Caps name Grubauer Game 1 starter
ARLINGTON, VA. » Philipp Grubauer will start Game 1 of the playoffs for the Washington Capitals over Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Braden Holtby.
Grubauer started 10 of the final 16 games of the regular season since Holtby was given time off to reset himself, going 7-3-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average and .925 save percentage to earn the job. Holtby struggled with a 3.75 GAA and .886 save percentage in his final 17 appearances.
The opener Thursday against Columbus will be Grubauer’s second career start in the playoffs. Grubauer started a game against the Islanders in the first round in 2015 when Holtby was sick and has entered in relief once.
Grubauer has been Washington’s backup the past three seasons behind Holtby.
Lightning’s Stamkos eyes return
TAMPA, FLA. » Steven Stamkos is back on the ice, eager to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning into the NHL playoffs.
The five-time All-Star missed the last three games of the season with a lowerbody
BRUINS VS. MAPLE LEAFS
Plenty has changed since Boston beat Toronto in seven games in 2013.The Maple Leafs added Mike Babcock as coach, Andersen in goal and have young stars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander. “It’s a very exciting team, a very dynamic team,” Maple Leafs deadline addition Tomas Plekanec said. “A lot of young talent on this team.” The Bruins can go punch-forpunch with the Maple Leafs and just about anyone in the league. Led by the top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, they have handled injuries to Bergeron, Rick Nash, captain Zdeno Chara and others and just keep clicking. “We feel we’ve got a pretty strong lineup and that’s been a constant all along even though we’ve missed guys,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “That’s just what it’s been this year. It’s just how we’re going to be. It’s become a bit of our fight song, so to speak, that, hey, we can do it and different guys in and out, guys are prepared to step in and play with whoever they’re asked to play with.” injury. He returned to practice this week and hopes to be ready Thursday for the start of a first-round series against the Devils.
“It was obviously tough,” said Stamkos, who watched the Lightning go 2-0-1 down the stretch to hold off the Bruins for the Atlantic Division title and No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
“You want to be in those games. But the more important games are now, and I just want to make sure I feel as good as possible heading into the playoffs,” the team’s second-leading scorer added. “Hopefully it keeps progressing and I can feel good come
CAPITALS VS. BLUE JACKETS
Despite losing several key players last offseason, the Capitals won the Metropolitan Division for the third consecutive year. Their reward: a matchup against Sergei Bobrovsky, Artemi Panarin and the John Tortorellacoached Blue Jackets. “We’ve always thought that they’ve been a pretty good team for the last few years, not just the last couple where they’ve had more success,” Braden Holtby said. “I think we’ve always had a good challenge against them. We play better against solid teams, teams that are coached well and it’s always fun to play against them. I think it’ll be a good series.” At the very least, it probably won’t be a short series. Thursday.”
Stamkos, a two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, rebounded from missing most of last season with a knee injury to bolster the NHL’s most prolific offense with 27 goals and a careerhigh 59 assists for 86 points in 78 games.
The Lightning didn’t practice Tuesday, but coach Jon Cooper said the team remained hopeful of having Stamkos back for Game 1 against the Devils.
Wings bringing back Blashill for 4th season
DETROIT » The Detroit Red Wings are bringing coach Jeff Blashill for a fourth season, sticking with him while they rebuild after missing the postseason for the second year in a row.
“I’m big on experience,”
GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. KINGS
A Golden Knights team put together with other teams’ discards spent the season using a “why not us?” mantra in setting expansion-team records for most wins (51), home wins (29), road wins (22) and longest point streak (10-0-2). Vegas features six 20-goal-scorers, including trade-deadline addition Tomas Tatar. The Golden Knights closed the season 6-3-2, with the regulation losses coming against nonplayoff teams: Arizona, Edmonton and Calgary. Marc Andre-Fleury went 29-13-4, but allowed six goals on 18 shots in a season-ending 7-1 loss at Calgary. The defensive-minded Kings allowed a leaguelow 202 goals and had the league’s best penalty-killing unit. Jonathan Quick’s 2.40 goals-against average was sixth among goalies appearing in 40 games. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said after announcing the decision.
The Red Wings are 104105-37 in three seasons under Blashill, who won one playoff game two years ago. The Jets closed their most successful season in both victories and points on a 20-5-1 run, including winning the final nine home games. Winnipeg is still searching for its first playoff victory after being swept in two previous appearances: by Anaheim in 2015, and by the Rangers in 2007, when Jets were based in Atlanta. Paul Stastny’s tradedeadline addition provided the NHL’s second-best offense with six 50-plus point producers. Third-year goalie Connor Hellebuyck went 44-11-9, and broke the single-season record for victories by U.S.-born goalies set by Tom Barrasso. The Wild limp into their sixth straight playoff appearance with defensemen Ryan Suter (broken right ankle) and Jared Spurgeon (torn right hamstring) sidelined, though Spurgeon is expected back from a 17-game absence in this series. Eric Staal’s 76 points (42 goals, 34 assists) were third-most in team history. The Ducks earned home-ice advantage with a 3-0 seasonending win over Arizona, coupled with the Sharks’ season-ending 6-3 loss to Minnesota. Anaheim went 25-10-4 since the bye break, and is 14-1-2 at home since Jan. 23. Goalie John Gibson went 21-7-3 in his final 31 decisions, but missed the final week and is listed day to day with an upper body injury. The Sharks went 1913-3 over their final 35 games since Joe Thornton was sidelined with a knee injury. Martin Jones allowed five goals on 19 shots against Minnesota, and is 1-4 in his past five while allowing 17 goals.