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Neuvirth sick, Caps recall AHLer to back up Holtby

PhilippGrubauer

Braden Holtby will have someone new to chat with during breaks tonight against Philadelphia.

His normal backup, Michal Neuvirth, has fallen ill, forcing the Capitals to call up Philipp Grubauer from AHL Hershey for Tuesday’s game against the Flyers.

Grubauer, 21, is a German-born netminder taken in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

He’s spent the majority of his career in the ECHL, but made the jump to Hershey this season, where he’s fared well -- 6-4-1 with a 2.10 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.

The organization thinks highly of Grubauer. But make no mistake, the goaltending position is all about Holtby at the moment.

He’s been Washington’s goalie of record since Feb. 7 and has gone 5-2 over the last seven games with a .937 save percentage, which included a 33-save shutout against Carolina on Tuesday night.

Holtby has only allowed six goals over his last four games and tonight, will look to replicate his success against the Flyers from Feb. 1, when he stopped 29 of 31 shots for a 3-2 victory at Verizon.