By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
At the moment, there's absolutely no goaltending controversy for the Washington Capitals. But it's not playoff darling Braden Holtby who grabbed a hold of the starting job.
Goaltender Michal Neuvirth was smiling while sitting at his locker, almost for the first time since returning to North America. First he got the flu, then he watched as Braden Holtby started the first two games of the Washington Capitals' season.
If Braden Holtby hasn't done enough to lock down the No. 1 goaltender job and lock it down hard, one can only wonder what people were watching the last time hockey was actually played.
Braden Holtby's mask wasn't supposed to be a metaphor.
It's uncertain how long veteran goaltender Tomas Vokoun will be out after apparently aggravating a groin injury Thursday. But with the end of the regular season just a little over a week away, it's likely the Washington Capitals will have to go through the home stretch with Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby between the pipes.
Tomas Vokoun works in Washington, but his life is still in South Florida. His wife and daughters live here despite the goaltender playing for the Capitals.
It was a simple question asked of Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz, who had Tomas Vokoun as a goaltender for eight seasons: Did facing a ton of shots take a toll?
Tomas Vokoun is not a loser.
Storylines surrounding the 2011-12 Washington Capitals.
Michal Neuvirth was the man.
Braden Holtby knows that — barring injury — he has no chance to start the season in the NHL. In a strange way, that might be a good thing for him.
With his team's prospects off the ice Saturday afternoon and the Zamboni ready to smooth over the ice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, George McPhee took a deep breath.
On Friday night the Washington Capitals made their biggest impact on the NHL draft by getting out of the first round and picking up a player in Troy Brouwer who can help right away.
Olie Kolzig's career with the Capitals was marked with a Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. His exit was far more infamous, as Kolzig was caught in a three-goalie carousel in 2008 and left Washington as a free agent that summer.
"He's never given me reason to ever doubt him, which is why I've always believed in him," goaltending coach Dave Prior said. "I only see the real exceptional side of Michal."
"I told him after last year's playoffs, I don't think our other goalies could have done the job any better than he did," said Dave Prior, the Caps' goaltending coach. "He's a presence in the goal, shows a lot of confidence. He took a big step last year in his discipline, in playing more structured than he has. We want to make sure that continues."
HARRIS: Putting Braden Holtby in goal a no-brainer for Caps →
