The Washington Capitals and NHL are in Phase 2 in the league’s plan to resume the 2019-20 season. Before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season, the Capitals faced key roster decisions. None bigger than the starting goalie position.
Rookie Ilya Samsonov outplayed five-time All-Star Braden Holtby for much of this season. Samsonov recorded a 16-6-2 record in 22 starts during his historic first year. Meanwhile, Holtby struggled throughout the season. He finished with a career-worst .897 save percentage and 3.11 goals-against-average in 47 starts.
Yet, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden declared he will lean on the veteran when play resumes for the playoffs.
Speaking to team reporters, Reirden said the starting goalie job is Holtby’s “to lose.”
“I felt confident with where things were going right before the pause in terms of how his game was coming around and I think he’ll get the first crack at it.”
Reirden added (h/t NBC Sports Washington)
The 30-year old Holtby has been the franchise goalie since 2012. He holds multiple franchise records and was in net for the team’s Stanley Cup title run in 2018. But, he was short of his standard excellence, during this season. Although, he flashed glimpses of improvement shortly before the season was halted.
Still, Reirden feels Holtby’s resume and body of work “speaks for itself” to get a chance to lead the Capitals through the adjusted postseason.
Holtby is back in DC, working with their goalie coach. He will have first crack to re-write the narrative of his season.
The Capitals won their fifth-straight Metro division title. As one of the top-four seed in the Eastern Conference, Washington will play in a three-game round-robin to determine the exact seed they’ll enter the playoffs.
Reirden said the team needs to have third and fourth goalies to be ready as well. Backup goalie Pheonix Copley has previously stated he will be one of the Capitals’ black aces to join the team for the playoffs. The Capitals’ coach also mentioned goalie Vitek Vanecek.
“You don’t know how deep you’re gonna need your roster to be. But the way I see it, you’re gonna need a lot of players and it’s important that all of our players are ready and when they get that opportunity they’re able to take advantage of it.”
