Photo: Trade Rumors
In the Vancouver Canucks’ first game back after a 22-day COVID-19 pause, former Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made 37 saves against the North Division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs to earn a 3-2 overtime win for his team, including a highlight-reel save-of-the-year candidate.
With the Canucks down 2-1 with 9:09 left in the third period, the 31-year-old went all around the world and kicked out Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds’ flip attempt with the right pad.
Braden Holtby made a season-high 37 saves, including this highlight-reel stop on Wayne Simmonds in the third period, as the @Canucks rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Toronto in their return to action. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/w38jWu12LJ
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 19, 2021
Holtby also flashed the glove on Maple Leafs center Alex Galchenyuk, who was wide open on the right side, after drifting over from the left side where there was a crowd of Canucks and Maple Leafs players.
Braden Holtby absolutely ROBS Alex Galchenyuk at the back door on the Leafs PP! 😱 #Canucks pic.twitter.com/a0GsCpirWR
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) April 19, 2021
The Canucks, who trailed 2-0 with under four minutes left in the second period on Sunday, currently sit 10 points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the fourth and final Stanley Cup Playoff spot in the North Division but have four games in hand on them.
Auston Matthews: “Holtby played unreal tonight. Stood on his head.”
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) April 19, 2021
Holtby, who played in just his third game since February 22 against the Maple Leafs, was among many Canucks that were on the NHL’s COVID-19-related absences list. He is 5-6-2 with an .899 save percentage and a 3.44 goals-against average in his first season with the Canucks after 12 years in the Capitals organization. Holtby signed a two-year contract with the Canucks as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
Holtby keeping the #Canucks within ☝️ pic.twitter.com/aRemp4fiy1
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) April 18, 2021
By Harrison Brown
God bless Braden Holtby.
My question from this post is, when did Wayne Simmonds get to the Leafs?
He was signed by the Maple Leafs last offseason after a year in Buffalo and a year in New Jersey.