For a 23-year-old goaltender figuring out his first season of professional hockey, Cal Petersen has had a pretty solid campaign. The AHL rookie was signed by the Los Angeles Kings in the off-season after spending three seasons at Notre Dame, and has taken over as the starter for the Ontario Reign.
A former 5th round (129th overall) pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Petersen and posted a 23-14-2 record with a 2.58 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. His 23 wins were the most by any AHL rookie netminder, and his strong play is one of the reasons why the Reign slotted in as the third seed in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
The farm league wrapped up its regular season on Saturday night, and before the final whistle on the Reign’s regular season, Petersen produced perhaps a save of the year candidate that you could see a part of a highlight show for years to come.
In the first period against the Edmonton Oilers’ farmhand, the Bakersfield Condors, Petersen channeled his inner Andrei Vasilevskiy by making a ridiculous behind the back glove save.
PURE LARCENY!
As you could see, Petersen reaches behind his back as he stretches his glove out for the cross-ice feed. Knowing that he would’ve likely missed the puck had he gone the traditional route of sticking is pad out, his glove is right in perfect position to deny the goal.
Ontario didn’t finish the season exactly how they wanted to, as Petersen and the Reign fell 5-1 to Condors.
But in the grand scheme of things, nobody will remember the outcome of that game if the team is able to put together a long run in the Calder Cup playoffs like they did in 2015 when they won the championship.
You might be seeing more of these types of saves in the future.
The Reign will face the Texas Stars in the first round of the AHL playoffs.
(h/t Ontario Reign)
