There have been times when Jay Beagle has tried and failed to block a shot for his goaltender, and when he’d turn and look at Braden Holtby after he inevitably made the save, Beagle would usually receive praise anyway.
“You hear something like that from your goalie, like, ‘Great try on that block, you were in the right spot,’” Beagle said. “Even though I didn’t get the block, it allowed him to see it, so the next time you’re going into it, I’ll take that off the face for him.”
The Capitals are not only blocking more shots for Holtby this season, but they’re doing it in a different way than last season, getting low to block a shot so he can still see the puck should it get through.