Photo credit: Jay LaPrete
After giving up three goals in 22 minutes of game action, Philipp Grubauer was relieved from service in the Washington Capitals net. Grubi, who wasn’t getting much help from his teammates, skated off. On came Braden Holtby.
It was Holtby’s fourth appearance in the last month. You’d think he’d be rusty.
Nope.
Holtby was challenged immediately in the second period, most notably by Matt Calvert.
As the 24-year-old Blue Jackets forward skated into the zone on a two-on-one break, he shot top shelf, stick side. Holtby got the knob of his stick on the puck, somewhat miraculously.
Look at this again.
It may not get a lot of style points, but I declare this the Braden Holtby Save of the Year.
