x
Breaking News
More () »

Braden Holtby is key to clinch series win in Game 6 for the Caps

What a turnaround for the Washington Capitals. After being down 2-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round, the team has bounced-back to win three straight games to take a 3-2 series lead. We should all thank Braden Holtby.
Credit: Kirk Irwin
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 17: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals watches replay during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Game 3 of the Eastern Conference 1st Round during 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (WUSA) — The Capitals always seem to choose the harder path in the postseason.

Two things that would be beneficial? Help-out Holtby and avoid overtime.

The Caps and Jackets have already played the equivalent of a Game 6 in extra time.

So please, no Game 7 boys.

For your sake and our sake, you could use the rest.

Nicklas Backstrom's overtime goal in Game 5 is the difference in this series right now, that and Braden Holtby's goaltending performance in the final 32 minutes of play on Saturday.

With the Caps under attack in their own end in the third period— they were out-shot 16-1 and out-attempted 35-11 in the final frame.

Holtby stopped 15 of 16 goals, getting beat only on Oliver Bjorkstrand's tying tip-in tally at 2:30 of the third.

I'm sure many sports' fans have their superstitions and good-luck-charms, mine is my Holtby jersey.

I have worn my white Holtby jersey almost non-stop since the Caps' Game 3 win at Columbus, and you betcha I'm not taking it off anytime soon.

Without a doubt Holtby is one of the top reasons we are back in this series.

"The great hockey continued," said Holtby after Game 5. "This series been a really well-played series, and it showed again tonight. It's fun hockey to play in, and it's the reason the playoffs are so exciting."

Holtby's late netminding heroics set the bar for Backstrom, who scored the fourth overtime game-winner of his Stanley Cup playoff career on Saturday, adding to his Washington franchise record.

When a best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series is tied at 2-2, the winner of Game 5 of that series has historically won 79 percent of those series.

But, as the Caps are well aware of, a statistic means hardly anything.

Washington came on top 4-3 in overtime in Game 5 of its first-round Stanley Cup playoff series with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday afternoon.

That win gives the Caps a chance to close out the series at 7:30 p.m. Monday night, when Columbus takes home ice for Game 6.

As any Capitals fan will tell you, the Caps struggle to close out teams. Game 5 almost became a great example of that, but luckily for them, Holtby was magnificent!

The Capitals took advantage of the Blue Jackets in their last road game, beating them 4-1.

In my opinion, it was their most impressive win of the series.

To clinch Game 6, the Capitals must continue to generate chances, capitalize on power-plays, and steer-clear of overtime.

And they must be prepared for the Blue Jackets to come out hot.

An early goal could set the tone in this matchup.

Let's close it out boys! #ALLCAPS

Before You Leave, Check This Out