Capitals' Holtby picks up win No. 40 vs. Penguins
With a fantastic glove save to rob Carl Hagelin in the final minute, goaltender Braden Holtby ensured his second consecutive 40-win season, as the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Tuesday.
Not today ☝️. #CapsPens #HoltBeast pic.twitter.com/xm8O3p8gfn
— Washington Capitals (@washcaps) March 2, 2016
Holtby needed just 52 games to hit the milestone, compared to 71 games one year ago, as he approaches Martin Brodeur's single-season record of 48 wins. It's an especially noteworthy milestone for Holtby considering he hasn't allowed less than two goals in a game since Jan. 14 - a span in which he's gone 11-3-1.
.@Holts170 became 7th goalie in NHL history to post consecutive 40-win seasons & 1st since Evgeni Nabokov (3 straight: 2007-09) @EliasSports
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 2, 2016
The Capitals have now gone 10 games without holding a lead at the end of the first period, but that clearly hasn't stopped them from winning games, as they've won seven of their last 10 contests.
The @washcaps improved to 46-12-4 (96 PTS) this season, surpassing their win total from 2014-15 (45-26-11, 101 PTS) pic.twitter.com/EpU3quvtEB
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 2, 2016
Mike Richards, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and former Penguin Matt Niskanen all beat rookie netminder Matt Murray in the win.