Capitals' Philipp Grubauer: Earns shutout in first start of season

Grubauer silenced the Avalanche on Tuesday, stopping all 18 shots he faced in a 3-0 win.

Analysis:

Starting goalie Braden Holtby got honored before the game for his historic, Vezina-winning 2015-16 campaign, but it was Grubauer who got the tap on the pads. The 24-year-old German picked up the torch and ran with it, earning his first career shutout by shutting down an Avs team that may have still been a bit hung over from the previous night's intense overtime win over the Penguins. After starting only 16 games last year, Grubauer is expected to see a bit of extra work this season so Holtby isn't worn out by the time the playoffs roll around, and this outing will only increase coach Barry Trotz's confidence in rolling out his backup netminder.