[29-MAR-2016] Math and the Playoff Picture

The Western Conference is all but sewn up, with only the wildcard slots left to be decided... positioning may shift, but six of the eight playoff teams are known.

IN:

• Dallas Stars (99 points, max 111)
• St. Louis Blues (99 points, max 111)
• Chicago Blackhawks (95 points, max 107)
• Los Angeles Kings (95 points, max 107)
• Anaheim Ducks (94 points, max 108)
• San Jose Sharks (90 points, max 102)

Potentially in:

• Nashville Predaors (91 points, max 103)
• Minnesota Wild (85 points, max 97)
• Colorado Avalanche (82 points, max 94)
• Arizona Coyotes (75 points, max 87)

OUT:

• Calgary Flames (70 points, max 82, low wild card has 85)
• Winnipeg Jets (69 points, max 81)
• Vancouver Canucks (67 points, max 81)
• Edmonton Oilers (67 points, max 73)

However, apart from the teams that decidedly won't be playing past April, the Eastern Conference is still in a dogfight, both for position and for the wild card slots).

IN:

• Washington Capitals (113 points, max 127)

 Potentially in:

• New York Rangers (95 points, max 107)
• Pittsburgh Penguins (92 points, max 106)
• Florida Panthers (93 points, max 107)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (93 points, max 105)
• Boston Bruins (88 points, max 100)
• New York Islanders (89 points, max 105)
• Philadelphia Flyers (87 points, max 101)
• Detroit Red Wings (87 points, max 99)
• Carolina Hurricanes (81 points, max 93)
• New Jersey Devils (80 points, max 92)
• Ottawa Senators (77 points, max 89)

OUT:

• Montreal Canadiens (74  points, max 86, low wild card has 87)
• Buffalo Sabres (72 points, max 84)
• Columbus Blue Jackets (68 points, max 80)
• Toronto Maple Leafs 65 points, max 79)

[29-MAR-2016] #HoltBEASTWatch #Roaring20s #CapsWatch

#HoltBEASTWatch

With victories in Braden Holtby's last two starts, the HoltBEAST inches closer to Martin Brodeur's single-season win record. He needs two more victories to tie that record, three more to best it, and there are seven games remaining in the season.

01 - 2006-07: Martin Brodeur (48W in 78GP) V*
02 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (46W in 61GP)
       2007-08: Evgeni Nabokov (46W in 77GP) V*
03 - 2008-09: Mikka Kiprusoff (45W in 65GP)
       2009-10: Martin Brodeur (45W in 77GP) J* 
04 - 2014-15: Carey Price (44W in 66GP) J* V*
       1974-75: Bernie Parent (44W in 68GP) V*

#Roaring20s

With an empty-net goal last night, Nicklas Backstrom joins the Roaring20sClub alongside several other Caps:

Alex Ovechkin (stalled at 43)
TJ Oshie (24 - career high)
Justin Williams (22 - career high is 33)
Evgeny Kuznetsov (20 - career high)
Nicklas Backstrom (20 - career high is 33)

Just south of the 20-goal plateau are three more Caps, who have seven games to reach that mark. 

Jason Chimera (18 - career high is 20)
Andre Burakovksy (16 - career high)
Marcus Johansson (15 - career high is 20) 

#CapsWatch

With that totally embarrassing loss to the St. Louis Blues, who are in fact a pretty good team, the Capitals have lost their opportunity to have the best scoring record since the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings. They can still catch (and surpass) the 2005-06 Red Wings' record, with the same number of victories the HoltBEAST needs to catch and surpass Marty Brodeur. 

[24-MAR-2016] 10 to go... (Updated 29-MAR-2016)

Here's what the Caps have to face in their last 10  games:

3/25 at New Jersey (1-0 SOW)
3/26 St. Louis (4-0 L)
3/28 Columbus (4-1 W) Clinched Presidents' Trophy!
3/30 at Philadelphia
4/01 at Colordo
4/03 at Arizona 
4/05 New York Islanders
4/07 Pittsburgh 
4/09 at St. Louis
4/10 Anaheim

New Jersey Devils

The Caps' first game against the Devils was our season opener. The Caps won that game, 5-3.

The second game (on 2/06), the Caps won 3-2 in the shootout.

The third game (on 2/20), the Caps won 4-3 in regulation.

The Devils sit two places out of the wildcard race, with a 35-31-7 record (77 points) and a -23 goal differential.

St. Louis Blues

The Caps have yet to face the musical team from St. Louis this year; the Blues' record is very good, though, at 43-22-9 (95 points, 3rd place in the League). Those two games will be a great test for the Caps for the post-season! The Blues' goal differential is +10 vs. the Caps' +61 (which included the Pittsburgh Debacle where they were scored on six times in one game - ugh!)

Let's hope they play better against the Blues than they did against their semi-archrivals!

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Caps' first game against the Blue Jackets (10/30) was a 2-1 Caps win.

In the second game, the Jackets returned the favor on 2/2 and won 5-4 in the shootout.

The third game was a 6-3 win for the Caps.

Columbus sits well out of the playoff picture, at 30-35-8 (68 points) in 73 games played, with a -34 goal differential.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Caps' first game against the Flyers was a 5-2 win for the good guys in red.

In the second game, the Flyers prevailed, 4-3 in overtime.

The third game was a 3-2 Washington win in regulation.

The Flyers are currently the second wildcard team in the Eastern Conference, having knocked Detroit out of that position. Their current record is 35-24-13, good for 83 points, but  their goal differential is -5.

Colorado Avalanche

On 11/21, the Caps beat the Avs 7-3, laying a touchdown on the mile high hockey club. This will be the second of two games.

Arizona Coyotes

Following up on 11/22, the Caps beat the Yotes 3-2. This will also be the second of two games.     

New York Islanders

The Caps' first game against the Islanders was a 4-1 victory on 1/07.

Second up, on 2/04, the Caps again prevailed, 3-2 in regulation.

The third game required overtime to settle, but again, the Caps prevailed, 3-2.

The Islanders are currently sitting in the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 39-24-9 (87 points) and a +18 goal differential.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Ugh.

The Caps' first game against the Penguins, on 10/28, ended as a 3-1 loss.

The second game (of five), though, the Caps came back on 12/14 and won 4-1.

The third game, on 3/1, was another Caps victory, 3-2.

And we don't want to think about the fourth game, in which the Penguins grew fangs and slaughtered the Caps on 3/20, with a final and very ugly score of 6-2.

After a godawful start, the Penguins now sit third place in the Metropolitan Division... Their record is 40-24-8 (88 points) with a +25 goal differential.

St. Louis Blues

We'll know more here after the 4/9 game... 

Anaheim Ducks

On 3/7, the Caps were victorious, 3-2 in the shootout. We'll see what happens with this last vestige of winter and the end of the fallout from Snowpocalypse II.
   

[24-MAR-2016] Well, THAT was a little patch of the ugly...!

With ten games left, Captain Chaos (AKA Alex Ovechkin) needs seven more goals to hit 50 goals on the year. Two nights ago, he scored his 518th goal in 830 career games.
#OviWatch

With 518 goals in 830 games, Ovi puts himself in a tie with Dale Hawerchuk for the 35th-best goal scorer of all time. With four more goals, he will tie Pat Verbeek, and with six, he will tie Brian Trottier. Earlier this season, I projected Ovi to surpass Trottier's total, but a nagging lower-body injury could prevent that. I'll modify my expectations to figure he will at least catch Verbeek, and hope for the best in the last ten games. Usually, when Ovi scores, he scores in bunches, so here's hoping!

33 - Brian Trottier - 524 G, 1279 GP
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522 G, 1424 GP
35 - Alex Ovechkin - 518 G, 830 GP
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518 G, 1188 GP
37 - Pierre Turgeon - 515 G, 1294 GP
38 - Jeremy Roenick - 513 G, 1363 GP
39 - Gilbert Perreault - 512 G, 1191 GP
40 - Jean Béliveau - 507 G, 1125 GP
41 - Peter Bondra - 503 G, 1081 GP
42 - Joe Mullen - 502 G, 1062 GP
43 - Lanny McDonald - 500 G, 1111 GP
44 - Glenn Anderson - 498 G, 1129 GP   

#HoltBEASTWatch

Braden Holtby, on the other hand, only needs to win half the remaining games to surpass Martin Brodeur's single-season record of 48. Here's where the HoltBEAST stands:

Apart from a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the Flightless Fowl, Holtby's SV% had been trending the right direction of late. His current .921 is well off the pace he set earlier in the season, and he sits in 7th place in that regard, league-wide, among goalies who have played in 40 or more games this season.

As for his 2.25 Goals-Against Average.... we won't talk about that part. Yuck. 17th in the league isn't pretty, but the win column is... 10 games to go.

01 - 2006-07: Martin Brodeur (48W in 78GP) V*
02 - 2007-08: Evgeni Nabokov (46W in 77GP) V*
03 - 2008-09: Mikka Kiprusoff (45W in 65GP)
       2009-10: Martin Brodeur (45W in 77GP) J*
04 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (44W in 59GP)
       2014-15: Carey Price (44W in 66GP) J* V*
       1974-75: Bernie Parent (44W in 68GP) V*

#KuzyaWatchin'

While Kuzya didn't catch Datsyuk yet, he did record a couple of primary assists in the last few games. He now has 41 in 71 games played, 6th overall for the single season. He has 10 games left to record 10 primary assists to catch Crosby's 51...

 






2008-09: Sid Crosby (51 in 77 GP)
2009-10: Henrik Sedin (46 in 82 GP)
2010-11: Martin St. Louis (46 in 82 GP)
2011-12: Evgeni Malkin (46 in 75 GP)
2007-08: Pavel Datsyuk (44 in 82 GP)
2015-16: Evgeny Kuznetsov (41 in 71 GP)
2013-14: Joe Thornton (36 in 82 GP)
2014-15: Daniel Sedin (35 in 82 GP)
2012-13: Sid Crosby (29 in 36 GP - season shortened by lockout)

#Roaring20s


TJ Oshie (21) - career best is 21 in 2013-14 (tied)
Justin Williams (21) - career best is 33 in 2006-07 
Evgeny Kuznetsov (20) - already his career best (11 last season) 
Nicklas Backstrom (18) - career best is 33 in 2009-10
Jason Chimera (18) - career best is 20 in 2011-12 
Marcus Johansson (15) - career best is 20 in 2014-15 
Andre Burakovsky (15) - already his career best (9 last season)

#CapsWatch

Well, the Caps will have to go 10-0-0 to catch Detroit's 1995-96 62 wins... but they could definitely catch the 2010-11 Vancouver's 54 (with two more wins) and could potentially catch the 2005-06 Red Wings' 58 (with six)... 

 


1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (62W)
2005-06 Detroit Red Wings (58W)
2010-11 Vancouver Canucks (54W in 82 GP) 2013-14 Boston Bruins (54W in 82 GP)
2013-14 Anaheim Ducks (54W in 82 GP)
2007-08 Detroit Red Wings (54W in 82 GP)
2009-10 Washington Capitals (54W in 82 GP)
2014-15 New York Rangers (53W in 82GP)
2005-06 Dallas Stars (53W in 82GP)
2008-09 Boston Bruins (53W in 82GP)
2015-16 Washington Capitals  (52W in 72GP) 
2005-06 Ottawa Senators (52W in 82GP) 
2000-01 Colorado Avalanche (52W in 82GP)  
2005-06 Buffalo Sabres (52W in 82GP)  
2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks (52W in 82GP)  
2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes (52W in 82GP)  
2013-14 Colorado Avalanche (52W in 82GP)       

We'll just have to see what happens...

[15-MAR-2016] Whew!

#OviWatch


FINALLY! Our hero, Alexander Ovechkin has scored his 517th goal! It was an OviTime Game Winning Goal tonight, against the Carolina Hurricanes, and with that trip to overtime, the Caps have clinched a playoff berth! 

Our Captain and hero scored his 517th goal in his 826th game, after a 5-game scoreless streak (his longest of the season). This is his league-leading 42nd goal of the season. With one more goal, Ovi ties Dale Hawerchuk. He'll have his next opportunity on Friday when the Caps face the Nashville Predators.

 








33 - Brian Trottier - 524 G, 1279 GP
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522 G, 1424 GP
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518 G, 1188 GP
36 - Alex Ovechkin - 517 G, 826 GP
37 - Pierre Turgeon - 515 G, 1294 GP
38 - Jeremy Roenick - 513 G, 1363 GP
39 - Gilbert Perreault - 512 G, 1191 GP
40 - Jean Béliveau - 507 G, 1125 GP
41 - Peter Bondra - 503 G, 1081 GP
42 - Joe Mullen - 502 G, 1062 GP
43 - Lanny McDonald - 500 G, 1111 GP
44 - Glenn Anderson - 498 G, 1129 GP 

#KuzyaWatchin'

Evgeny Kuznetsov achieved his league-leading 38th primary assist tonight when he fed a pass to Ovi for the OTGWG. He is now sixth-best in the last several seasons in that regard (and everyone ahead of him played a full season). 

2008-09: Sid Crosby (51 in 77 GP)
2009-10: Henrik Sedin (46 in 82 GP)
2010-11: Martin St. Louis (46 in 82 GP)
2011-12: Evgeni Malkin (46 in 75 GP)
2007-08: Pavel Datsyuk (44 in 82 GP)
2015-16: Evgeny Kuznetsov (38 in 69 GP)
2013-14: Joe Thornton (36 in 82 GP)
2014-15: Daniel Sedin (35 in 82 GP)
2012-13: Sid Crosby (29 in 36 GP - season shortened by lockout)


#HoltBEASTWatch

Braden Holtby's league-leading 42nd win came in his 56th GPI (game played in). Coincidentally, this also puts him at 6th-best, this time in League history - faster than Ken Dryden and Mike Richter got their 42nd wins! 

05 - 1999-2000: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 62GP)
       1992-93: Tom Barrasso (PIT - 43W in 63GP)      
       1997-98: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 70GP) J*
       2011-12: Pekka Rinne (NSH - 43W in 73GP)
       2005-06: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 73GP)
       2002-03: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 73GP) J* V*
       1990-91: Ed Belfour (CHI - 43W in 74GP) V*
06 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (WSH - 42W in 56GP)
       1975-76: Kenneth Dryden (MTL - 42W in 62GP) V**
       1993-94: Mike Richter (NYR - 42W in 68GP)

#WatchCaps

The Caps just won their 50th game of the season, in 69 games played. They have 13 regular season games remaining, and already have a playoff berth, the first team in the league to clinch. 105 points, and a flipping +60 goal differential? Yes, their last 10 games have been a bit of a crap-shoot (6-3-1 record), but good GRIEF! Let's hope this game against the Hurricanes has helped to right the ship before the playoffs start. Holtby needs 8 more wins to hit 50; Ovi needs 8 more goals to hit 50... And Kuzya needs 12 more primary assists to hit 50. Let's see what can happen in 13 games!

#Ugh

As a side note, to my reader(s), today, I learned that I broke my collarbone back in December... yes, it really is March 15th, and yes, I JUST learned this, despite six other doctor visits. It hurts like a bitch! #JustSayin'... #LetsGoCaps!

[09-Mar-2016] All Hail the (EX)King(s) - Justin Williams and Mike Richards!

 May the Caps be victorious tonight!!!

And may Justin Williams and Mike Richards both have a hand in the victory!

#CupMusings

Since the Washington Capitals became a team in the 1974-75 season, a number of teams have hoisted Lord Stanley's Hardware. Here's the list:

1974-75: Philadelphia Flyers (1)
1975-76: Montreal Canadiens (1)
1976-77: Montreal Canadiens (2)
1977-78: Montreal Canadiens (3)
1978-79: Montreal Canadiens (4)
1979-80: New York Islanders (1)
1980-81: New York Islanders (2)
1981-82: New York Islanders (3)
1982-83: New York Islanders (4)
1983-84: Edmonton Oilers (1)
1984-85: Edmonton Oilers (2)
1985-86: Montreal Canadiens (5)
1986-87: Edmonton Oilers (3)
1987-88: Edmonton Oilers (4)
1988-89: Calgary Flames (1)
1989-90: Edmonton Oilers (5)
1990-91: Pittsburgh Penguins (1)
1991-92: Pittsburgh Penguins (2)
1992-93: Montreal Canadiens (6)
1993-94: New York Rangers (1)
1994-95: New Jersey Devils (1)
1995-96: Colorado Avalanche (1)
1996-97: Detroit Red Wings (1)
1997-98: Detroit Red Wings (2) (Caps' only appearance to date)
1998-99: Dallas Stars (1)
1999-2000: New Jersey Devils (2)
2000-01: Colorado Avalanche (2)
2001-02: Detroit Red Wings (3)
2002-03: New Jersey Devils (3)
2003-04: Tampa Bay Lightning (1)
2004-05: No Cup awarded - lockout
2005-06: Carolina Hurricanes (1)
2006-07: Anaheim Ducks (1)
2007-08: Detroit Red Wings (4)
2008-09: Pittsburgh Penguins (3)
2009-10: Chicago Blackhawks (1)
2010-11: Boston Bruins (1)
2011-12: Los Angeles Kings (1)
2012-13: Chicago Blackhawks (2)
2013-14: Los Angeles Kings (2)
2014-15: Chicago Blackhawks (3)

#PresidentsTrophyMusings

Since 1985-86, the Presidents' Trophy has been awarded 28 times.

Here's the list:

1985-86: Edmonton Oilers (119 points)
1986-87: Edmonton Oilers (105 points)
1987-88: Calgary Flames (105 points)
1988-89: Calgary Flames (117 points)
1989-90: Boston Bruins (101 points)
1990-91: Chicago Blackhawks (106 points)
1991-92: New York Rangers (105 points)
1992-93: Pittsburgh Penguins (119 points)
1993-94: New York Rangers (112 points)
1994-95: Detroit Red Wings (70 points) 48 game season
1995-96: Detroit Red Wings (131 points)
1996-97: Colorado Avalanche (107 points)
1997-98: Dallas Stars (109 points)
1998-99: Dallas Stars (114 points)
1999-2000: St. Louis Blues (114 points)
2000-01: Colorado Avalanche (118 points)
2001-02: Detroit Red Wings (118 points)
2002-03: Ottawa Senators (113 points)
2003-04: Detroit Red Wings (109 points)
2004-05: President's Trophy not awarded - lockout
2005-06: Detroit Red Wings (124 points)
2006-07: Buffalo Sabres (113 points)
2007-08: Detroit Red Wings (115 points)
2008-09: San Jose Sharks (117 points)
2009-10: Washington Capitals (121 points)
2010-11: Vancouver Canucks (117 points)
2011-12: Vancouver Canucks (111 points)
2012-13: Chicago Blackhawks (77 points) 48 game season
2013-14: Boston Bruins (117 points)
2014-15: New York Rangers (113 points)

This year's Capitals team:

102 points in 66 games played.
Potential maximum of 134 points if they win out (unlikely).
If they win 75% of their games as they have all season so far? 126 points.

We shall see! In the meantime, we have Kings to conquer. It's gonna be a late night! 

[06-Mar-2016] Ducks Plucked (2-1 Caps for the win in the shootout) - #HoltBEASTWatch

#HoltBEASTWatch

Caps goaltender Braden Holtby has his league-leading 41st win in 54 games played this season. That puts him in good company, with Ken Dryden, former Capital Semyon Varlamov (who was playing for Colorado at the time), Dominik Hašek, and Martin Brodeur - and he's hit 41 wins faster than any of them. The Caps take to the ice next on Wednesday, when they face the Los Angeles Kings. That game will start at 10:30 PM Eastern, so I'd better get a nap first! On Saturday, the Caps finish out their California trip with a visit to the Shark Tank, where they will face off against the San Jose Sharks.

05 - 1999-2000: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 62GP)
       1992-93: Tom Barrasso (PIT - 43W in 63GP)      
       1997-98: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 70GP) J*
       2011-12: Pekka Rinne (NSH - 43W in 73GP)
       2005-06: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 73GP)
       2002-03: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 73GP) J* V*
       1990-91: Ed Belfour (CHI - 43W in 74GP) V*
06 - 1975-76: Kenneth Dryden (MTL - 42W in 62GP) V**
       1993-94: Mike Richter (NYR - 42W in 68GP)
07 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (WSH - 41W in 54GP)
       1976-77: Kenneth Dryden (MTL - 41W in 56GP) V**
       2013-14: Semyon Varlamov (COL - 41W in 63GP)  

       2001-02: Dominik Hašek (DET - 41W in 65GP)     

       2000-01: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 41W in 72GP)

[03-Mar-2016] #OviWatch, #TrotzWatch, and #KuzyaWatchin' - Caps rake up Leafs 3-2...

Last night's tussle with the Maple Leafs went reasonably well - particularly in the WIN column. Ovi scored his 516th goal, and Head Coach Barry Trotz won his 649th game, placing him 9th all time.

#OviWatch

With his 516th goal, Ovi is two goals behind Dale Hawerchuk for 35th all time. 

Hawerchuk, 52, played in a total of 1,188 games, and appeared on the Winnipeg Jets (1981-82 through 1989-90), Buffalo Sabres (1991-92 through 1994-95), St. Louis Blues (1995-96), Philadelphia Flyers (1995-96 through 1996-97). In that time, he scored 518 goals. Hawerchuk is now the head coach of the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. The Colts play in the same league as Dale Hunter's London Knights, and at present have a record of 36-20-0-2 for 58 standings points, good for first in the Central Division. They have clinched a playoff spot, but have not yet clinched their division. (For comparison, the Knights have a record of 43-13-2-1 for 89 points, good for second place in the Midwest Division. Barrie has 6 games remaining in their season. Dale coaches his son, Ben Hawerhuk in Barrie; the left wing has 4 goals, 5 assists, 29 penalty minutes, in 59 games played, and wears #16 for Barrie. 

Ovi is still scoring .672 goals per game. With 19 games remaining in the season, if he plays every one, and scores at his same rate, he'll have 12-13 more goals this year, putting him at 528 or 529 goals (career) at the end of the season... Frank Mahovlich (533 goals in 1181 games) is #32, so unless Ovi scores a lot more than 528-529, he'll still need another season to catch Mahovlich at #32. 

33 - Brian Trottier - 524 G, 1279 GP
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522 G, 1424 GP
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518 G, 1188 GP
36 - Alex Ovechkin - 516 G, 821 GP
37 - Pierre Turgeon - 515 G, 1294 GP
38 - Jeremy Roenick - 513 G, 1363 GP
39 - Gilbert Perreault - 512 G, 1191 GP
40 - Jean Béliveau - 507 G, 1125 GP
41 - Peter Bondra - 503 G, 1081 GP
42 - Joe Mullen - 502 G, 1062 GP
43 - Lanny McDonald - 500 G, 1111 GP
44 - Glenn Anderson - 498 G, 1129 GP

Meanwhile Head Coach Barrie Trotz has become the 9th-winningest coach of all time, jumping ahead of #10 Ron Wilson with last night's victory. Trotz needs 33 more wins to hit #8 (surpassing Mike Keenan, 672 wins in 1386 games). 

#KuzyaWatchin' 

Our Kuzya didn't get any primary assists last night; he had a secondary assist on the Taylor Chorney goal, but TJ Oshie was the star in the assist department last night, having a hand in all three Caps goals.



   

[02-Mar-2016] #HoltBEASTWatch, Caps v. Pens (Caps win!)

Last night, the Caps did not hold a lead until the last few minutes of the game. But, they beat the Penguins anyway. This trend needs to be reversed, and hopefully, tonight against the struggling Leafs, they will be able to score early and often, so I get a free Egg McMuffin on my way to work tomorrow that they win the game with a decisive WIN.

Game Summary 

The HoltBEAST now has 40 wins under his belt, with 20 games remaining in the regular season. He won't get all of those starts, but he should get a fair number of them - Philipp Grubauer has played in 15 games, and holds a 6-5-0-1 record (no losses in overtime, one in the shootout), including having come on in relief of Holtby at least a handful of times. So, where does Holtby stand in the all-time list? Let's have a look!


07 - 2000-01: Martin Brodeur (41W in 72GP)
       1976-77: Kenneth Dryden (41W in 56GP) V**
       2001-02: Dominik Hasek (41W in 65GP)     
       2013-14: Semyon Varlamov (41W in 63GP)
08 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (40W in 52GP)
       1982-83: Pete Peeters (40W in 62GP) V* 
       1984-85: Pelle Lindbergh (40W in 65GP) V*
       1987-88: Grant Fuhr (40W in 75GP) V*

#OviWatch - Ovi didn't get a goal last night, but he had four hits, three blocked shots, three shots on goal, and two shots that went wide of the target...he also gave the puck away in the offensive zone once, but thankfully, the Evil Flightless Fowl didn't score. 

#KuzyaWatchin' - Kuzya didn't have any primary assists last night, but he got a goal, so we'll forgive him there. ;-) 

Tonight's matchup is against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where former Capital Brooks Laich is now playing. The Leafs are sitting dead last in the standings, making them a very dangerous opponent, if the Caps don't take them seriously...