Who made the better game-saving play: Erik Johnson or Max Lapierre?

The Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues both won their Game 1s in overtime on Thursday night. Both games had moments in which skaters arguably saved their respective teams’ bacon by preventing goals. Let’s take a look at them, shall we?

Here’s defenseman Erik Johnson of the Avs, skating back and swiping away a Minnesota Wild clearing attempt from his team’s empty net with the Wild up 4-3.

Now, was the puck rolling wide? Would it have hit the post? Perhaps. If it had gone in, would Paul Stastny been able to play the hero moments later in Game 1? Absolutely not.

Solid hustle play from Johnson. And apologies to all of you U.S. women’s hockey fans that are currently experiencing PSTSD (Post-Sochi Traumatic Stress Disorder) while watching that rolling puck.

Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Lapierre was the best goalie on the ice for the Blues:

That’s a beauty of a save by Lapierre, preventing an overtime goal from Kris Versteeg. Although we suspect Versteeg would have hit Miller with the puck had he not seen an opportunity to rifle rubber at Lapierre. You don’t pass up those chances.

So who wore it better? Johnson or Lapierre?