Braden Holtby did everything he could to thwart the Boston Bruins in Game 1 -- kicking out more rubber than a tire factory through the first three periods of his first NHL playoff game.
But all it took was one bad angle on the first shot he faced in overtime to record his first NHL playoff loss.
Holtby, the backup to the backup to the backup, stood his ground throughout the game, turning aside 29 shots in regulation. His standout play sent the game to OT. That's when Bruins winger Chris Kelly blasted a slap shot from the left circle just 1:18 into the extra session past Holtby low glove-side to give Boston a 1-0 win and 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
It was as if the ice was tilted to one side for much of the game as the Bruins pounded shot after shot toward Holtby. The rookie goalie was up to the task, reaching with his left paw to snag many of those out of midair or kicking them into the corner with a pad.
His teammates also helped in the defensive end by blocking an additional 22 shots before they reached Holtby.
But the problem was that too much time was spent in the Capitals' end. They managed just 17 shots on all-world goalie Tim Thomas at the other end, including just seven through the first two periods.
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Alex Ovechkin, who has a habit of picking up his scoring pace in the postseason, had just one shot on goal the entire game. Kudos to hulking Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, whose long reach and large body eliminated most Ovi scoring chances.
While Ovechkin didn't do much offensively, he did set the tone with the physical play, racking up a team-leading seven hits. That type of effort will go a long way in a long playoff series, but if Ovi's focused on physicality, someone else has to step up and provide some scoring. That didn't happen on this night.
Nicklas Backstrom led the team with three shots on goal. Brooks Laich and Jason Chimera had two each. Alex Semin, well, he managed just one.
It's been a familiar theme throughout coach Dale Hunter's reign so far with the Caps: the defense has improved significantly, but the offense has struggled mightily.
Luckily for the Caps, you have a much better chance to win in the playoffs with a good defense. And if one puck bounced differently in Game 1, the Caps could be up 1-0 in the series. So all in all, the Caps' coaching staff will view Game 1 as a real good start to a long, and hopefully successful, first-round series.
Game 2 will be played at 3 p.m. Saturday in Boston on NBC.
