The saying always a bridesmaid, never the bride applies to Philipp Grubauer. Despite the Capitals rising to the top of the Metropolitan Division standings over the last month, the team’s backup goaltender has only won two of 13 games played this season and it’s no fault of his own.
In the eight games that he has started and not won, Grubauer has watched the Caps score only 12 goals in front of him (1.5 goals per game). That includes Wednesday’s 1-0 shootout loss to New York where Grubauer blanked the Rangers through 65 minutes and made 37 saves.
He earned a shutout and lost.
Grubi made stick saves.
Grubi made stops with his mask.
Grubi did snow angels.
Grubi was strong in the crease
Grubi made huge stops it overtime.
He stood on his head the entire game.
GRUBI! WOW! #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/b8JRuiSvt8
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 28, 2017
Grubi to the rescue (again)! #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/T5oGZclY8p
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 28, 2017
It didn’t matter. The Rangers would score twice in the shootout (Mika Zibanejad and Mats Zuccarello) while Ondrej Pavelec stopped both TJ Oshie and Alex Ovechkin for the victory.
After the game, Barry Trotz said that the “only reason we got a point was Grubauer.” He’s right.
Trotz: "The third period we stunk. Only reason we got a point was Grubauer."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 28, 2017
Grubi’s statistics may look pedestrian this season (2-5 record with a.909 save percentage), but he has displayed all season long that he is deserving of a starting spot on most teams in the league. He just has the bad luck of being stuck behind Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby.
What did you think of your performance?
Grubauer: "Yeah, it was OK. I think I've got to do a better job in the shootout there."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 28, 2017
