Following Thursday’s 3-2 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby vowed he had to be better. In Game 1, Holtby allowed three goals on only 21 shots.
By the start of the third period in Game 2, Holtby was benched and the Capitals fell 6-2 Saturday at the Verizon Center.
They now face a 2-0 deficit as the series heads back to Pittsburgh.
Capitals coach Barry Trotz replaced Holtby with Philipp Grubauer because of a disastrous second period performance. The Penguins scored three goals, including a shorthanded attempt, after being vastly outplayed in the first period.