Save (goaltender)
A goaltender prevents a shot from entering the net.
In ice hockey and association football, a goaltender earns a save by blocking an opponent’s shot from going into the net. Their effectiveness is measured by save percentage, which is the number of shots stopped divided by the total shots on goal. When a goaltender stops every shot in a game, it is called a shutout; in association football, this is known as a clean sheet.
**Ice hockey** An ice hockey goaltender may use any part of their body to make a save, aided by equipment such as leg pads, a blocker, a glove, a chest protector, and a helmet (sometimes called a mask). A kick or pad save involves using the leg pads—strapped from feet to thighs—to kick out and block low shots, especially in the butterfly style. These saves often create a rebound for another player to gain possession. Pad saves were historically the most common type, particularly before the butterfly style emerged.
A glove save occurs when the goaltender catches the puck in their glove, worn on the weak hand like a baseball glove, snatching shots from the air. This is sometimes seen as a last resort. A blocker save uses a hard rectangular block on the forearm of the strong hand (the same arm holding the goaltending stick) to deflect the puck away from the goal. Both glove and blocker saves require high skill.
The stick save, as the name suggests, uses the goaltending stick and is often a desperate or lucky move, typically made when diving back into position to deflect the puck. Goaltenders can also freeze play by absorbing a shot into their chest protector, a move sometimes called a "body containment save," though it has no official name.
**Association football** In association football, a goalkeeper is identified by their gloves, which allow them to handle the ball—the only player permitted to do so, and only within the penalty area. A goalkeeper who concedes no goals in a match is said to have kept a clean sheet. In some competitions, awards like the Premier League Golden Glove are given to the player with the most clean sheets in a season or tournament.
- Save percentage calculation
- shots stopped divided by total shots on goal
- Shutout definition
- making all saves within a game
Lore & Background
An ice hockey goaltender can use any part of their body to make a save. Typically goaltending equipment worn aids the goaltender in stopping the puck. An ice hockey goaltender typically wears two leg pads, a blocker, a glove, a chest protector, a helmet which is sometimes referred to as a mask as well as other ice hockey equipment. Types of saves include kick or pad saves, glove saves, blocker saves, and stick saves. A kick or pad save uses the leg pads to kick out and stop low shots, often resulting in a rebound. A glove save is made by catching the puck in the glove, sometimes seen as a last resort. A blocker save uses a hard rectangular block on the forearm to deflect a shot. A stick save is made using the goaltending stick, usually one of desperation or luck. Goaltenders can also freeze play by catching a shot that gets caught in their chest protector, sometimes called a 'body containment save'.
Reader's Guide
The save is the fundamental defensive action of a goaltender, directly determining the outcome of a game. The save percentage, calculated as shots stopped divided by total shots on goal, is a key statistic for evaluating goaltender performance. A shutout, where a goaltender makes all saves in a game, is a notable achievement. The variety of save types—pad, glove, blocker, and stick—reflects the different techniques and equipment used to stop the puck. Pad saves were historically the most common, especially before the butterfly style. Glove and blocker saves are considered high-skill abilities. The stick save is often a desperate or lucky play. The ability to make saves and control rebounds is central to a goaltender's role, and the equipment, including leg pads, blocker, glove, chest protector, and mask, is designed to aid in this task.
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