Braden Holtby’s knees shook and the game passed in a blur. Most goalies have some idea that their NHL debut is imminent. With his Capitals comfortably ahead by three goals entering the final 20 minutes of play, Holtby had no idea what was in store.
That Nov. 5, 2010, victory over the Boston Bruins marked the first time Holtby played in an NHL game. An injury recall from the minor leagues, one minute he was watching his team cruise to an easy win and the next he was in net with Boston stars Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Zdeno Chara trying to rattle the 21-year-old rookie.
It didn’t happen. After the Bruins suddenly tied the game 3-3 in a span of 6 minutes, 44 seconds, Holtby came on in relief and kept them at bay. Teammate John Carlson provided the eventual game-winner late in the third period and Alex Ovechkin added an empty-netter to seal Holtby’s first NHL victory. On Thursday, he will see many of those same Boston players for the first time since that memorable night at Verizon Center. But this time it will be on the sport’s biggest stage — the Stanley Cup playoffs. Still just 22 and his team’s last, best hope in net, the nerves are sure to return, right?
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t get butterflies like that,” Holtby said. “I think that [debut] was a lot bigger deal. Playing in the playoffs, that’s one step. But the one goal was playing in the NHL. The next is a Stanley Cup.”
The words are said with a distinct lack of bravado. It’s one of many reasons Holtby’s teammates are comfortable with him. Washington has made a habit of relying on young goalies in recent playoffs. Semyon Varlamov, since traded to Colorado, came on in relief in the 2009 and 2010 postseasons just shy of his 21st and 22nd birthdays and played well each time. Michal Neuvirth, now out with an undisclosed lower-body injury, started all nine playoff games last spring at age 23.
“We’ve done it before. We have no choice,” Washington general manager George McPhee said. “If the other guys aren’t ready to go, [Holtby is] playing. And he’s played fine.”
Why the confidence in a goalie who has appeared in just 21 NHL games? Holtby is 14-4-3 in his career with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. Once injuries struck Neuvirth and veteran Tomas Vokoun (groin) in March, Holtby arrived from Hershey of the American Hockey League and won critical games at Detroit and New York and kept his team close in a loss at Philadelphia — all Stanley Cup contenders.
Holtby has had his share of blunders. A terrible pass led to a goal against Buffalo last month. He gave up three goals on five shots in a Nov. 19, 2010, game vs. Atlanta and three days later his first NHL stint came to an end with an ugly 5-0 loss to New Jersey. But he also exudes a calm that keeps his teammates comfortable and a combative side that belies his easy-going personality. The Bruins, masters of intimidation, may find it difficult to fluster Holtby.
“The refs do a pretty good job protecting goalies now, if not overprotect them,” Caps forward Jason Chimera said. “What are [the Bruins] going to do, run [Holtby]? If someone does there’ll be a blocker waiting for their face. He’s that kind of goalie. He’s got a competitive edge to him and nothing will really rattle him that way.”
