Holtby feels revitalized, ready for heavy workload for Capitals

ARLINGTON, Va. -- For many, the lasting image of Braden Holtby from last season will be of the Washington Capitals goaltender making a diving, stick-paddle save on Alex Tuch to preserve a 3-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

That Holtby humbly downplays it by saying, "It's not exactly a technically sound save," and, "I don't think it was as big as some other moments that we had," could be the result of the perspective he gained from a season that was both the most trying and the most rewarding of his NHL career. That the season ended with the Capitals winning the Stanley Cup doesn't erase the lessons Holtby learned along the way, lessons he believes will make him a better goaltender this season and beyond.
"It was a very interesting year because there were a lot of ups and downs, a lot of new situations adapting to kind of different styles," said Holtby, who will play his first game of the preseason when the Capitals host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. "It was one of those years you had a lot of opportunity to learn about yourself and learn about your team, and I think we did a good job of that collectively."
By the time Holtby and the Capitals were skating around T-Mobile Arena with the Cup following their 4-3 win in Game 5 against the Golden Knights, it was almost forgotten that he began the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the bench.

Holtby, who won the Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender in the NHL in 2015-2016 and was a finalist again in 2016-2017, had a strong first half of the regular season, going 24-8-0 with a 2.68 goals-against average and .917 save percentage his first 32 starts to earn his third consecutive selection to the NHL All-Star Game. But his play faded after that while the Capitals struggled defensively, and he went through a rough eight-start stretch from Feb. 11- March 6, when he was 1-5-2 with a 4.82 GAA and .854 save percentage and was pulled three times.
While Holtby took some time to mentally reset and work on his game in practice, backup Philipp Grubauer started 10 of Washington's final 16 regular-season games.
"It was nice to have a little bit of a break to realize that at some point, look at that film, look at what we're doing physically, and getting back to those basics," Holtby said. "The more we looked at it, it was closer to being really good than it was too bad. It was just getting a little bit of a break sometimes helps."

Although Holtby's 2.99 GAA and .907 save percentage in the regular season each was the worst of his NHL career, he regained some of his confidence over his final six starts, when he went 5-1-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .911 save percentage. Still, the Capitals decided to start Grubauer in the first two games of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After losing the first two games in Washington in overtime, they turned back to Holtby to start Game 3 in Columbus. He made 33 saves in a 3-2 double-overtime win that began the Capitals' run to the Cup.
Holtby played every minute from that point forward.
"It wasn't an easy year, and when it probably got to be the most heated and most pressurized situation going into that Game 3, he was able to come through for us," said Capitals coach Todd Reirden, who was an associate on coach Barry Trotz's staff before being promoted June 29 after Trotz left and took the same job with the New York Islanders. "That's a defining moment. Hoping [he will] build on that and kind of gather some speed from what he accomplished last year. I think he grew a lot, not only as a goalie but as a person last year."

Although Reirden and general manager Brian MacLellan believe Holtby benefitted in the playoffs from the lighter workload he had at the end of the regular season, the Capitals probably will rely on him more early this season after trading Grubauer to the Colorado Avalanche on June 22. Pheonix Copley, who has made one NHL start in his career, for the St. Louis Blues in 2016-17, has the inside track to be the backup, and the Capitals hope to ease the 26-year-old into the job initially.
Holtby won't mind the extra playing time. He prefers it that way. His 54 starts last season were his fewest since he made 45 in 2013-14.
"One of the big reasons I felt so good in the playoffs was because I was playing every day," he said. "I feel better that way. The body and mentally it just feels better when you're in a routine of every second day you're playing. It's just easier for me. Everybody's different, but through the years you try go to know yourself better and better, and that's just one of those things that I find it easier."