Growing up as a hockey player and a goaltender, I was always told that it is never a problem to have too many goaltenders. This seems to be the case right now for the Washington Capitals as they currently have Michal Neuvirth, Braden Holtby and Semyon Varlamov manning the crease.
At one point or another this season, Captials' head coach Bruce Boudreau has rode one of these goaltenders due to his strong play and right now, that is Holtby.
While Neuvirth is healthy and ready to play, Boudreau is riding Holtby as he has certainly earned it. In his last four games, Holtby has stopped 110 of the 114 shots he has faced and is 4-0 since taking over for Neuvirth in Tampa Bay. He is making the big saves when his team needs him to, is showing a lot of confidence and poise for someone who is just 21 years old and certainly has a lot of potential.
With that said, the same things can be said of both Neuvrith and Varlamov. In 41 games this season, the 22-year-old Neuvirth is 22-10-4 with a 2.47 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and three shutouts. He has been considered the starting goaltender for the majority of the season until he went down with an injury.
Varlamov, also 22, had also been solid for the Capitals this season. He is 10-8-4 in 22 games with a 2.27 goals against average, a .927 save percentage and 2 shutouts. Certainly not bad for a netminder who has seen limited time this season due to injuries. Varlamov is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
It has truly become a three-man race in the Capitals crease. It will be interesting to see how Boudreau manages the goaltenders this week as there is a back-to-back situation in the middle of this week.
With 12 games left in the season, who will win the race between now and the playoffs? Will it be Holtby, Neuvirth or Varlamov? The way it has gone this season, it's anyone's guess.
Photos credit: Getty Images
At one point or another this season, Captials' head coach Bruce Boudreau has rode one of these goaltenders due to his strong play and right now, that is Holtby.
While Neuvirth is healthy and ready to play, Boudreau is riding Holtby as he has certainly earned it. In his last four games, Holtby has stopped 110 of the 114 shots he has faced and is 4-0 since taking over for Neuvirth in Tampa Bay. He is making the big saves when his team needs him to, is showing a lot of confidence and poise for someone who is just 21 years old and certainly has a lot of potential.
With that said, the same things can be said of both Neuvrith and Varlamov. In 41 games this season, the 22-year-old Neuvirth is 22-10-4 with a 2.47 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and three shutouts. He has been considered the starting goaltender for the majority of the season until he went down with an injury.
Varlamov, also 22, had also been solid for the Capitals this season. He is 10-8-4 in 22 games with a 2.27 goals against average, a .927 save percentage and 2 shutouts. Certainly not bad for a netminder who has seen limited time this season due to injuries. Varlamov is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
It has truly become a three-man race in the Capitals crease. It will be interesting to see how Boudreau manages the goaltenders this week as there is a back-to-back situation in the middle of this week.
With 12 games left in the season, who will win the race between now and the playoffs? Will it be Holtby, Neuvirth or Varlamov? The way it has gone this season, it's anyone's guess.
Photos credit: Getty Images
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