Braden Who?

Vol. III, No. 6

While the last two teams in the West are waiting for the next round, the Eastern Conference is sizzling.

A number 6 seed from the banks of the Passaic River has made it to the conference finals. A number 7 seed has taken the top seed to a 3 - 3 deadlock.  The Washington Capitals forced a game seven tonight, with a convincing performance which dominated the NY Rangers for most of three periods.

As a number 6 seed, the New Jersey Devils should come as no surprise. They finished the regular season with 102 points, fourth in the east. But the Capitals? Washington squeaked into the playoffs with 92 points - lowest in the entire league (along with the Ottawa Senators).

So how did the Caps beat the Stanley Cup champions (number 2 seed) Boston Bruins? And why are they tied with the Rangers? What explains their 7-6 playoff record against the best of the best? The answer is one man and two words. He is Braden Holtby, a rookie 22-year old goaltender phenom.

Holtby has been in the minor leagues since 2005. He was picked 93rd in the 2008 draft fourth round. Since that time, Holtby has played a total of 21 NHL games over two seasons. For most of this year, he backstopped the AHL Hershey Bears with a GAA of 2.61 and a 0.906 save percentage. These are respectable, but not outstanding, stats.

Caps coach Dale Hunter called Holtby up from the minors in early April, when starting goalie Tomas Vokoun aggravated a groin injury. Holtby was number two, behind Michal Neuvirth.  The local press thought that Neuwirth would get the nod for the playoffs. But Hunter saw things differently.

Turns out that Holtby has always had potential. The Caps saw this in his first 14 game season, when he produced a 1.79 GAA. That's more than respectable.

And what has this 22 year old produced in this year's playoffs? Against the top offenses in the league, he has a 0.933 save% and 1.94 GAA. That does not include tonight's performance - one goal allowed on 31 shots. His record after losses is an outstanding 9-0.

Holtby is hot and so are the Caps. Over the last two games, they have won five periods out of six.  Game seven is on Saturday night.  The Broadway Blueshirts have good reason to be nervous. Will the Rangers join the Bruins playing golf in May? In three days, the Eastern Conference finals will be set.  The Devils are waiting.

Hockey Rules!