Empty Net

Peter Laviolette’s empty-net strategy is to ‘shoot the puck from anywhere on the ice’

Nic Dowd sealed the Capitals’ 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, taking a pot shot at the Flyers’ empty net with 28 seconds left remaining in the game. At first, Dowd’s decision seemed ridiculous and perhaps unwise. Dowd launched a wrist shot from behind both Ilya Samsonov and the Capitals net, 185 feet away from the Flyers’ goal.

Dowd’s shot was perfect though and it went in. According to the checking-line center, this was all according to Peter Laviolette’s plan.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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TJ Oshie’s empty-net goal sent Capitals fans into a wild celebration

Jakub Vrana’s third-period goal was euphoric and gave Caps fans hope. Three minutes and seven seconds later, TJ Oshie’s empty-net goal put an emphatic bow on Game Five, suggesting the vanquishing of the Penguins could be on the horizon.

An already lively Capital One Arena crowd went wild celebrating.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Braden Holtby Shoots at Empty Net, Tries to Score Goal Again (GIF)

As a kid, Braden Holtby played forward before turning into a goaltender full-time as a teenager. That’s where Holtby gets his strong stickhandling ability from and that’s why, dammit, he’s going to score a goal someday.

Saturday night against the Devils, Holtby– after making 33 saves and playing generally amazing– decided to take a pot shot at New Jersey’s empty net with the Caps clinging to a two-goal lead.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Pheonix Copley Takes Shot at an Empty Net (GIF)

Photo: Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey

Last night in Hershey, Caps goaltending prospect Pheonix Copley did something remarkable. No, I’m not talking about the AHL rookie’s second straight shutout. Nor am I talking about his mind-boggling shutout streak of 144:28.

Copley tried to scored an empty net goal!

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Photo: Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images

Team Switzerland had a porous performance at the World Championship. Led by Roman Josi and Damien Brunner, the Swiss failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing fifth in Group B due to Mikhail Grabovski’s game-winner for Belarus. Eliminated before the end of the preliminary round, the Swiss played spoiler for Latvia, who needed a win to make the quarterfinals.

Late in the third period, Latvia trailed 3-1. After pulling goalie Kristers Gudlevskis, the Latvians got a goal back from Zemgus Girgensons on a deflection. Soon after, Kaspars Daugavins turned the puck over, giving the Swiss a chance to seal the deal. Reto Suri and Thomas Rufenacht went two-on-none towards an empty net.

And then they blew it.

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By 10 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin Ruins Braden Holtby’s Chance at an Empty Net Goal (Video)

GIF by welshhockeyfan

Goaltenders are like all people. They have habits and idiosyncrasies. Some are reserved, some are wild. Braden Holtby has always been more of the latter. He’s made bruising checks in juniors, slashed teammates, and his zany routines are well known. Something he’s never done, though, is score a goal. Late in Washington’s 5-3 victory on Sunday, he almost got one.

“Something that I’ve always thought of is trying to score a goal, but that’s not my first priority,” Holtby told reporters after the game. “It’s definitely not something I practice.”

With the Caps on the power play in the waning seconds, Holtby retrieved the puck from behind his net. Weaving around a Sabres player, Braden launched a shot at the opposite net almost 200 feet away. The puck looked as if it was headed towards Buffalo’s net. However, Alex Ovechkin knocked it down at center ice with his glove. Instead of Holtby’s first ever marker as a goalie, the puck ended up lazily drifting into the corner as the horn sounded. Ovi knew what he might have prevented, shrugging as he went to congratulate Holtby on the win.

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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