N.H.L. Playoffs - Capitals" Braden Holtby Has All the Answers WASHINGTON - Once again the rookie goalie Braden Holtby refused to lose when so much was on the line for the Washington Capitals. With Washington's 2-1 victory Wednesday night, Holtby has gone 29 consecutive starts - including 13 in the playoffs - without losing back-to-back games. "It's a big one," Holtby said. I think we earned it in a way that's going to benefit us in the long run. We played a very solid team game. Very gutsy effort and we got rewarded tonight. Entering Game 6, Holtby had gone 5-0 with a 1.29 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage in games after a loss. He looked somewhat shaky early on, giving up a few juicy rebounds. But he soon settled down and was bailed out as the Rangers misfired on consecutive power plays in the first period. After Washington weathered a four-minute penalty in the second period to Jeff Halpern, the capacity crowd began to chant Holtby's name. The Rangers" scoring problems were compounded by their forwards" inability to win inside position in front of the goal. "He's a warrior," Capitals forward Matt Hendricks said. You've heard that before, I'm sure, from other people. But I love that kid since last season when he got called up. He works so hard on the ice and he battles. Rebounds, he doesn't like them in the back of his net, even in practice. Holtby took over late in the season after injuries sidelined Tomas Vokoun and Michael Neuvirth. Because of Vokoun's signing, which Washington General Manager George McPhee said he had to make, Holtby began the season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. "He didn't complain," defenseman John Carlson said. He went down and worked on his game, and he's delivered for us now when we needed it the most. Karl Alzner, Carlson's defensive partner, added that he never grows tired of praising the 22-year-old Holtby. "You always have something good to say about that guy and how he's been playing," said Alzner, who added, "He's doing all the things necessary." In the past, Holtby struggled to control his temper at times. When Marian Gaborik scored with 51 seconds left in the game on Wednesday, for a moment Holtby was ready to complain to the officials, believing he had been interfered with in the crease. "I had to control myself from yelling and pleading my case," he said. You just focus on the next shot. It's the easiest way to regroup. In fact, Holtby has made a habit of coming down to ice level, still in his street clothes, and gazing out at the rink well before games. "It's just one of the things I use to relax," he said. Afterward, McPhee visited the locker room to speak briefly with Holtby, who stopped 30 shots. Before McPhee left, he turned back to tap his young netminder on the shoulder. This is one rookie who is up to stay.