After Nine Tries, Capitals Finally Get Past Penguins

And to think Washington was prepared to trust their playoff fate to anyone other than Braden Holtby.

Full marks to Philipp Grubauer for bringing the Capitals home in the regular season's final stages, but Holtby's been around for a hella lotta unfinished playoff business, and the intensity showed.

After steadying the flank and allowing Washington's blueliners more license to support the forwards, the Caps find themselves in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1998.

 

Dudes had to harken back all the way to 1994 if they wanted to recall the only time they took out the Pittsburgh Penguins in a playoff series.

That's mainly due to the fact that -- year in and year out -- the Pens are really, really good.

 

After the defending Stanley Cup holders sent shockwaves through DC by overcoming a 2-0 deficit and taking Game 1 in the nation's capital, Holtby stood on his head the rest of the way.

This save is a classic example of how dialed in the Holtbeast was:

 

Without those stops, among others, Game 6 doesn't get to overtime and Washington doesn't wrap up the series with a 2-1 triumph:

 

In so doing, an even more ominous opponent awaits.

Tampa Bay won two of three against Washington in the regular season. Holtby only played in one game, losing 4-2 at home.

Tom Wilson's suspension is over, so odds are he'll be back on Alex Ovechkin's line even though Jakub Vrána filled in more than capably.

 

The Lightning don't have a jinx to break. They've already won a Cup. They're favored in this series, as well they should be, but Bovada expects Game 1 in Florida to be close:

Once again, then, the Caps' fate will depend heavily upon Holtby.

Right now, those are hot odds.