Rob Simpson: Holtby Will Need to Find His ‘Zen’ After Game 1 Mistakes | NYHN+

TORONTO — This past regular season I did a weekly podcast for a different media organization called “Simmer’s Morning Skate”. I recorded it at the morning skates of NHL games being played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto over a ten-week period.

This made for casual, insightful chatter with a prominent figure in a ten to 13-minute time span. As opposed to a long-form interview, the format allowed for spontaneity, was great for our attention-deficient culture, and it also allowed for the guest to catch the team bus back to the hotel.

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One of the early visits was with Washington goaltender Braden Holtby. He would be what I refer to as “totally chill.” Kind of a surfer dude in a goaltender’s body. Think “The Big Lebowski” for those old enough to recall the film.

I immediately thought back to the interview we did after I watched the results of Game 1 against the New York Islanders. It was Holtby who ultimately cost them the game. Yes, there are always many factors, but the momentum change and the result were mostly due to Holtby’s play.