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Tom Wilson Is Worried Braden Holtby Will Score More Points Than Him This Season

By Ian Oland

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September 21, 2015 11:09 pm

Photo: Amanda Bowen

Over the weekend, the Capitals played three-on-three hockey at Kettler to formulate a strategy for the NHL’s new overtime format.

With the game tied and so much open ice, the overtime period should be thrilling and unpredictable. And yet Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby hazarded a prediction: there will be a lot more offense from goaltenders. Oh boy.

From Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post:

An NHL goaltender hasn’t tallied more than six points in a season in 23 years. With the new five-minute three-on-three overtime this year, Capitals goalie Braden Holtby said that number “definitely will” be eclipsed.

“It’s going to happen,” Holtby said. “It’s hard to say if many of them will be on purpose or not.”

Said winger Tom Wilson: “Maybe [Michael Latta] and I will have to watch out. Maybe Holts will have more points than us this year.”

Which, if you think about it, could be possible.

As a kid, Holtby played forward. He has great stick-handling ability. And he is one hell of a passer, tallying seven assists during his five-year NHL career.

Last season, the Capitals went to overtime 21 times. Let’s say they do that again and win every single one of them because they’re the Capitals and they’re awesome like that. Let’s say Holtby nabs a primary or secondary assist on every one of those OT wins. That’d be 21 points. Twenty-one historic points.

Compare and contrast with the Caps roomies’ 2014-15 seasons. Wilson had 17 points. Latta had 6.

They’re in trouble.

On Monday night, the Capitals and Hurricane’ overtime exhibition lasted only 57 seconds.

Evgeny Kuznetsov missed the Canes’ net high and wide, allowing Carolina to skate the other way on a 3-on-1. Eric Staal dished to Ryan Murphy. Murphy dealt back to Staal. Staal slid it across the crease to Kris Versteeg for an easy tap-in.

During the actual game, which the Caps won, Tom Wilson scored the eventual game-winning goal.

Holtby wasn’t on the ice for OT.

Wilson 1. Holtby 0.

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