The race is on for the Capitals. No, not for an Eastern Conference playoff spot or even home-ice advantage. Those things are almost wrapped up at this point. It’s all about playing time now.
With 15 forwards on the expanded roster, coach Bruce Boudreau has tricky decisions to make before every game. But the expected competition in goal is becoming one-sided. Veteran Jose Theodore — unceremoniously benched after just one playoff start last spring — is bolstering his case daily to be the starter when this season’s first-round playoff series begins.
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Theodore was the architect of a 2-0 shutout of the New York Rangers on Saturday night. That’s the latest in a string of strong performances that has put the 33-year-old in firm control of the No. 1 spot. The numbers since Jan. 13 — the day Washington began a franchise-record 14-game winning streak — are revealing. Theodore is 12-0-2 with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. Over a full season, that save percentage would rank third in the NHL and the goals-against average would be tied for 10th.
“Right now — the last month — I feel good,” said Theodore, who has stopped 53 of 54 shots since the Olympic break. “You just want to have that stretch when it counts.”
Of course, the overall numbers aren’t great. Theodore’s 2.79 goals-against average ranks 32nd in the NHL. His .910 save percentage is 24th. It has been an up-and-down season for Theodore, who began the year as the No. 1 but started just five games in November as rookie Semyon Varlamov took over. But knee and groin injuries knocked Varlamov out for two months, and Theodore eventually outperformed rookie Michal Neuvirth to earn starter’s minutes in 15 of the last 21 games. Varlamov — last year’s playoff hero when Theodore faltered — is healthy now and started Thursday’s 5-4 win over Tampa Bay.
“[Theodore is] brimming with confidence,” Boudreau said after the win over New York, Theodore’s first shutout in almost a year. “And we hope he can keep it.”
