For those wondering why the Caps didn’t just hand the starting goalie job to rookie Semyon Varlamov — especially after last season’s brilliant postseason — you have your answer. Tuesday night in Philadelphia was a tough one for the 21-year-old, who was pulled in the second period of a 6-5 overtime loss to the Flyers.
Not that this applies to Varlamov — it was just his second game of the season after all — but NHL history is littered with goalies who performed well in the playoffs or had a great season or two and then fell off the map. Caps fans remember Vezina Trophy winner Jim Carey, who was out of the league within three years of winning that award for Washington in 1996. Varlamov will be fine. But Washington’s front office still had to hedge its bets.
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Last year’s playoff series against Pittsburgh exposed a shaky glove hand and the Flyers took advantage of Varlamov’s tendency to overcommit to a shooter. Forward Mike Richards scored easily on a backdoor slap pass in the second period because Varlamov was out too far challenging the shooter. He is explosive enough to get back most of the time. But no amount of athleticism can make up for being out of position. Physical mistakes aside, it is the mental aspect of the position that is a concern for now.
“Varly’s got to be mentally tougher to play,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “I think he gets down on himself … and we’ve got to get him out of that.”
