With a 19-save effort, Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby recorded his 48th win of the year against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, tying Martin Brodeur's all-time, single-season record in 12 fewer games.
Forty-Eight Win Club. #HoltBeast #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/OKRZARAD6g
— Washington Capitals (@washcaps) April 10, 2016
The 26-year-old became the first goalie to post a 45-win season in under 70 games, and the first in the shootout era to accomplish the feat in less than 75. Flyers legend Bernie Parent held the single-season record for 33 years, before Brodeur passed him in 2007.
45-win seasons
| Year | Goalie | GP | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15/16 | Braden Holtby | 66 | 48 |
| 06/07 | Martin Brodeur | 78 | 48 |
| 73/74 | Bernie Parent | 73 | 47 |
| 06/07 | Roberto Luongo | 76 | 47 |
| 07/08 | Evgeni Nabokov | 77 | 46 |
| 08/09 | Miikka Kiprusoff | 76 | 45 |
| 09/10 | Martin Brodeur | 77 | 45 |
It was fitting Holtby reached the milestone in St. Louis, where Brodeur finished his legendary playing career and currently serves as assistant general manager.
As Martin Brodeur broke Bernie Parent's win record with Parent in building, Braden Holtby tied Brodeur's record with Brodeur in attendance.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 10, 2016
Holtby became the 13th goalie in NHL history to record multiple 40-win seasons, and the seventh to do it in consecutive years. Since the beginning of the 2012-13 season, the Saskatchewan native ranks first in wins (135) and second in shutouts (20), per a Capitals release.
With one game remaining in the regular season, head coach Barry Trotz has said backup Philipp Grubauer will start in Sunday's season finale, but we'll have to wait and see if he has a change of heart with history on the line.
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