Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images
Ilya Samsonov stopped all 22 shots he faced Saturday night against the Sharks to post his second consecutive shutout, both on the Capitals’ current west coast road trip. It was his third shutout of the season, improving his record to 6-0-1 on the season.
With the blanking, Samsonov becomes the first Capitals goalie with consecutive shutouts since Braden Holtby in January of 2017. He is the first Capitals goalie to achieve the feat entirely on the road since Clint Malarchuk didi it In February, 1988. He extends his shutout streak to 151:27 of time on ice.
Three Capitals goaltenders have shutout strings of longer than 180 minutes (Samsonov has one of 151:27 going, last allowing a goal with 8:33 gone in the second period in Columbus), with Pat Riggin holding the franchise mark of 203:52.
— Ted Starkey (@TedStarkey) November 21, 2021
Saturday’s shutout marks the 12th time that a Capitals goaltender has recorded shutouts in consecutive starts and just the fourth time that feat has been achieved on the road
Samsonov and Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky (8-0-2) are the only goaltenders in the NHL this season with at least five starts and zero regulation losses.
Caps Coach Peter Laviolette on Samsonov: “He seems focused and dialed in. He seems like he is in control, I think everybody had the same feeling this game as they had last game, that he was just in position. He was there. He looked sharp, he looked focused.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 21, 2021
Saturday’s win in San Jose extends Washington’s point streak to seven (6-0-1). Three of those six wins have come via the shutout route.
The best from a second straight shutout effort by Sammy in net, as he stopped all 22 shots faced last night in San Jose.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/yvnmC4uqOl
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 21, 2021
The Capitals wrap-up their annual west coast road trip Sunday night when they make their first visit to Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle to face the Kraken. Puck drop is set for just after 9:00 PM ET.
By Jon Sorensen
I know that Sammy has had his problems but when the man does something like 2 shutouts in a row and he is not one of the 3 stars of the game is a disgrace! What Carlson did was for a career and that should not make him a star of the game. Under that premise any player who does anything to pass a career mark should be a star of the game. So sad on this one!
Agree with you Steven. Was surprised to see his snubbing last night.