The joke early in the season was that the Capitals thought they got a steal by paying veteran goalie Tomas Vokoun just $1.5 million as a free agent over the summer when the goalie market collapsed. Unfortunately, in return they got a $1.5 million goalie. Vokoun struggled at times through the season’s first 10 weeks. He had lost his best friend, fellow Czech Josef Vasicek, in the plane crash in Russia on Sept. 7 that killed the entire Yaroslavl Lokomotiv hockey team. His family remained behind in Florida, including daughters Adelle, 11, and Natalie, 5. So there were some difficult adjustments, especially as his play wavered between very good and awful.
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Vokoun has begun shedding that inconsistent play, however. He has started the last nine games for Washington with a .940 save percentage and a 1.97 goals-against average, and he stopped 43 of 44 shots in Sunday’s win over Carolina.
But his turnaround has meant bench time for fellow goalie Michal Neuvirth. Last year’s primary starter had played five games in a row in late December and looked like a good bet for consistent ice time. But a shaky goal allowed from the blueline Dec. 17 in a one-goal loss to Colorado and an awful start Dec. 26 against Buffalo — three goals allowed on six shots in just 11:15 before he was pulled — gave Vokoun another chance. Neuvirth’s only action since was the third period last week in Los Angeles, where he stopped seven of eight shots.
“It’s pretty tough. But Tomas been good right now,” Neuvirth said. “He’s been good, and he’s winning. So why would we change anything?”
– Brian McNally
