WATCH: Varlamov Makes Highlight-Reel Save on Makar

New York Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov has not had a strong season to say the least. He only has three wins on the season and has struggled to play to the level he showcased during his dominant 2020-21 campaign.

But on Thursday night against the best team in the NHL, Semyon Varlamov came to play. And he might have made one of the best saves of the season, definitely his best save of the season during the second period.

After a turnover in the neutral zone by Kyle Palmieri, Nathan Mackinnon received the puck for a one-timer but the shot went wide. As quickly as the puck came off of Mackinnon’s stick, it came back towards the net where Cale Makar seemed to have a tap-in.

But Varlamov showed off the flexibility and hand-eye coordination, as he knocked the shot out of mid-air with the paddle to keep the game tied at one.

Frame it 📸 https://t.co/c1NwGrc6CN pic.twitter.com/MNBm2egf75

— NHL (@NHL) March 8, 2022

The more times you watch the save, the more impressive it gets.

For context, the Islanders had been dominated up to this point. Without Semyon Varlamov, the game would more than likely have been over after twenty minutes. But big-time stops by Varlamov throughout the night kept the Islanders in a game (tied at this point) they have no business still being in.