Few have questioned Montreal Canadiens defenceman David Savard’s dedication to the team. He’s the type of player who will show up every night, giving his all to the cause by any means necessary.
It was particularly evident on Monday night during a penalty kill in Montreal’s 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Not only did Savard break his hand blocking a shot early in the shift, but he also stayed in the play, blocking yet another shot that resulted in his skate blade relocating to another area code.
Unfortunately, the initial block led to yet another injury for the Habs. Savard will be kept out of action for six to eight weeks with a fractured hand, a true testament to his willingness to put his body on the line.
The play caught the attention of Pat McAfee, a very popular sports analyst in the United States who has recently taken a shine to hockey, touting it as an extremely entertaining sport that deserves more coverage in his “Hockey Is Awesome!” segments.
“David Savard!” exclaims McAfee. “Boom! Gets hit right in the hand. He loses his blade! He can’t skate. He gets hit in the leg. This dude ends up breaking his hand, and he’s out for six to eight weeks. Broken hand, bruised calf, all in one play. I’m stopping a goal, no matter what! That’s hockey! Everybody in the sport has that mindset.”
The whole segment is worth watching but the Savard-specific commentary begins at 2:40.
McAfee is a former punter as well as a wrestler, which only adds to the honesty behind his amazement at Savard’s selfless play. Few athletes endure more pain than wrestlers. The Pat McAfee Show, which airs live on YouTube and most ESPN streams, is one of the most popular sports shows on the web. McAfee’s YouTube channel has upward of 2.2 million subscribers.
Savard is surely disappointed with his injury, but at the very least, he can take solace in knowing his self-sacrificing play did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by the masses.
Montreal Canadiens video via Pat McAfee Show
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