Braden Holtby

Back to Full Power: Caps Beat Sabres 5-3

Nineteen seconds, one goal. (Photo credit: Greg Fiume)

The Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres are neck-and-neck in a battle for playoff position. The Caps are just one point behind the Sabres as the lockout shortened regular season begins to come to a close. One problem, though: the spot they’re fighting for is 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

This season has been pretty abhorrent for fans in Buffalo and Washington. The Caps, however, still have time to salvage this year. Playing in hockey’s weakest division, the Caps came into Sunday’s game nine points out the the Southeast-leading Winnipeg Jets with 21 games left to play. But if Washington want to be playing hockey in May, that drive has to start now. Maybe it did. Thirty hours after the start of their deflating but fight filled 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, Washington showed no St. Patrick’s Day hangover (I’m sorry).

Caps beat Sabres 5-3.

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By Chris Gordon 9 years ago

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Bloody Sasha: Alex Semin Gets High-Sticked Twice in the Same Shift

Photos and GIFs from the lovely and talented welshhockeyfan.

On Tuesday, Alex Semin finally earned a point against his former team, an assist on Joe Corvo’s first period goal. But one nightmare shift in the second period threatened to spoil Sasha’s whole night.

Right after a faceoff, Alex Ovechkin shot the puck, the blade of his stick catching Semin flush in the cheek during his follow-through. Ovi’s ex-BFF fell to the ice like a sack of vodka. When Semin got up, he had a bright red mark on the right side of his face.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Angry Holtsy: Braden Holtby’s Meltdown After Getting Pulled (Video)

Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby has been dynamite lately, starting 11 straight games from February 9 to March 7. During that stretch, Holtby had three shutouts and only had a save percentage under .900 in two games. His play helped the Capitals get out of dead last and back within striking distance of the playoffs.

Against the Rangers on Sunday, however, Holtby struggled, giving up three goals on 22 shots. On New York’s first goal, he caught out of position, allowing Derek Stepan to bank the puck off his pads from behind the goal line. After giving up two more goals in the second, Head Coach Adam Oates had enough and decided to give Holtby the hook for Michal Neuvirth, who hadn’t played since February 7.

Braden wasn’t too happy about his benching or his performance.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Rangers beat Caps 4-1 and the Two-Minutes Ovechkin Hate

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

After a misstep on Long Island, the Washington Capitals hoped to regain their footing while hosting the New York Rangers on Sunday. After a quick start, the Caps lost control of the game. A snazzy goal by Steve Oleksy in the first period gave the Caps the lead, but the Rangers retaliated with four goals– two of them scored after penalties by Alex Ovechkin. Holtby was chased from the net, and the Caps never really mounted a palpable comeback.

Rangers beat Caps 4-1.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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Caps Just Freaking Destroy Panthers 7-1

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

The Washington Capitals just freaking obliterated the Florida Panthers. I don’t know how else to say it. Any flowery language would make the point less elegant: this was a thrashing. One of these teams is the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the other one is the Washington Capitals.

We learned that early, as John Erskine’s muffinly dump-in baffled Jacob Markstrom. We were reminded soon after– when Wojtek Wolski caught a Steve Oleksy pass and made it 2-0 on the Caps’ second shot. That was enough for Markstrom, who got the hook in favor of Scott Clemmensen, who promptly gave up two more goals on the Caps’ next four shots– one from Carlson, one from Ribeiro.

That was all in the game’s first 10 minutes. I could go on, but you get the idea. This was all Caps. Even when the shooting slowed, Braden Holtby was so on top of his game that this was never really a contest.

Caps beat Panthers 7-1.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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Braden Holtby’s Shutouts > Pekka Rinne’s Shutouts

Photo credit: Jonathan Kozub

Braden Holtby‘s 35-stop afternoon in Manitoba puts him in a three-way tie in shutouts (3) alongside Nashville’s Pekka Rinne and Phoenix’s Mike Smith.

I guess the first thing I should say is that shutouts, while awesome, are kind of a silly way to evaluate a goalie. Goalies don’t control the number of shots they face, just the percentage of that number they stop. That in mind, I thought we’d do a quick comparison of how these guys came to be the league’s shutout leaders.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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Braden Freaking Holtby, Y’All! Caps beat Jets 3-0

Photo credit: John Woods

The Washington Capitals looked like a troubled team before Saturday’s game at the Winnipeg Jets. With a grinder on their top line, a goal-scorer in Wojtek Wolski scratched in favor of a tough guy, and more injured players than you can shake a groin at, expectations were low for the early afternoon rumble in Manitoba. For twenty minutes, those expectations were met, and then the Capitals took control of their destiny and looked like a damn fine hockey club.

And oh yeah: Braden Holtby.

Caps beat Jets 3-0.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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Photo credit: Kyle Mace

After a rough start, Braden Holtby has been terrific of late. Due to be an RFA at season’s end, this extension makes sense. Holtby has played all of the last six games, posting a sterling 930 Sv% in that span. He’ll be a Washington Capital through 2014-2015.

The news was confirmed by WaPo’s Katie Carrera:

#Caps have signed Braden Holtby to a two-year $3.7 million contract extension.

— Katie Carrera (@kcarrera) February 25, 2013

Tell me you’re not elated over this. Press release below.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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No O, Rangers beat Caps 2-1

Darroll Powe is helped off the ice. (Photo credit: Bruce Bennett)

The Washington Capitals won three in a row coming into Sunday, but those games were against middling teams in their own division. This game was the New York Rangers, the guys who bounced the Hunter-led Caps from the playoffs last year. This game actually went a lot like those games: great goaltending but not nearly enough Caps offense.

John Carlson’s slapshot went top shelf in the game’s opening minutes. Carl Hagelin notched a goal halfway into a second period that felt more like an extended New York power play. Derek Stepan finished off a six-second power play to give the Rangers a lead– which held on for the win.

Rangers beat Caps 2-1.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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Ovi’s Bad Hair Day, Holtby’s Bad Poke Check, and Ten More Weird Photos From Caps/Lightning

Ovechkin palmed a plasma globe during intermission. (Photo credit: @HockeyBroph)

The Capitals have been undefeated, 3-0-0, ever since fans sacrified a rubber cow and goat at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. That doesn’t mean the games have been pretty. Or graceful.

For example, take a look at Thursday’s game against division rival Tampa. The Capitals gained a 4-1 lead, only to surrender two third period goals and barely escape with a win. There were missed poke checks, goals scored from a seated position, and lots of enthusiastic coaching. You know: Caps hockey.

Presenting… the best pics from Caps at Lightning!

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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