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Caps vs Bruins: Game 4 Quotes and Notes |
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Holtby, Holtby, Holtby!
Through three games, the Caps had managed to hang in with the reigning Stanley Cup champions thanks to the stellar play of their rookie goaltender Braden Holtby.
Allowing only six goals on 103 shots in the opening three games, Holtby had proven to be yet another revelation in the Caps net, but as with the team's recent track record of throwing young goalies to the fire in the post-season, but he couldn't be expected to do it all on his own again in Game Four, could he?
Lo and behold, though his teammates put in a solid effort in their own right, the 22 year old native of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, posted a 44 save effort that was nothing short of spectacular in guiding the Caps to a desperately needed 2-1 win.
Yielding but seven goals on 148 shots, Holtby tops the list of what this Capitals team is doing right.
Certainly a major part of why Washington is now heading back to Boston for a best-of-three marathon with three games in four nights to round out the series, Holtby got plenty of support when it mattered most as the Caps outhit the Bruins (44-34), blocked a superb 26 shots and scored two timely goals.
Though dominated by the Bruins in both the first and third periods (Washington managed a meager 6 shots in those 40 minutes), the Caps kept level-heads, playing disciplined hockey for 50 minutes before Mike Knuble took their only penalty on the night.
It was a battle all night long, but the Caps held up their end of the bargain in earning the win for Nicklas Backstrom.
Now headed back to Boston with the knowledge that their #1 center will be back in the lineup for Game Five, Washington will have momentum on their side as they know that so long as they play a disciplined game and continue to clog up the lanes in front of their net, Holtby will do his job and provide the snipers their chance to gain the upper hand.
Quotes & Notes
Here is a rundown of post-game quotes, followed by my notes.
Holtby...
Capitals head coach Dale Hunter on netminder Braden Holtby …
“They came out real hard tonight, forecheck was hard and we turned the puck over a few times. Holtby was very good. He stood tall and kicked out a lot of rubber tonight.”
Boston forward Patrice Bergeron on the play of Capitals goalie Braden Holtby…
“He’s playing well but it’s about us finding ways to find the back of the net. It’s really not about them right now, it’s about us."
Boston forward Rich Peverley on the play of Capitals goalie Braden Holtby…
“He saw everything tonight, that’s for sure, I can’t say they’re too many shots that he didn’t see. He likes to glove the puck, he likes to hold on to it so like I said, we’ve got to get more bodies in front of him….He’s a good goalie, he likes to catch everything so I think we just need to get more net presence. Most goalies in the league, if they see it, they can stop it and he’s another example.”
Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby on knowing when he is on his A game…
“I can usually tell when there are screens and I can follow the puck the whole way. I think that’s usually when I can tell that I am seeing the puck well. I don’t know I felt pretty good tonight, but there were still some lucky times. In the second period I felt pretty good, but there’s still some improvement.”
- There's no hiding Holtby is on his game. 141 saves on 148 shots is phenomenal, but he's not alone in making those saves. As pointed out by Peverley, the Caps have done their part to get in the lanes, blocking a total of 60 shots through the first four games.
- Noting the Bruins will undoubtedly attempt to get more bodies in front of Holtby, it will paramount that Washington continue to focus their efforts on clearing the crease and pushing Bruins out of the slot. Holtby has a keen eye and has little problem making most any save, so long as he sees the puck. Keeping it that way will be difficult, but aside from discovering a way to generate more offense, this has to be their top priority heading in Game Five.
A Glance At Game Four...
Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin on the play of the Capitals tonight…
“I think we had a pretty good start again. Physical game and we scored [on] the second shift. I think second period we played pretty well, [we] gave them pressure, and even third period we play safe. It is what it is. We take this win, it was very important mentally.”
Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine on the intensity tonight…
“I think we just [have] to carry that momentum into Boston and get a good start there too. It’s unbelievable; I was watching last game here. Just to jump on the ice with those guys and have the fans going nuts; it’s playoff hockey so it’s a lot of fun.”
Boston head coach Claude Julien on the type of game tonight…
“Giving up that first goal and playing catch-up hockey. We tied the game. We were right back where we wanted to be. But at the end of the night the results weren’t the ones we wanted. When you shoot 40 shots on net you would expect your team to get more than one goal so there’s obviously some areas that we’re not happy with.”
Boston goalie Tim Thomas on the play in the second period…
“Most of [the Caps chances] came in the second period but they had at least one good chance there in the third [period] too. After starting out the first period with so few shots, I was happy to be getting some action and starting to feel good. I thought things were turning our way even though they were getting chances; I thought we got through the storm kind of deal but obviously they were able to get one [goal] on the power play at the end of the second [period] and we were never able to answer.”
Capitals head coach Dale Hunter on the line of Troy Brouwer, Jay Beagle and Matt Hendricks…
“They played hard. They’re hard to play against and they worked their tails off. Not just their line killing penalties, that’s a big part of it, but playing against their top line. That’s a big job for them.”
Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine on being back on the ice…
“When I first got out there, it’s tough to get the timing right. I missed two months. Right about the third period I felt good and wanted to throw the body around. It’s tough two months is almost like a summer going and coming back.”
Boston head coach Claude Julien on the Capitals goals tonight…
“There was a good shot there by [Alexander] Semin. Couldn’t have asked for a better shot. They had three or four power plays tonight and we just had the one. Their power play scored some goals. When you look at their line-up they have players that can certainly do some damage on the power play. We have to respect that and we do.”
- A melange of observations, the truth is that Washington absolutely frustrated the Bruins offense (which saw Bergeron, Lucic and Seidenberg fire 5 shots apiece).
- They beat them at their own physical game, out-hitting them 44-34. (Hat-tip to Brouwer, Beagle and Hendricks who combined for 12 hits)
- They won 58% of all faceoffs, a coup when compared to Game One. (44-32)
- They did not relent on their commitment to defense, blocking 26 shots. (nearly half of their overall total in the series heading into Game Four)
- It was a team effort in every way, only over-shadowed by the fact that Holtby was again stupendous.
- If anything, it's been a bit of a sobering four games for the Bruins as their comments reflect the fact that they believe they are adjusting to the Caps and still have the edge. In this sense, Washington must respect the fact that the Bruins know how to beat them.
- Game Four offered up the confidence boost this team needs for the final three games of the series, but it also highlighted the need for more stringent defense.
The Upcoming Marathon
Boston forward Patrice Bergeron on what his team needs to do to get the offense going…
“We had some chances but like I said, it’s not good enough. We need to make sure we find ways to create some havoc there [in front of the net] but also find the rebounds. I think we’re there, we’re around the net area, it’s not that we’re not going, it’s more that we don’t find the loose pucks.
Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin on looking forward to three games in four nights…
“Actually I feel pretty good. I think all of the guys right now feel excited about what’s going on in the locker room and in the series. I always said after the first game, it’s going to be [a] long series and you never know what’s going to happen. Again, step-by-step, game-by-game we going to take it and we are going to try to win the series.”
Boston forward Rich Peverley on what his team needs to change for next game…
“[The Capitals] blocked a lot of shots, [but] I think we can get better net presence. [The Capitals] buried their chances. We had a few [chances] that kind of rolled off to the side and we weren’t there to bang [the puck] in and we’re going to have to do that to win.”
- And edge gained to this point will prove rather moot as this series now shifts into overdrive. With 3 games in 4 nights, beginning Saturday, this now becomes a war of attrition.
- An ironic twist to the Backstrom suspension is that, with the win negating his absence, the game off has provided the Caps #1 center with an extra day of rest. While he would have undoubtedly been better served in the lineup last night, the fact that he will be more rested than both of the Bruins and Caps squads should provide him with an edge.
- The Bruins have keyed on the need for increased traffic in front of Holtby, and having been outhit in Game Four, will definitely seek to be far more aggressive. Being prepared to weather what is sure to be an early storm in Game Five from the Bruins, the Capitals will have to build on the excitement and energy Ovechkin hinted at above.
Apologies for the mixed up blog. I had a great game recap prepared this morning when my computer crashed, so I will try to post something with a little more perspective later on this afternoon.
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