Providing Backup

Former Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer started 28 games last season, posting a .923 save percentage, which earned him the initial nod for the playoffs. He struggled early - surrendering eight goals in the opening two games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Columbus Blue Jackets - and Braden Holtby quickly reclaimed his job. Holtby then guided the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

Still, while Holtby helped revitalize the Capitals in the playoffs, Grubauer proved the importance of having two capable netminders in the regular season. He kept the team competitive through stretches of the race to get there.
Grubauer's 15-10-3 record not only earned him a shot to start in the playoffs but also an opportunity with the Colorado Avalanche, where he signed a three-year deal after the Caps traded him along with Brooks Orpik (who has since re-signed with Washington) for a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, eventually spent on 18-year old winger Kody Clark. The move left Washington in search of a new backup goalie.

Enter Pheonix Copley, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound Alaskan who may have secured the Caps No. 2 role after Tuesday night's 4-0 win in St. Louis.
Before the game, Caps goaltender coach Scott Murray praised Copley's relentlessness, calling him a "guy who's going to compete for every puck." Then Copley pitched a 42-save shutout, at one point denying five shots in two minutes during a 5-on-3 Blues power play in the second period.
That it came against St. Louis makes the performance even sweeter. Copley's one NHL start came while playing for the Blues in January 2017. The Caps acquired him a month later, in a trade that also included Kevin Shattenkirk, and he's played all his games since with the AHL's Hershey Bears.

"He was a huge difference maker tonight, just outstanding in terms of stepping up his game," coach Todd Reirden said. "Nothing like going against a former team and pitching a shutout. I can't say enough about the game that he had, and I'm really, really happy for him. He is an extremely hard worker and the players like him a lot.
"To me, that was a statement game for him, and I'm proud of him for that."
Copley, who reiterated that his goal was to "make the most" of the opportunity in his start on Tuesday, deflected praise onto the Caps defenders.
"The guys were doing a good job clearing lanes," Copley said. "In the third there were a lot of good blocks, so those guys gave me a good chance to see them."

The Capitals noticed Copley's strong effort in the 2017 AHL playoffs. He led Hershey to five wins, saving .930 percent of shots while posting a 2.13 goals-against average. In his previous playoff run, in 2015, he recorded a .946 save percentage in five games.
And despite struggling at times last season, the Capitals are confident the 2016-17 version of Copley is a more accurate reflection of the player he can become. Copley may get a chance to show that in 2018-19, playing behind Holtby.
Copley said he's already benefited from spending time with the veteran goaltender, impressed particularly with his demeanor. "Nothing fazes [Holtby]," Copley said. "No matter what situation he's in, he has the same focus."

Washington is hoping Copley can acquire some of that resilience in net and provide the team with another viable option, positioning the Capitals for another run.
"It's definitely a major asset to have guys who you can play on any given night, who can help you win games," Murray said. "It's getting more frequent that you need two goalies to get into the playoffs. When you're [backup goalie's] in there, you need him to produce and give you solid numbers to win.
"Braden's a guy who wants to play every night and does a good job managing how he prepares, on a day to day basis, to allow him to play a ton of games," Murray said. "But it's also nice to give him a break, split up the duties and make sure both guys are fresh."