Braden Holtby ties Martin Brodeur win record with 48th win

Feb 6, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; Former New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur drops the ceremonial first puck between New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) and Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) at Prudential Center. The New Jersey Devils will be retiring Brodeur /

Braden Holtby has tied Martin Brodeur’s single-season record of 48 wins.

The Washington Capitals have had an impressive season. Perhaps no Caps player has had a season as impressive or benefitted from his team being impressive than goaltender Braden Holtby. With the Capitals 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues, Holtby has tied New Jersey Devils legend Martin Brodeur’s single season win record of 48 wins that Brodeur set during the 2006-2007 NHL season.

Holtby has set the mark despite playing in 14 fewer games than Brodeur did. Brodeur played in 78 games during his record setting season while Holtby has played in 66. While it is important to note that Holtby has benefitted from the league’s second-best offense and the league’s best defense, it is equally important to point out that Holtby has carried the Caps at times and that he has lost just nine times in regulation. By comparison, Brodeur lost 23 times in regulation during the 2006-2007 season.

Brodeur and Holtby had very similar seasons. Holtby holds the slight lead over Brodeur in save percentage and goals-against average. Considering that Brodeur won the Vezina back in 2006-2007, it’s expected that Holtby will receive the Vezina for the 2015-2016 season with no clear favorite other than Holtby in the race.

Both Brodeur and Holtby benefitted from having incredible teams around them, but each played a huge role in their respective team’s success. Holtby could get a chance at breaking Brodeur’s record tomorrow against the Anaheim Ducks at home since he didn’t face too many shots against the Blues.

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