Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

The Shot-Blocking Washington Capitals

05/06/2015 at 2:56pm EDT

from Isabelle Khurshudyan of Capitals Insider,

There have been times when Jay Beagle has tried and failed to block a shot for his goaltender, and when he’d turn and look at Braden Holtby after he inevitably made the save, Beagle would usually receive praise anyway.

“You hear something like that from your goalie, like, ‘Great try on that block, you were in the right spot,’” Beagle said. “Even though I didn’t get the block, it allowed him to see it, so the next time you’re going into it, I’ll take that off the face for him.”

The Capitals are not only blocking more shots for Holtby this season, but they’re doing it in a different way than last season, getting low to block a shot so he can still see the puck should it get through. In Washington’s win over the New York Rangers on Monday night, the Capitals’ ability to clear shooting lanes for Holtby paved the way for the Game 3 shutout.

“There are so many benefits to guys getting low,” Holtby said. “From my standpoint, I think it takes away more surface area and I also have more lane to see. If guys stand up, you usually only have a little bit of surface area being blocked and a lot blocking my vision.”

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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