In the second period of the Capitals 4-2 win over the Rangers, Philipp Grubauer suffered a minor injury after making a save on a shot from the point.
Grubauer straightened his body to stop the puck with his right arm before awkwardly going into the splits to defend a potential rebound attempt.
NBCSN announcers pointed out that Grubauer looked uncomfortable after the save. And on Tuesday, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz revealed Grubauer did indeed “tweak” something. Braden Holtby will start Wednesday. The team will recall the organization’s third string goaltender Pheonix Copley back from the Hershey Bears.
Grubauer has a "tweak" and that's why he split reps with Stretch. The #Caps are recalling Copley just in case, Trotz said. If Grubi is 100-percent, he'll back up Holtby tomorrow. If not, Copley will be on the bench.
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) March 27, 2018
Grubauer made 28 stops against the Rangers last night and finished the game. TJ Oshie called Grubauer the team’s MVP for the last month and a half.
T.J. Oshie discusses Philipp Grubauer’s 28-save performance vs. the #Rangers on Monday night… pic.twitter.com/QxcGiTpH4k
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) March 27, 2018
Copley previously served as a backup for two games to Philipp Grubauer, after Braden Holtby suffered an injury last week against the Dallas Stars.
During Tuesday’s practice, NBC Sports Washington’s Tarik El-Bashir and the Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan first noticed evidence of a potential issue when Grubauer consulted with a trainer and split time with the team’s video coach/emergency goaltender Brett Leonhardt.
Grubauer and Holtby are on the ice for #Caps practice but it appears a third goalie (possibly Stretch) is taking some of Grubauer’s reps. Unclear why Grubauer has been in and out, but he extended himself awkwardly in the second period last night.
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) March 27, 2018
Stretch the goalie is on the ice again. Holtby is in his net and taking shots as normal. Grubauer is still on the ice, but was just chatting with a trainer.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 27, 2018
Grubauer and Brett Leonhardt are alternating in one net. Seems Grubauer has been taking the majority of the shots.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 27, 2018
The Capitals conclude their home-and-home series with the Rangers Wednesday night on national television.
