18 – Number of shots faced – and saved – by Philipp Grubauer last night against the Avalanche, en route to his first career shutout. That’s the fewest shots a Caps goalie has faced in a shutout since Braden Holtby turned aside 18 back in March of 2011 (which, incidentally, was the second of his career).
Grubauer’s whitewashing of Colorado also checked in as the first shutout of the NHL season, narrowly edging out Montreal’s Al Montoya (who completed a shutout of the Penguins later in the evening).
The last time that the first shutout of an NHL season came so late was in 1990-91, when the Rangers‘ John Vanbiesbrouck delivered the first clean sheet by blanking the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden on the ninth day of the season, in its 43rd game.
H/t Alex Prewitt for the first note