Despite not playing a single game in the World Cup of Hockey, 2016 Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby already looks in midseason form.
Monday against the St. Louis Blues, Holtby stopped 13 of 14 shots in 31 minutes of playing time before yielding the net to backup Philipp Grubuaer. Holtby’s most impressive stop was on Ty Rattie during a second period Blues power play.
Watch what happens as Blues defenseman Jordan Schmaltz takes a shot from the point. John Carlson reaches his stick over and deflects the shot. Then Rattie gets his heel on the biscuit and the puck changes directions again – this time going towards the opposite side of the net. In about a quarter of a second, Holtby adjusts and moves his glove to snatch the puck out of the air.
This is insanity. He’s so casual about it too.
I’m not big on rankings, but if Braden Holtby isn’t first on your Best NHL Goalies list, then it’s invalid. Holtby is in the prime of his career and has consistently made difficult stops like this look easy over the last year.
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