Braden Holtby won the Vezina Trophy last season, and now he’s making the case to repeat this year.
Tuesday night at Verizon Center, the Holtbeast recorded 23 saves, leading the Caps to a 5-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The shutout was Holtby’s seventh of the season, tying the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan native with the Los Angeles Kings’ Peter Budaj.
Photo credit: Greg Fiume
The surprise is that there was no surprise.
With the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens locked at two as the clock hit zero in overtime, Matt Hendricks got ready to take the ice for the shootout. The fourth liner, not one of the highly skilled Russians or Nicklas Backstrom in his grand return, was set to shoot first in the most important gimmick of season — that is, if you don’t count the one 48 hours ago. And once again Hendricks made the moves you know by heart: fake, leg lift, deke, deke, wrist shot, score. Eight goals, 12 opportunities, one move.
By Chris Gordon 11 years ago
