Grubauer taking advantage of Holtby’s ‘reset’
It was a sweet moment between partners, a smiling Braden Holtby skating over to Philipp Grubauer, standing in front of his net. To celebrate Grubauer’s shutout in San Jose Saturday, the Capitals’ first in regulation this season, Holtby kissed Grubauer on the mask, a show of support from one member of Washington’s goaltending tandem to the other. They’re teammates first and foremost, but internal competition exists and after three-plus years without any for the Capitals’ cage, there’s some mystery of who will be the team’s top goaltender going forward.
Since coach Barry Trotz handed the net over to Grubauer in what was billed as a “reset” period for Holtby, Grubauer has allowed just four goals in three games, the first time he’s had three straight starts since the 2013-14 season. He’s saved 76 of the 80 shots he’s faced as Washington recorded wins against two postseason-bound Western Conference teams and moved back into first place in the Metropolitan Division. The goalies are expected to split this week’s back-to-back games against the New York Islanders and Holtby
has said he now has to “earn” his playing time.
But if Grubauer continues to acquit himself this well as the interim No. 1 netminder, it’s fair to question just how temporary this new role might be and what it would take for Holtby to wrestle the top job back. The Capitals
insist that for the time being, the starting goaltender will be a gameby-game determination.
“Phil’s playing extremely well right now,” Holtby said. “He’s giving us the best chance to win every night. It’s one of those fortunate things in an unfortunate situation. He’s been able to play extremely well. And I can take a little time to clean up a couple of things and can clear my head, clear the team’s head with that kind of stigma that’s kind of going on with me in net. Those things happen and the biggest thing is setting the right example to the young guys and everyone on the team that we’re all in this together, no matter who is playing. We’re focused on winning games and that’s the bottom line.”
The sample size isn’t as small as the last week. Grubauer started the season by losing his first six starts despite some strong play, but in 20 appearances since he recorded his first win Nov. 24 against Tampa Bay, Grubauer is 10-3-2 with a .946 save percentage and a 1.40 goals-against average. Holtby had lost seven of his last eight starts before this shift to Grubauer and he’s been yanked from net early four times since the start of February. With Grubauer, 26, entering restricted free agency this summer, this is sort of an audition, an opportunity to show how he handles a heavier workload.
“I’m not trying to show off or impress anybody,” Grubauer said.
Holtby carried the Capitals throughout the start of the season, when the team was plagued with injuries and inexperience on defence. But going back to a Feb. 2 game in Pittsburgh, Holtby has a 3-6-2 record with an .872 save percentage and a 3.73 goals-against average. He has a .907 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average on the season, career-worst numbers for a goaltender who was a Vezina Trophy finalist the last two seasons. He won the award in 2016 after tying Martin Brodeur’s single-season record of 48 wins.
Brent Johnson, a former NHL goaltender, suggested on Twitter Holtby’s recent struggles could be related to fatigue. During Trotz’s first season in 2014-15, Holtby played in 73 games, but his workload has steadily declined with a capable backup like Grubauer around to spell him. He played in 66 games two seasons ago and then 63 last year. Holtby said he finds it “easier” when he’s playing regularly and the coaching staff has downplayed suggestions Holtby might be tired.
“He’s been such a hard worker throughout his whole career that I think he feels more in a rhythm when he’s on the ice than off the ice,” goaltending coach Scott Murray said. “I know he’s played a lot of games, but he knows his body really well and he knows when to gear down a little bit.”