Vitek Vanecek

Peter Laviolette will name starting goaltender for Game One on Tuesday, hopes Samsonov or Vanecek ‘just take off and run’ with it

The Washington Capitals hoped one of their two young goaltenders would separate themselves this season, but in the end, that did not happen. Ilya Samsonov started 39 games and Vitek Vanecek started 39 games.

Now, heading into their first-round matchup with the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Florida Panthers, Capitals’ head coach Peter Laviolette remains realistic that the team will likely end up using both goaltenders in the series, but is hopeful that Sammy or Vitek steps up and grab the reigns of the position moving forward.

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Peter Laviolette alludes to goaltending competition being open again after back-to-back poor starts from Vitek Vanecek

Vitek Vanecek was crowned by general manager Brian MacLellan to be the Capitals’ starting goaltender heading into the playoffs.

“I think it was great what he’s done here lately,” MacLellan said then of Vanecek. “I think he deserves opportunity to take the team into the playoffs.”

Less than two weeks later, the Capitals’ goaltender competition is open again after consecutive putrid starts by Vanecek.

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