Holtby stopped 35 shots and Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist and the Capitals blanked the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 Saturday.
If it wasn't obvious on opening night, it became painfully clear Tuesday: Adam Oates' Washington Capitals are a work in progress. Not what fans yearned to see in the home opener at Verizon Center.
It was a Friday night in March in Winnipeg, but it could have been doomsday for the Winnipeg Jets. Players knew it, showing a kind of focus in their morning skate work and in their words before facing the Washington Capitals.
Jeff Halpern and Brooks Laich had a game-saving chance a — a two-on-none short-handed break in the second period. The Washington Capitals were trailing the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 at the time, but a goal in that situation could have turned the tide.
The Thrashers acquired forward Radek Dvorak from the Florida Panthers for forwards Niclas Bergfors and Patrick Rissmiller in the first of three trade deadline deals completed by Atlanta on Monday.
The Boston Bruins acquired defenseman Tomas Kaberle from Toronto, looking to bolster their blue line as well as their hopes for a Stanley Cup run.
The Boston Bruins signed forward Blake Wheeler to a one-year contract on Friday.
