What’s the main difference between the 2015 Washington Capitals and the previous editions of the team that failed to meet playoff expectations since Alexander Ovechkin was drafted in 2004?
Goaltending.
Braden Holtby has been nothing short of brilliant in the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, so much so that he’s arguably the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP.
Holtby leads the playoffs with a .950 save percentage, 287 saves and a 1.48 goals against average, in addition to one shutout. These are impressive numbers for someone who was rarely given a rest in the regular season with a league-leading 73 games played.
The Capitals have scored just 2.09 goals per game in the playoffs, which is the third-lowest among the eight second-round teams and almost a full goal less than their regular-season average.
This has forced Holtby to perform at an even higher level against two quality opponents, the New York Islanders in Round 1 and the New York Rangers in Round 2. He’s responded by giving up two goals or fewer in eight of his 10 postseason starts, including one goal allowed in the last two games combined versus the Rangers. Washington won both of those games to take a 3-1 series lead.
Holtby is just now receiving the credit he deserves for stellar playoff performances, but he’s actually been one of the league’s best postseason goalies for a couple of years.
His playoff career started with an upset of the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in Round 1 of the 2012 playoffs. From that series through Wednesday night’s Game 4 win, he’s posted a playoff save percentage of .937 and a 1.87 GAA. That’s the best playoff save percentage of any active goaltender with 20 or more games played.
The Capitals have their most complete team in the Ovechkin era, and the reason why they’re winning close, one-goal games after losing so many of them in past playoff runs is the play of Holtby. He’s giving them a reliable presence in net that’s been lacking for so many of their Stanley Cup pursuits.
When you combine that with first-year head coach Barry Trotz’s structured, defense-first system, you have the recipe for a legitimate championship contender.
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
