Postseason success key to cementing his status
The pressure of the Stanley Cup playoffs can be crushing. But Capitals rookie goalie Michal Neuvirth has played the opening two games of his team’s first-round series against the New York Rangers as if he were in a bubble.
Washington leads the series 2-0 entering Game 3 on Sunday afternoon in New York thanks in part to Neuvirth stopping 46 of 47 shots on goal so far, including a 22-save shutout in Friday’s 2-0 victory. Neuvirth insists that winning games is the most important thing on his mind right now. But there is an intriguing subplot to this postseason, too.
The Caps have three young goalies in their system, any one of whom could be the franchise’s netminder of the future — Neuvirth; Semyon Varlamov, 22, the playoff starter the last two years; and promising goalie Braden Holtby, 21, who’s in Hershey of the American Hockey League. A strong postseason could cement Neuvirth’s status with the team. But if he falters, it will be an opportunity lost and a chance for someone else to steal that spotlight.
| The Neuvirth file |
| » Washington’s second-round choice in the 2006 NHL draft, No. 34 overall. |
| » Finished third among NHL rookie goalies in wins (27) and goals-against average during the regular season (2.45). Set franchise record for wins by a rookie goalie. |
| » A native of Usti Labem, Czech Republic. Represented his country at the world juniors tournament in 2008. |
“I don’t think about this stuff,” Neuvirth said after Saturday’s practice at Kettler Iceplex. “I’m just going game-by-game, and who knows what’s going to happen? I’m really happy with my two games so far, and I’m pretty excited for tomorrow. I’m not looking ahead right now.”
The baby-faced 23-year-old would look more at home on a college campus than his actual work space — a 4-foot-by-8-foot blue crease that big men on skates whiz past at full speed, intent on creating havoc around his net. Technically sound, Neuvirth excels at being in the right position and at blocking out any external distractions.
“He’s a big-game goalie. He likes to be in that moment,” said Washington defenseman John Carlson, who played in front of Neuvirth the last two springs when Hershey won back-to-back Calder Cup championships.
Those two long AHL playoff runs proved an ideal training ground for Neuvirth, who has started 14 postseason series for his teams dating back to his junior hockey days in Canada and never lost one. His demeanor on the ice is relaxed, with little of the frenetic motion and explosive athleticism that Varlamov employs. And it isn’t much different off it. Neuvirth’s command of English is good after five years in North America, but he is far from a boisterous presence in the locker room.
“[Neuvirth] seems to be unflappable,” Caps defenseman Karl Alzner said. “He’s very calm, relaxed on and off the ice. In this situation that’s going to be good for us. It’s already proven well in Hershey a couple times.”
Can Neuvirth continue to maintain his composure against the desperate Rangers in Game 3? New York tried to get in his face more Friday, but Washington’s defensemen did a fine job protecting him. There were few rebounds available for Rangers forwards, and Neuvirth wasn’t asked to make many spectacular saves. So far at least he’s been there when the Caps have needed him.
“This is playoffs. It’s a lot of pressure on everyone,” Neuvirth said. “Scrums around the net, it’s the playoffs, and for me I have to handle this stuff. They were coming at me pretty hard.”
