When you take a look at the Washington Capitals last year, it's hard to imagine that this is the same team that has gone 14-1-4 in their last 19 games and is now sitting fifth in the East, third in the Metro, with 56 points (two behind Pittsburgh).

As well as this Caps team is playing, they have had their share of hiccups. In most of these 19 games, the opposing teams have rattled the Caps by applying unchecked pressure in the offensive zone. The Caps seem to be scrambling at times to re-gain control of the game, and that has lead to some very scary defensive lapses.

When you take another look at last years' Caps, and possibly the beginning of this season, games like these most often ended in a loss. Defensive lapses aside, the Caps have have been struggling to find a standard in net since Olaf Kolzig played his last game for Washington in 2008. Goalies have come and go, but there hasn't been a player to step up and grab the number one job and lead this team from the defensive zone.

This year, however, or at least in the last month and a half, the Capitals have been bailed out time and time again by a new savior in net. Braden Holtby has been playing out of his mind for 20 straight starts, and 26 straight appearances (a new franchise record).

Going into last nights game against Philadelphia, Holtby was 13-2-4 with a 2.09 GAA, .932 SP to go along with 2 shut outs in those 19 games. His poise in net recently has won him rave reviews from pundits around the league - even NBC's own Pierre McGuire. who sadly didn't compare Holtby to Crosby, was highly impressed with Holtby's play.

At the moment, Holtby is looking like a veteran in net. He's calm and confident with little regard for the pucks that do find their way passed him. The Holtby we have seen in the past has shone flashes of skill and agility that made the game exciting, but that out-of-control style quickly grew stale and teams were picking him apart through a weak Capitals defense.

Holtby credits his teammates for making it easier for him to get to this level.

"The main thing is we are playing a very confident game," Holtby said. "We're not panicking in any situation. We're focusing on playing our game, forcing the other team to play into our style. If there's a chance, a guy coming in, our players have trust in me to make the save and they're not trying to overcompensate and opening up other gaps. That's trust on the ice. You each have a job to do and you do it. And that's what we're doing."

It's that trust in teammates that has been lacking in this Capitals team. The last few years have seen coaches and goaltenders go, and consistency and stability was something that had to be addressed, and the Caps did that when they signed Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen over the summer. Sure they were outrageous deals, but without their help, the Caps would right back where they started from. Having that trust in the defense in front of him is making Holtby feel confident enough to do his job.

"You're making plays and you're not afraid to be aggressive on 50-50 pucks, where sometimes when your goalie's not playing well, now you're caught on your heels and you're sitting back and you're giving up more shots," Brooks Orpik said. "I think you kind of play that safe, not-to-lose mentality which doesn't get you anywhere in this league." (NHL.com)

The other reason Holtby is becoming an elite goalie in this league is the training he is getting from the legendary Mitch Korn. Korn was called upon by Barry Trotz to ensure that the Caps had the right style of goaltending that Trotz was accustomed to in Nashville. Mitch Korn made Pekka Renne into the goalie he is today, and that same style is quickly becoming evident here in Washington.

When Korn came over, he said he '... he saw an incredibly athletic goaltender that didn't utilize enough body control. To illustrate, Korn would show Holtby video clips of him making saves where all four limbs would be moving in different directions.' (Vignan, NHL.com)

With video help and props like white pucks and medicine balls, Korn has trained Holtby to tighten up and allow less of an area for teams to shoot at. It's clear when you watch Holtby now, as opposed to the beginning of the season, that he's holding his crease more confidently and not just trying to make the save, instead absorbing or deflecting the shot out of harms way.

In the recent stretch, Korn says he's been pretty good about letting Holtby know what he needs to work on, but that, "...this stretch, has been pretty long so it's not a hot week and then it disappeared, he's really made great adjustments that give him a chance whether he's on or not on on a given night to have success."

"Honest to goodness now, I get through these games, knock on wood, in half the time," Korn said. "The things that I used to harp on, I don't even have to mention anymore." (NHL.com)

Holtby is certainly not the best goaltender in the league yet , but, at the moment, the 24 year old is quickly becoming a stud and the workload he's facing isn't something he's shying away from.

"I think the fact that there's been a lot of work, it's been easier to get in a rhythm that way," Holtby said. "As a goalie, it makes it a lot easier to prepare when you know you don't have to steal a game for your team or you know you just have to focus on your job. If you do it, there's a very high chance you're going to win a game. You don't have to worry about making up for others because I know everyone is going to do their job and I just have to focus on mine in order to win a game."

Eventually, he'll start slow down a bit, but having Holtby here in Washington makes us all feel a little safer knowing that we can finally be confident in our goaltending. The second half of the season is make-or-break for this Caps team, and all eyes will be on Holtby to lead the way.

*Notes: Holtby has allowed 2 goals in the last 80 shots and no even strength goals in over 140 minutes.

More to come...

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