What was Braden Holtby doing?
Braden Holtby was going full "Holtbeast" mode, that's what.
Holtby made 36 saves in the Capitals 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres Friday night, but none was more daring than his blue line slide to take the puck off Rasmus Ristolainen's stick.
No, Holtby! NO...Yes, Holtby! Yes!Stream #CapsSabres live: https://t.co/Wn6LWyeTGx pic.twitter.com/g5TkUD1toB
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 22, 2018Braden Holtby darted out near the blue line to break up a breakaway attempt. Then swipe poke checked the puck away again after it went to another #Sabres player. Then swatted his stick to deflect/block another shot. Most amazing/weird thing I've seen from a goalie. #Caps #ALLCAPS https://t.co/dGG3PpgPqY
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) December 22, 2018Wheeeeeeeee 4 #HoltBeast pic.twitter.com/GCZHkmiZrY
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 22, 2018Well, it worked.
"Since (Dominik) Hasek hasn't been in the league, you don't see that too often," Holtby told reporters.
Fortunately for Holtby his coach and teammates have his back.
"He’s a god, and he always saves our (butts),” center Evgeny Kuznetsov said.
"It's a read in that situation and an aggressive read," Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said after the game. "Turns out to be the right maneuver, for sure. But the second effort is the one that's really impressive."
#Caps HC Todd Reirden on Braden Holtby & that wild sequence near the #Sabres blue line. @1067theFan #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/OtYpJwGBif
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) December 22, 2018"To be able to have that wherewithal with the second swipe of the stick, he was tremendous, and it was one of his strongest games of the year," Reirden said
The Caps netted the winner in the third period off a steal by Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson's 10th goal in 15 games this season.
Kuzy --> Wilson and we're back in the lead! #CapsSabres #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/aEgMR5ve7c
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 22, 2018Follow Ben Krimmel and 106.7 The Fan on Twitter.
