You didn’t expect this Caps-Pens game to be tame, right? The first meeting between the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions and the, um, back-to-back Presidents’ Trophy winners has been typically intense. For example, the greatest living player on this or any other planet, Braden Holtby, got a shoulder to the head from another player, whose name escapes me right now. That set off a series of buckwild mischief that I’ll now recap for you.
It began with Holtby getting clipped behind the net by Pittsburgh Penguins forward *adjust glasses and checks papers* Sidney Crosby. Crosby’s shoulder collides with Holtby’s helmet, which is where his head lives.
Holtby retaliated with this tiny little trip.
Super innocent, no big, Holtby’s still a good boy.
Minutes later and down one goal, the Capitals gave Carl Hagelin a one-on-none rush. Holtby wasn’t having it. He rushed out and shut that whole thing down.
Braden Holtby will not live his life by your set of rules. pic.twitter.com/gSUpmrI6d3
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) October 12, 2017
Holtby was penalized for an illegal play: covering the puck away from the crease. Not all parties agreed with this call. Some argued that Holtby was just being a good boy.
Horrible call by Dwyer, Holtby moved the puck to #Capitals forward. #Caps already had possession & were moving puck up ice
— Alan May (@AlanMay_16) October 12, 2017
The Penguins lead the Capitals 1-0 after twenty minutes.
