Things are going according to plan for the Capitals. Some wondered what the organization was doing when it selected two goalies just 11 picks apart during the 2006 NHL draft. How about putting together their starting tandem for 2010-11?
It was an unconventional move that has worked so far for general manager George McPhee. Rookie Michal Neuvirth was named the NHL rookie of the month for his stellar October. Meanwhile, playoff veteran Semyon Varlamov — like Neuvirth, still just 22 years old — has fought his way back from a nagging groin injury and been brilliant in his last four appearances.
Varlamov, who didn’t start Thursday night’s game at Dallas in the second night of a back-to-back, is 4-0 and has stopped 110 of the 115 shots he has seen since returning from the injured-reserve list on Nov. 24 against Carolina. Now Washington can watch its two prized prospects battle each other for the No. 1 job as they were supposed to all along. The next question: Who starts in the playoffs?
