After grading the defense, let’s grade the goaltending in the Washington Capitals 6-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres last night before we focus ahead to tonight’s New York Islanders game. Vitek Vanecek got the start in goal, two months to the day when he made his NHL debut. Like his debut, he looked stellar.
Vanecek was perfect, making 23 saves in his first NHL shutout. 22 of those shots he faced came at even strength. He only faced one shot on Buffalo’s lone power play opportunity. Whether you say the Caps were that good or the Sabres were that bad, a win is a win.
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It was Vanecek’s 21st career game. Hard to believe he had that many starts but unfortunate circumstances to Henrik Lundqvist and Ilya Samsonov opened the door for Vanecek. He became the 10th rookie goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout.
Vanecek’s shutout marked Washington’s first shoutout since Jan. 13, 2020 when Ilya Samsonov stopped all 23 shots he faced against the Carolina Hurricanes. This also marks the first time the Caps have had a rookie goaltender record a shutout in back to back seasons since 2009-10 through 2011-12 when Semyon Varlamov, Braden Holtby, and Michal Neuvirth each combined for nine shutouts.
Vanecek is also the sixth Czech born goaltender in NHL history to record a shutout. Head coach Peter Laviolette had good words to say about his netminder after the game. Via Samantha Pell of The Washington Post (subscription required):
"“He’s played really well for us. I’ve said it before: He’s given us a chance to win on a nightly basis. He’s done a really good job. . . . Our guys were really happy for him.”"
Vanecek, who won NHL Rookie of the Month for the month of January, improved his record to 12-5-3. Now let’s dish out a grade for VV.
Grade A+: Vitek Vanecek was spectacular and you could tell he loves playing in Buffalo. Two months after making his NHL debut, he made 23 saves in his first shutout for Washington’s fifth win in a row. It was a quality game and a quality start (apologies for the baseball terms) and it is well deserving of an A+.