Michal Neuvirth

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Michal Neuvirth

Neuvirth with the Capitals in January 2012.
Born (1988-03-23) March 23, 1988
Ústí nad Labem, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team Washington Capitals
National team  Czech Republic
NHL Draft 34th overall, 2006
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2008–present

Michal Neuvirth (/ˈnɔɪvɪrt/; born March 23, 1988) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Washington Capitals after spending time with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected 34th overall in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

After being drafted into the NHL by the Capitals, Neuvirth began a two-year major junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He began with the Plymouth Whalers in 2006–07 before being traded on 13 November 2007 to the Windsor Spitfires, along with defenceman Tom Kane and a 4th round draft pick in 2009 in exchange for defenceman Michal Jordan, goaltender Matt Hackett, a 2008 second round OHL draft pick, and a third round pick in 2009. After spending less than half a season with the Spitfires, however, he was traded yet again on 8 January 2008 to the Oshawa Generals along with Ryan Baldwin for forward Justin Shugg, goaltender Jakub Kovář and second-round picks in 2008 and 2011.

Neuvirth turned pro in 2008–09 with the South Carolina Stingrays, the Capitals' ECHL affiliate. During his short stint with the Stingrays, he was named to the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game for the American Conference.[1] He was called up to the Hershey Bears of the AHL during the season and, before long, received his first NHL call-up to the Capitals when Semyon Varlamov was sidelined due to injury. He made his NHL debut on 14 February 2009 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Making 31 saves, including a breakaway glove save on Vincent Lecavalier, Neuvirth backstopped the Capitals to a 5-1 victory for his first NHL win.[2] He then played in his Capitals home debut on February 26 against the Atlanta Thrashers, recording another win with a 21-save effort. He finished the season appearing in 5 games total for the Capitals with a 2–1 record and 3.00 goals against average (GAA).

After being returned to the Bears, Neuvirth helped his team to the 2009 Calder Cup finals. He recorded a shutout in game three for the Bears to take a 2–1 series lead against the Manitoba Moose.[3] Neuvirth then went on with the Hershey Bears to win the 2009 Calder Cup, earning MVP honors after his game 6 win. Neuvirth went 16-6 in the playoffs and finished the postseason with a 1.92 GAA, topping Frédéric Cassivi's previous AHL playoff best 2.10 GAA.[4]

After helping the Bears to the back to back Calder Cups in 2010, Neuvirth was named the starting goaltender of the Capitals season opener on Oct. 8th against Atlanta Thrashers, in which he made 27 saves in a 4-2 loss. Neuvirth would go on to beat out Semyon Varlamov for the starting position for the entire season. Despite a good season as Washington's starter, and an adequate playoff performance, Washington would demote Neuvirth to backup goaltender status, to make way for Tomas Vokoun, trading away the incumbent backup Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche in the process. Vokoun's run as Washington's starter only lasted one season, and he was injured before the playoffs began. Unfortunately for Neuvirth, he himself was also injured, allowing the third goaltender Braden Holtby to start Game 1 of the first round series against the Boston Bruins. Even though Neuvirth managed to return to health in time for Game 3, Holtby went on to start for the duration of Washington's playoff run in 2012. Vokoun left to take the backup goaltender job with the Pittsburgh Penguins. New Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates confirmed Holtby as the new starting goaltender of the Washington Capitals during training camp, but did not rule out Neuvirth taking back his old job if he outplays Holtby. For the time being, Neuvirth is the backup to Holtby.

Awards

Records

  • Calder Cup record; single-playoffs goals against average - 1.92 GAA (surpassed Frédéric Cassivi, 2.10 GAA)

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT Min GA SO GAA SV% GP W L Min GA SO GAA SV%
2006–07 Plymouth Whalers OHL 41 26 8 4 2223 86 4 2.32 .932 18 14 3 1080 44 0 2.45 .932
2007–08 Plymouth Whalers OHL 10 5 4 1 600 26 0 2.60 .928 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Windsor Spitfires OHL 8 6 1 1 482 17 0 2.12 .918 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Oshawa Generals OHL 15 6 2 6 844 57 0 4.05 .898 9 7 2 507 21 0 2.48 .932
2008–09 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 13 6 7 0 762 29 2 2.28 .918 — — — — — — — —
2008–09 Hershey Bears AHL 17 9 5 2 1001 45 1 2.70 .913 22 16 6 1346 43 4 1.92 .932
2008–09 Washington Capitals NHL 5 2 1 0 220 11 0 3.00 .892 — — — — — — — —
2009–10 Hershey Bears AHL 22 15 6 0 1231 46 1 2.24 .919 18 14 4 1133 39 1 2.07 .920
2009–10 Washington Capitals NHL 17 9 4 0 872 40 0 2.75 .914 — — — — — — — —
2010–11 Washington Capitals NHL 48 27 12 4 2689 110 4 2.45 .914 9 4 5 590 23 1 2.34 .912
2011–12 Washington Capitals NHL 38 13 13 5 2020 95 3 2.82 .902 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 HC Sparta Praha CZE 24 11 13 0 1342 55 1 2.46 .926 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 Washington Capitals NHL 13 4 5 2 723 33 0 2.74 .910 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 121 55 35 11 6525 289 7 2.66 .910 9 4 5 590 23 1 2.34 .912

References

  1. ↑ "Neuvirth named ECHL All-Star". 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2009-06-08. 
  2. ↑ The Canadian Press (2009-02-14). "Green sets NHL record in Capitals' win over Lightning". TSN. Retrieved 2009-02-14. 
  3. ↑ "Michal Neuvirth helps Bears shut out Moose 3-0 in Calder Cup". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2009-06-08. 
  4. ↑ "MICHAL NEUVIRTH". "PennLive.com". Retrieved 2009-06-16. 
  5. ↑ "Capitals' Neuvirth named October Rookie of the Month" Retrieved on 2011-02-21.

External links

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