I loved the photos in the old Montreal Forum of the Canadiens playing in the 1940s. There were no pads, helmets or masks then. Those people, especially goalies, either had to be insane or masochistic.

[benji85]

07:03 AM on 04/06/2011

Goaltending was also still done mostly standing. The current style of butterfly and more recently the hybrid did not become popular until three of the greatest used it: Tony Esposito and Patrick Roy at least for the NHL, nationally because of Vladislav Tretiak. Before then goalies weren't dropping their bodies to really endanger their faces.

[FMC651]

02:30 AM on 04/05/2011

Did you hear the announcer back peddle after his ridiculous comment. "Best save without a mask"
I for one was disappointed.

[SouthStJo]

12:01 AM on 04/05/2011

I'm kind of surprised they didnt blow the whistle and call a delay of game for him taking his mask off

[Craig Kanalley]

12:10 AM on 04/05/2011

That's what I was thinking!

[skateboy30]

02:45 PM on 04/05/2011

He had an equipment issue, there is no delay penalty for him taking off the mask, however a scoring chance was imminent, the refs rightly let play continue per the NHL rule and no penalty was called. Now had he thrown it at the puck or player with the puck it would have been a penalty.

[wawa14]

12:18 AM on 04/05/2011

The play probably should have been stoped after the original shot by Pitkanen which originally broke/dislodged his mask.

[Will Hartman]

10:39 PM on 04/04/2011

They used to do this all the time.Remember Johnny Bower,Terry Sawchuck,Glenn Hall,The Gumper?Some of these guys played their entire career without a mask.Having said that I thinks masks/cages/helmets should be mandatory in hockey.

[MCJanes]

11:12 PM on 04/04/2011

They already are.

[Zachary Stockill]

10:34 PM on 04/04/2011

They used to do this all the time. It was called "The Original Six" era.

[UB LawStudent]

01:21 PM on 04/05/2011

While true, it doesn't make this play any less impressive.

[ObliqueReference]

05:13 PM on 04/05/2011

Back in the original six era, skaters didn't shoot high or take "slappers". Original sixers weren't as athletic as todays nor did they have composite sticks