Following Capitals head coach Barry Trotz’s decision to start Philipp Grubauer in Game One against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Braden Holtby spoke to the media.
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“My job is just to focus on my game and getting it to the best I can get it to.” — Braden Holtby on being the #Caps’ backup as the playoffs begin Thursday. #CBJ #CapsJackets pic.twitter.com/SlYwCbMbFZ
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) April 10, 2018
“My job is just to focus on my game and getting it to the best I can get it to,” Holtby said, of taking the backup position in Game One. “Coach’s decision on who plays doesn’t have anything to do with me. So I’m focused on one practice at a time. Trying to be a positive influence around the team and go from there.”
When asked whether he had any advice for Grubauer, as he doesn’t have the same playoff experience, Holtby said, “I’m not about to get in his ear about anything. That’s the last thing he needs.”
Grubauer, meanwhile, was glad of the opportunity to start in Game One, but insisted it was the same whether it was Game One of the playoffs or Game 82 of the regular season.
“It’s a privilege to start, for sure,” Grubauer said. “But it’s just like any other game. Whether it’s Game One or Game 82, it’s not going to change my approach.”
“Every puck in the season, every situation matters. This game is important, yeah, [but] so is the regular season. Every goal you let in, every goal you score, is important. So is this one. Just going in, my mindset is the same as Game 82, Game 81. You prepare the same way if you play, if you don’t play.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t an easy decision.” — #Caps Coach Barry Trotz on naming Philipp Grubauer the playoff starter over Braden Holtby. #CapsJackets #CBJ #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/k6HG8RI35m
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) April 10, 2018
Making the decision about the starting goaltender for the playoffs wasn’t easy for Barry Trotz.
“I just think that Grubi deserves the opportunity,” Trotz said. “[His] body of work, especially this year, presented itself. Trust me, it wasn’t an easy decision.”
As for how Holtby took the decision, when Trotz sat down the Capitals goalies, he said, “I talked to him yesterday, I said ‘that weighed heavy on me.’ Because he’s done so much for us.”
Caps 365 | Philipp Grubauer and Braden Holtby discuss the postseason goaltending decision #CapsJackets #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/fXFXi9A5CX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 10, 2018
Headline photo: @Capitals
