Someone needs to get some rope and tie Braden Holtby to the net, because the Holtbeast’s roaming again.

Monday night against Montreal, Braden left the crease and got in a foot race with Canadiens forward Paul Byron for a loose puck while the Caps were on the power play.

Holtby won, but barely.

Holtby skated nearly 50 feet out to the blue line to play the puck. He superbly uses his Holtbutt to shield the puck away from Byron.

Holtby then sprung Marcus Johansson and Nicklas Backstrom for a beautiful power play entry into the offensive zone, but boy my heart’s beating fast.

This is the second time in eight days Holtby has nearly left the defensive zone to play a puck. Holtby also did so when the Caps took on the Ottawa Senators.

I’m still waiting for the day Holtby decides to go for a skate over the red line, a la Patrick Roy.

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