One of the biggest questions surrounding the Washington Capitals entering the Stanley Cup Playoff is goaltender.
The Capitals will embark on their first-round series against the Florida Panthers starting with Tuesday’s Game 1. While they have a pair of young capable goalies, neither has stood out and claimed the net, per say.
However, the team had to make a decision, and Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette named Vitek Vanecek as Game 1’s starter in net.
“Vitek we gave the start to last year and it didn’t go the way he wanted or as planned with regard to that. But the body of work that he had this year just earns him the nod for Game 1,” Laviolette said per Samantha Pell of the Washington Post.
Vanecek will get his second career playoff start. His first didn’t last long. Last season, he was injured early in the first period of Game 1 in the first round against the Boston Bruins. He did not return to the game or the series, as Washington was eliminated in five games.
This season, Vanecek has competed alongside 24-year old Ilya Samsonv. Both have started 39 games each. Samsonov finished the year with a 23-12-5 record. with a 3.02 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. Vanecek posted a 20-12-6 record. He had a .908 save percentage and a 2.67 GAA.
It’s safe to assume Samsonov will see the net at some point. Hopefully for the Capitals, one will get hot and lead the way to a deep run in the playoff.
The Capitals have reached the playoff eight consecutive seasons. However, the team has not won a playoff series since claiming the Stanley Cup in 2018.
