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For Game 2 vs. Islanders, Braden Holtby is sick? Unbelievable
Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby sat out practice on Friday morning ahead of Game 2 of their series against the New York Islanders, feeling under the weather.
Hershey Bears starter Philipp Grubauer was recalled from the AHL as a precaution.
According to Coach Barry Trotz, Holtby missed Thursday’s optional skate for this very reason, and the Capitals saw little value in having Holtby tax himself the next morning with such a critical game around the bend. So they recalled Grubauer, who drove into town Thursday night.
Holtby still attended meetings and “got a little bit of movement today,” Trotz said, but any on-ice work will come during pregame warmups. “When you’re not feeling well, no sense draining yourself anymore,” Trotz said.
Basically, everyone in the Capitals locker room expects Holtby to get the start in Game 2, after the Islanders took Game 1 of the series, 4-1. Trotz also said that Holtby’s status shouldn’t be affected by the illness.
He set a Capitals team record with 25 straight starts to end the season, and that’s led to some accusations – tongue-in-cheek or otherwise – from Capitals fans that he’s been worn down.
But we’ll just go ahead and assume he’s A-OK and will be laser-focused on Game 2 and not at all sick or fatigued, which are things that would lead to soft goals. You know, like the one the Capitals gave up to Brock Nelson of the Islanders just 6:06 into Game 1, for example.
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