(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby has had a year for the record books. As the regular season comes to an end, “Holtbeast,” as he is known, has set and tied multiple Caps goaltending records.
The Lloydminster, Saskatchewan native’s 41st win of the season tied the franchise record for most wins by a goaltender. By defeating the Boston Bruins 3-0 in this recent game, Holtby tied Washington’s 1989 draft pick the Olaf Kolzig’s (now with the Toronto Maple Leafs) 15-year-old record. And, with the shutout, he also tied former Caps goalie Jim Carey’s (now with the St. Louis Blues) franchise record of nine shutouts in a season, which Carey did during the 1995-1996 season.
“He’s been outstanding all year,” Washington’s goal-scoring leader Alex Ovechkin said. “His confidence gives us confidence.”
On April 5, Holtby became just the third Capitals goaltender to reach 100 wins with the franchise and as doing it the fastest. He reached the mark in only 176 games.
The fourth-round draft pick of Washington’s also set the Capitals franchise record for most consecutive starts in a season last night with his 24th. He had already set the record for most consecutive games played by a goalie this season back on January 16 when he appeared in his 27th game.
“I like playing… it’s the reason we play hockey,” Holtby said. “I like to be able to play a lot. At the same time, I try not to get complacent by just going to play another game and not worrying about this one. I want to make sure I’m prepared for every single one of them. That’s something I pride myself on. That’s what got me to this level.”
“[Braden] doesn’t like days off when I give him days off,” Capitals Head Coach Barry Trotz said following Washington’s win against the Bruins. “He gives me the look like, ‘Again?’ He likes rhythm, so that why we play him.”
The win over Boston capped off a season in which Holtby became the second goaltender in the league’s expansion era — 1967 to 1968 — to post three shutouts versus the Bruins in one season and the first Capitals netminder to do so. Holtby recorded 88 saves versus Boston in 2014-2015.
The Canadian is in a three-way tie for third place among active goalies in fewest games needed to reach 100 NHL wins and is the fifth-youngest player to reach 100 wins among active goalies.
Additional accomplishments have Holtby in a tie for first place in shutouts this season. Since the 2012-2013 season, he ranks second in the NHL in shutouts with 17. He trails only Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) by one in that time period.
Holtby has made a franchise-record 1,857 saves in 2014-2015 and sits one game shy of tying Kolzig in games played in a season (73).
As well, he currently leads the NHL in ice time (4,188 minutes), games played (72) and saves.
“He’s a workhorse,” Trotz said of his goalie after the Bruins’ game. “He has a blue collar work ethic with white collar skill. His game is set to have a long, long-standing career right now with the way he has transformed his game. I really like where Braden has gone.”
He’s the presumed starter for the final regular season game against the New York Rangers this weekend. A victory would mean he’d break the Capitals franchise record for most wins in a season by a goaltender.