WASHINGTON, D.C. – His backup was getting ready on the bench, his night headed for an early end. Even so, Braden Holtby was locked in his own world, paying none of these surroundings any mind. A deep one-timer had been pumped by Dallas forward Jason Spezza, sinking Holtby and his Capitals into a 3-0 hole, less than halfway through Monday’s second period. So the goalie followed the same routine he has honed since juniors, foremost designed for moments like these.
Standing up in the crease, Holtby turned around, approached the net, removed his mask and grabbed his water bottle.