#Chimera ant series

вЂњEvery passing year it gets more pressure-filled, the fact that thereвЂ™s more weight on your shoulders if you put it there,вЂќ Holtby said. Less naive than he was early in his NHL career, Holtby is a full-fledged veteran who wants to put the Capitals on his back. Holtby understands the gravity of the playoffs and sounds ready to embrace another opportunity. Coach Barry Trotz knows he doesnвЂ™t have to do much work with Holtby, other than perhaps helping him stay in a good state of mind. General manager Brian MacLellan credited goaltending coach Mitch Korn and better team defence for helping Holtby but also said the 26-year-old is вЂњat the top of his gameвЂќ going into the playoffs. I think he forgets things a lot faster, which is great, and he moves on from things quite quickly, which is a great thing.вЂќ HeвЂ™s a lot more calm now, heвЂ™s a lot more mature and heвЂ™s playing a lot better. вЂњHeвЂ™s come a long way, for sure,вЂќ forward Jason Chimera said. He was even better for two rounds last year, and teammates have noticed his growth along the way.

Holtby was a revelation for the Capitals in the 2012 playoffs, almost singlehandedly beating the Boston Bruins and taking the New York Rangers to seven games. Every passing year it gets more pressure-filled, the fact that thereвЂ™s more weight on your shoulders if you put it there вЂњI think that him being able to get that wins record at the end of the year is probably good for him so he cannot think about that and just worry about plugging away like he has all season,вЂќ Alzner said. 933 in the first half, but this is his time to shine.

909 in the second half of his starts this season after it was.

#Chimera ant series

вЂњHe looks good, he looks calm, he looks confident,вЂќ Alzner said heading into WashingtonвЂ™s first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, which begins Thursday. Article contentД¬apitals defenceman Karl Alzner said Holtby appears ready for the challenge. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. ItвЂ™s just how mentally prepared you are, how mentally tough you are, how long youвЂ™re willing to battle through everything.вЂќ вЂњBut at the same time thereвЂ™s things that get harder the more games youвЂ™ve played without the Stanley Cup. вЂњYou take it (and) hopefully the pressure situations youвЂ™re more comfortable in,вЂќ Holtby said. His heavy workload of 66 games is a stark contrast to the seven he played as a call-up in 2011-12, but Holtby doesnвЂ™t know if that experience has made things any easier for him this time around. 922 save percentage, ranking among the league leaders in those categories. Holtby went 48-9-7 this season with a 2.20 goals-against average and. вЂњNow, instead of a boy, he looks just like a young man, with a lot of confidence.вЂќ Nick Wass/The Associated Press вЂњHeвЂ™s just getting better every year,вЂќ said Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau, who was with the Capitals when they drafted Holtby.

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