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Braden Holtby sees reset as a way to help ‘clear [his] head, clear the team’s head’

By Ian Oland

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March 12, 2018 5:29 pm

Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Braden Holtby is going through one of the most difficult stretches of his career. Pulled in three of his last six starts, Holtby is sporting the worst numbers of his career since becoming a full-time starter in 2012, including save percentage (.907), goals against average (3.03), and shutouts (0).

Last week, Holtby was benched in favor of Philipp Grubauer in what head coach Barry Trotz termed a “reset.” On Monday, the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan native addressed his recent struggles and the “stigma” of him being in net.

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Video: @TarikNBCS

“I’ve always believed that you need to earn your minutes, earn your time,” Holtby said. “This is one of those times, you know, Phil is playing extremely well right now. He’s giving the team the best chance to win every night.

“It’s one of those fortunate things in an unfortunate situation,” Holtby continued. “He’s been able to play extremely well and I can take a little time and clean up a couple things. Clear my head, clear the team’s head with that kind of stigma that’s kind of going on right now with me being in net. Those things happen and the biggest thing is setting the right example. The young guys, everyone on the team, that we’re all in this together no matter who’s playing. We’re focused on winning games and that’s the bottom line.”

Since replacing Holtby in goal, Grubauer has steadied the Capitals, who are having one of the NHL’s worst defensive efforts in the last decade. The German netminder has stopped 132 of the last 137 shots he’s faced for a .964 save percentage.

Video: @TarikNBCS

When asked if this was his opportunity to show that he’s an everyday starter, Grubauer demurred.

“It doesn’t change. I’m not trying to show off or impress anybody,” Grubauer said. “I just want to play my game. I want to play solid out there, consistent. The first year was a little up and down. The last two years have been a little bit better. That’s all I’m looking for. My focus is on tonight, two points, to be solid back there and move on to the next game.”

Monday night against the Jets, Grubauer will make his third-straight start in net, the most since the 2013-14 season.

“I think just like anything it’s no different than with the forwards or the defense,” Barry Trotz said. “I think Philipp’s earned the right to play. I liked the opportunity just getting back to California here. Obviously, he had a good result in San Jose. We’ve got a couple days and then we have a back-to-back. I think it allows us a little more time for Holts to get more individual time in.

“He’s earned the right and we’ll re-think every game,” Trotz said. “Right now we’re in a playoff mode where we’ve got to put the people in that we feel meet all the components to win. Right now we need to wins so we’re guaranteed an invitation to the dance.”

Video: @Capitals

Headline photo: @TarikNBCS

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