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Capitals fall to Islanders in OT as Braden Holtby’s wins bid stalls Capitals fall to Islanders in OT as Braden Holtby’s wins bid stalls
(35 minutes later)
Braden Holtby turned toward the net and closed his eyes. At this moment, he was pictured above on the Verizon Center video board. He took a deep breath, kissed the back of his mask twice and then fastened it on. He swiveled around to take his place in the crease.Braden Holtby turned toward the net and closed his eyes. At this moment, he was pictured above on the Verizon Center video board. He took a deep breath, kissed the back of his mask twice and then fastened it on. He swiveled around to take his place in the crease.
Holtby believes in routine: coffee before the game, a scripted series of movements during the National Anthem, emptying a Gatorade bottle of water on his hair before covering it with his mask. This start wasn’t treated any differently, but he was well aware of the significance. Holtby’s name had been tied to Martin Brodeur and the single-season wins record for weeks, and that only intensified as this start neared. Holtby believes in routine: coffee before the game, a scripted series of movements during the national anthem, emptying a Gatorade bottle of water on his hair before covering it with his mask. This start wasn’t treated any differently, but he was well aware of the significance. Holtby’s name had been attached to Martin Brodeur and the NHL’s single-season wins record for weeks, and that only intensified as this start neared.
History will have to wait, as the Washington Capitals lost to the New York Islanders, 4-3, in overtime on Tuesday night, likely leaving Holtby with just two chances to get his 48th win and tie Brodeur for the single-season mark for wins by a goaltender. History will have to wait, because the Washington Capitals lost to the New York Islanders, 4-3, in overtime on Tuesday night, likely leaving Holtby with just two chances to get his 48th win and tie Brodeur for the single-season mark for wins by a goaltender.
Christopher Gibson got the win on Tuesday night instead, earning his first NHL victory in his first big-league start when Thomas Hickey scored in overtime. Gibson made 29 saves and Holtby finished with 23. The game underscored why Holtby has so often referred to setting the wins record as a team accomplishment, as the Capitals surrendered a two-goal lead in the third period. Christopher Gibson got the win on Tuesday night instead, earning his first NHL victory in his first big league start when Thomas Hickey scored 2 minutes 13 seconds into overtime. Gibson made 29 saves, and Holtby finished with 23. The game underscored why Holtby has so often referred to setting the wins record as a team accomplishment; the Capitals surrendered a two-goal lead in the third period.
Helping Holtby set the mark has morphed into a priority for the Capitals as they search for motivation in these final weeks with a Presidents’ Trophy already clinched. Holtby laughed before the game that he didn’t want it to be too stressful for his teammates, worried about everyone trying to force something.Helping Holtby set the mark has morphed into a priority for the Capitals as they search for motivation in these final weeks with a Presidents’ Trophy already clinched. Holtby laughed before the game that he didn’t want it to be too stressful for his teammates, worried about everyone trying to force something.
The win seemed to be secured when Washington opened the third period with two goals, first from T.J. Oshie and then from Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals had a 3-1 lead, but the Islanders stormed back. Kyle Okposo got New York within one, and then Anders Lee tied it less than two minutes later when he deflected in a Nick Leddy shot. The win seemed to be secured when Washington opened the third period with two goals, first from T.J. Oshie 1:15 into the period and then from Alex Ovechkin at 6:56. The Capitals had a 3-1 lead, but the Islanders stormed back. Kyle Okposo got New York within one, and then Anders Lee tied it less than two minutes later when he deflected in a Nick Leddy shot.
When Holtby made an impressive glove save on Lee with less than four minutes left in the game, Verizon Center stood and applauded, some in the crowd chanting his name. When he allowed the game-winning goal to Hickey, the crowd went silent. When Holtby made an impressive glove save on Lee with less than four minutes left in regulation, the Verizon Center crowd stood and applauded, some fans chanting the goaltender’s name. When he allowed the game-winning goal to Hickey, the crowd went silent.
The game had started well for Washington. Four minutes and 29 seconds in, Marcus Johansson lost a faceoff in the offensive zone, but Oshie picked the puck off and found Ovechkin, who beat a screened Gibson with a wrister from the right faceoff circle. That was just the fifth five-on-five goal by the Capitals in the past seven games, and by the end of the game, Washington had three five-on-five goals from that forward trio. The game had started well for Washington. Four minutes 29 seconds in, Marcus Johansson lost a faceoff in the offensive zone, but Oshie picked the puck off and found Ovechkin, who beat a screened Gibson with a wrister from the right faceoff circle. That was just the fifth five-on-five goal by the Capitals in the past seven games, and by the end of the game, Washington had three five-on-five goals from that forward trio.
The Islanders tied it 13:43 into the second period. Barreling into the Washington zone, John Tavares’s snap shot from the high slot bounced off the tip of Holtby’s glove and into the net, setting up for a tied game entering the third period. The Islanders tied it 13:43 into the second period. Barreling into the Washington zone, John Tavares’ snap shot from the high slot bounced off the tip of Holtby’s glove and into the net, setting up a tie game entering the third period.
Instead of an on-ice celebration for Holtby, the team shuffled off the ice while the Islanders celebrated clinching a playoff berth on Washington’s ice. Instead of an on-ice celebration for Holtby, the team shuffled off the ice while the Islanders celebrated clinching a playoff berth in Washington’s arena.