Holtby ties record with Brodeur on hand

ST. LOUIS-- Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby knew Martin Brodeur was high above in Scottrade Center on Saturday, watching him chase down his NHL record for wins in a season.
A 5-1 win against the St. Louis Blues was Holtby's 48th, tying the mark Brodeur set in 2006-07 with the New Jersey Devils.

Holtby (48-9-7) lost the past two games in overtime trying to get there.
"I wasn't thinking about it too much before, but after a couple of overtime losses, it starts to drag on," Holtby said. "You kind of feel it become a little bit of a distraction and you just want to get it over with, and the guys played absolutely phenomenal tonight. It was a great team response and a pretty special day."
Holtby could get the chance to break the record Sunday when the Capitals host the Anaheim Ducks. Washington coach Barry Trotz didn't commit to Holtby or backup Philipp Grubauer playing the final regular-season game.
Holtby got a congratulatory handshake from Brodeur, the Blues assistant general manager.
"It was pretty cool," Holtby said. "I mean, just the way it worked out. I think that [FOX Sports Midwest color analyst] Darren Pang told me that Marty broke the record in Philadelphia when Bernie Parent was there, so it was kind of a neat something to tell, I guess."

Brodeur went 48-23-7 to break Parent's record of 47 wins established in the 1973-74 season with the Philadelphia Flyers (47-13-12 ties).
"It's funny. When I beat the record of Bernie Parent, he was in the building in Philadelphia," Brodeur said of that 3-2 win on April 5, 2007 in what's now known as Wells Fargo Center. "So it's ironic how these things happen.
"It just shows how good of a season he's had. It's a big record, Bernie Parent held it a long time before I surpassed him. Since (2007), I've been holding it. Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow, but I think it's great. It's a testament to him and how good of a season he's had."
Holtby, who won 41 games last season, said to see the Capitals play the right way was most gratifying.
"That is what it's about, is wins," the 26-year-old said. "We weren't very happy at all and with our last effort, and tonight it was full commit start to finish with all of us guys working hard, smart plays, hard plays. It was Capitals hockey."