The sickness hit Braden Holtby on his ride to Verizon Center before the start of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, the first game after the conclusion of his historically enduring regular season, and he played through a Game 1 loss with the early symptoms of a stomach flu. The illness would eventually weaken him enough to sideline him for Game 2. Before that happened, though, the Washington Capitals needed to make a choice.
Excelling in the minors was Philipp Grubauer, regularly starting for the Hershey Bears and putting up AHL all-star numbers. He helped the team clinch an early playoff berth, backstopped 27 wins and pitched six shutouts.