WASHINGTON — Capitals goalie Braden Holtby was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week, for the week ending Nov. 29. Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars was named First Star, while Alex Galchenyuk of the Montreal Canadiens was named Third Star.
Holtby posted a perfect 4-0-0 record last week with a 1.75 goals-against-average and .945 save percentage. He also recorded his first shutout of the season in a 1-0 win against Edmonton on Nov. 23.
“We’re finding ways to win which is a good sign,” said Holtby, who has won a career-high seven straight games since Nov. 12. “We’re trying not to get too complacent with what we’re doing. We don’t think our game is where we want it yet, but we’re finding ways to win which is a good sign.”
Holtby signed a five-year, $30.5 million deal last summer and leads the NHL this season with 15 wins and a 1.95 GAA.
“Nothing really affects him and that’s what I like about him,” said head coach Barry Trotz. “He’s mentally tough and I think he understands that he’s put in the hard work and hard work is what’s going to keep him as a top goaltender and maybe take him to the next level.”
Thanks in part to Holtby’s play, the Capitals are off to the best 23-game start in franchise history (17-5-1) and sit alone in first place in the Metropolitan Division.
“We believe that we’re a team that can find ways to win when we’re not on top of our game,” said Holtby. “We still want to push to find that consistency in what we’re trying to accomplish. It’s getting there.”
ORPIK PRACTICES: Defenseman Brooks Orpik returned to practice Monday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury Nov. 10 in Detroit.
Orpik has missed nine games with what the Capitals have maintained is not a serious injury.
“What he’s injured with isn’t really coming around really quick,” said Trotz. “But it’s nothing that I would say you have to worry about long term. If he had to play today, he could play. But every time it seems to get settled down, it jumps up. So we don’t want that. We want it to be totally settled down. I think we’re getting close. I think he’s feeling better.”
The Capitals have managed a 7-1-1 record without their most experienced defenseman, with Nate Schmidt and Taylor Chorney among those seeing increased ice time in Orpik’s absence.
“There’s a lot of belief that people have to step up when guys are out,” Trotz said. “I think we saw that earlier in the year when [Nicklas] Backstrom missed the first few games. Obviously now with Brooks out, guys are stepping up…they realize that we’re missing a good player, but that it’s a next man up type of attitude.”
AROUND THE NHL: The Canadiens announced Monday that goalie Carey Price will miss at least six weeks with a lower-body injury that will not require surgery. Price won the Hart and Vezina Trophies last year and is 10-2-0 with a 2.06 GAA. and .934 save percentage in 12 games this season.
Montreal (18-4-3) sits atop the Eastern Conference, four points clear of Washington (17-5-1). The Capitals visit the Bell Centre on Thursday with the Canadiens coming to D.C. Dec. 26. Barring an earlier-than-expected return, Price will miss both games.
