The lights will dim at Verizon Center tonight and the public address announcer will shout the starting lineup. Special attention will be paid to the man guarding the Capitals’ net. But that man is no longer goalie Olie Kolzig.
The trade deadline acquisition of Cristobal Huet from Montreal on Feb. 26 cut Kolzig’s playing time dramatically. Huet started 13 of Washington’s final 19 games, including the last seven, as the Caps roared towards a Southeast Division title.
That change hasn’t been easy for Kolzig to accept. He’s been with the organization since it drafted him as a 19-year-old in 1989 and he fought eight years before earning the starting job for good. But whatever his private thoughts on the issue, Kolzig has limited his public comments at a sensitive time of the season. That has not gone unnoticed.
“We wouldn’t be here right now if Olie didn’t handle it right,” said Caps general manager George McPhee. “Knowing Olie as I do, it’s not a surprise. He’s the best team guy you could ever have. He’s right there with Dale Hunter. That’s why we won [a division title].”
McPhee spoke last Saturday outside the Caps’ dressing room. He stood in front of a blown-up picture of Hunter, the organization’s long-time captain, holding the Prince of Wales Trophy aloft. It was taken after the Caps beat Buffalo for the 1998 Eastern Conference title, a proud moment made possible by Kolzig’s brilliant play in goal.
“I give Olie a ton of credit because he’s made [Huet] feel more than welcome,” said forward Matt Cooke. “He understands the position that he’s in and not made it awkward or weird. That’s made it easy for Huey to do what he can do.”
