Brett Leonhardt is the webmaster of the Washington Capitals’ official website. He was also the team’s backup goaltender in Friday night’s 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
How did the former Division III college goaltender get himself in this situation?
Well first, Jose Theodore injured his hip during a morning skating session. Then, Leonhardt signed an amateur tryout contract after Theodore got hurt. The REAL backup to the backup goaltender was Simeon Varlamov, who was then called up from Hershey. However, Varlamov could not make it to Verizon Center by the start of the game, so Leonhardt had to dress up as the backup goaltender for part of the game. Varlamov came onto the bench midway through the first period. Leonhardt’s career as a hockey goaltender was over…for now.
Had Leonhardt played, he would have been tied with Ben Bishop of the St. Louis Blues for the tallest goalie ever to play in the NHL.
As for the game, Alexander Semin scored the first goal 3:55 into the first period to put the Capitals up 1-0.
In the second period, Brooks Laich scored to give Washington a 2-goal lead. Alexander Ovechkin then added a power play goal of his own late in the middle frame to give Washington a lead of three.
In the third period, Mike Green and Alexander Ovechkin scored power play goals just 21 seconds apart to give Washington an insurmountable lead. However, Johnson’s bid for a shutout ended when Jesse Winchester found the Washington net with 2:23 left in regulation.
Johnson stopped 32 of 33 Ottawa shots while Ottawa goalie Alex Auld made 29 saves on 34 shots.
