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Caps send Game 2 winner Grubauer back to minors

Alex Ovechkin, Philipp Grubauer

Alex Ovechkin, Philipp Grubauer

AP

Bit of an interesting move in Washington today -- the Caps sent Philipp Grubauer, who won an emergency start for the ailing Braden Holtby in Game 2 against the Isles, back to AHL Hershey.

Grubauer, 23, stopped 18 shots to earn his first career playoff win -- in his first playoff start -- a victory that proved crucial for the Caps as they went the full seven games before finally dispatching of New York. Grubauer was given the nod ahead of Holtby’s usual backup, Justin Peters, because he’d been playing regularly at the AHL level -- opposed to Peters, who hasn’t seen game action since Mar. 28.

It remains to be seen how long Grubauer will be in Hershey. Barry Trotz kept him up for the duration of the Isles series after the Game 2 win, saying the German ‘tender had “earned” the opportunity to stick around. Today’s demotion will also allow Grubauer to participate in Hershey’s first-round Calder Cup playoff series, but also be nearby for a call-up; Washington opens its series with the Rangers on Thursday, then plays Game 2 at MSG on Saturday.