After a historic individual season, Capitals netminder Braden Holtby was awarded his first career Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender. 

One of three finalists (the others being Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop and Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick), Holtby was the clear-cut favorite to win the award during a season that saw him backstop the Capitals to a 56-18-8 record and a President’s Trophy win.

In the process, he amassed a 48-9-7 record, a 2.20 goals-against average (GAA), and .922 save percentage, and three shutouts.

Holtby is the third goaltender in Capitals franchise history to win the Vezina Trophy, joining Jim Carey (1995-96) and Olie Kolzig (1999-00). Holtby, 26, posted a 48-9-7 record this season with three shutouts, a 2.20 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. The 6’2”, 217-pound goaltender earned his 48th win of the season on April 9 at St. Louis, tying Martin Brodeur (48, 2006-07) for first place on the NHL’s single-season wins list. Holtby (66 games played) secured his 48th win of the season in 12 fewer games than Brodeur (78 games played).

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By recording 48 wins, he tied the NHL record set by future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur. While tying the record was an outstanding accomplishment by itself, Holtby had numerous opportunities to set a new record; however, a streak of poor performances by the team eliminated any chance of that happening. Capitals Nation congratulates Holtbeast on a phenomenal season!

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From Capitals Press Release:

Holtby’s 48 wins also mark the Capitals franchise record for wins in a season, breaking the previous record (41) set by himself last season and Olie Kolzig in 1999-00. The Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, native posted a 22-game point streak from Nov. 12 toJan. 14 (20-0-2), marking the second-longest point streak by a goaltender in franchise history and only the second point streak of 22 or more games in the NHL in the last 20 seasons. Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore posted a franchise-record 23-game point streak during the 2009-10 season (20-0-3). In addition, Holtby was the first goaltender to win 27 games in a 32-game stretch (11/12-2/11: 27-1-3) since 1995-96, when Chris Osgood did so with the Red Wings (11/22/95-3/20/96: 27-3-2). He is the 13th goaltender in NHL history to post multiple 40-win seasons (2014-15: 41, 2015-16: 48) and is the seventh goaltender in NHL history to record consecutive 40-win seasons.

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Holtby has posted a 149-60-25 record with 23 shutouts, a 2.37 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in 244 career NHL games with Washington. Since the start of the 2012-13 season, he ranks first among NHL goaltenders in wins (135) and tied for second in shutouts (20).

Holtby, drafted by Washington in the fourth round, 93rd overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft, was the 10th goaltender selected in the 2008 NHL Draft. He has earned more wins and shutouts than the nine goaltenders drafted before him combined. In addition, Holtby is the third goaltender in franchise history to register 100 wins with the Capitals (Kolzig, Don Beaupre) and became the fastest goaltender in franchise history to reach the 100-win plateau, earning the mark in 176 games. He ranks tied for third among active goaltenders in fewest games needed to reach 100 career wins and his 118 wins through his first 200 career games ranks first among active goaltenders. Holtby ranks first in franchise history in save percentage, tied for first in goals-against average, second in wins and shutouts and third in games played.

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#Holtbeast #Holtby #bradenholtby #capitals #RockTheRed #LetsGoCaps #igdc #dmv #washingtondc

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