When Washington Capitals players see an opposing goaltender bobbling the puck or struggling to make a save, they yell to each other that he looks shaky.
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While backstopping the Capitals to a big 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues, he did just that.
Nicklas Backstrom assisted on all three of Ovechkin’s goals to reach 50 assists.
Holtby is going into his fourth Stanley Cup playoffs, a long way from his debut in 2012 when, due to injuries, he was brought up from the minors to active duty at the most important time. Before the game, general manager Joe Sakic said coach Patrick Roy will return for another season. “I wish I had an explanation”, said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara after the loss.
Washington, the runaway President’s Trophy winners and Eastern Conference champions, will open against the Flyers. He’s the first to do it in three consecutive seasons twice, from 2007-10 and ’14-present. In addition, this marked the second time Ovechkin has reached the 50-goal plateau by recording a hat trick (March 3, 2008 vs. Boston: three goals, two assists).
The Panthers are the surprise team, with the legendary Jaromir Jagr leading a talented group of young players.
“Obviously, it’s nice”, Ovechkin said. 922 save percentage. Brodeur played 78 games when he set the record in 2006-07.
“So”, Brodeur added, “it’s ironic how these things happen”.
Holtby can break the record in the Capitals’ finale against Anaheim on Sunday night.
“I think that him being able to get that wins record at the end of the year is probably good for him so he can not think about that and just worry about plugging away like he has all season”, Alzner said.
“You take it (and) hopefully the pressure situations you’re more comfortable in”, Holtby said.
The Ducks’ win over Washington vaulted them ahead Los Angeles to clinch their fourth consecutive Pacific Division title. Mike Condon made 21 saves.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his winning goal in the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Washington.
“It matters to me because I’d heard about it recently and understand how insane of a record that is”.
C Evgeny Kuznetsov hasn’t scored a goal for the Capitals since March 1, a span of 20 games.
Holtby has set the mark despite playing in 14 fewer games than Brodeur did. They’ll face the West’s top wild card, Nashville, beginning Friday.
It’s been two seasons since the Sharks choked away a 3-0 series lead to the Kings, but the wounds remain fresh.
But for as productive as Ovechkin has been in the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs – 36 goals and 70 points in 72 games – he has never appeared in a game beyond the second round. Ovechkin now has 525 – but he is still only 30 and has plenty of time to overcome that record.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Wayne Simmonds scored two goals, Steve Mason stopped 18 shots and Philadelphia clinched a playoff berth.
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In Vancouver, Emerson Etem scored in the seventh round of the shootout, and the Canucks beat Edmonton in the finale of a disappointing season for each team.
