Capitals: Top 5 takeaways of the season so far

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Ilya Samsonov, Washington Capitals (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

#2 Ilya Samsonov is the goaltender of the future

We’ve reached that point where the question has long since been answered, Ilya Samsonov is ready for the NHL. With that said, thank you Braden Holtby for everything you’ve done as goaltender for the Capitals.

Holtby’s mark up to this point is 25-14-6 with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. Those latter two are career-worsts.

Samsonov carries a 16-6-2 record with a 2.55 GAA and a .913 save percentage. Pretty solid numbers for a rookie goaltender. He played in 26 games.

Despite Samsonov having the slightly better numbers, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden has continued to give Holtby plenty of the work. Holtby started 12 of the final 17 games before the season was paused.

Samsonov won his first two games, making his NHL debut on Oct. 4 in Long Island against the New York Islanders. Samsonov stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced for a .962 save percentage in his debut helping the team to a big win to start the season 2-0-0.

He continued that momentum with a win in Dallas stopping 24 of 25 shots for a .960 save percentage. After a loss to Colorado, Samsonov won his next three games. After that, he went on a four-game winning streak and then on a seven game winning streak.

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