Holtby picks perfect time to play his best game in net for the Capitals

WASHINGTON — When T.J. Oshie’s empty-net goal touched the back of the net, putting the last touch on a 3-0 win for the Washington Capitals on Monday night, Braden Holtby didn’t flinch.

Capital One Arena erupted around him, with red flags flying in the air and the capacity crowd turning into one big mosh pit.

The five Capitals skaters embraced in a group hug.

The Tampa Bay Lightning players drifted without purpose, and the visiting bench all slumped at once.

But Holtby was unmoved, sweeping skate shavings off his crease amid the commotion, until the final buzzer sounded 50 seconds later and each of his teammates came to greet him.

After an up-and-down regular season, and an untimely threegame slide in this National Hockey League Eastern Conference final series leading into Game 6, Holtby discarded all 24 shots the Lightning tossed his way in the Capitals’ season-extending win.

So before heading to Tampa for Wednesday’s Game 7, the Capitals lined up in front of Holtby’s net and took turns congratulating the anchor of their stingy defensive effort.

Tom Wilson offered a head butt. John Carlson gave Holtby a double high-five followed by a bear hug. Jay Beagle pressed his helmet against Holtby’s mask before smacking him hard on the back.

And when the ice finally cleared Holtby was the last player on it, gliding toward the bench for a postgame interview, soaking in a booming chant of his last name.

He picked the perfect night for his first shutout of the season.

“The only reason it’s good is you know you won,” Holtby said of the first shutout, which came after 54 regular season starts and 12 more in the playoffs.

“Aside from that it’s just another statistic for you guys, I guess. You can write about it. But for us, it’s just that W. That’s all that matters.”

The timing was pretty important, too.

Holtby started the post-season in an unfamiliar role: backing up Philipp Grubauer, watching from the bench, waiting for another opportunity should the Capitals need to give him one.

That happened in Game 3 of the Capitals’ first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Holtby’s next 12 games — a 10-2 record, .928 save percentage and 2.04 goals against average — reestablished him as the unquestioned starter in net.

Then he slipped again in three losses leading into Monday, allowing 3.49 goals per game and posting an .844 save percentage.

Those were, uncoincidentally, the same three losses that pushed the Capitals to the brink of elimination after jumping ahead 2-0 in this series.

They needed a sharp turnaround from their goaltender in Game 6.

Holtby delivered one.

“He’s been here four years (under the current coaching staff), and Braden has grown and Braden has been the backbone of our hockey club,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said after the win.

“You can’t go anywhere without goaltending, and he’s been solid and we’re fortunate that we’ve had two really good goaltenders, in him and (Grubauer), and it allows you to have success,” he added.

“Braden is a true pro. He works at his game, he finds ways to make a difference, and he does.”