Bruins fans should know this better than anybody: When the team defense is especially tight, the goalie’s work is a lot easier. 

So with no disrespect to Braden Holtby – after being thrown into the fire due to injuries to Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth answered the bell and made all the stops he’s had to – let’s calm down a bit. 

The Bruins’ lack of scoring (two goals in over 144 minutes of hockey) hasn’t been all about the 22-year-old netminder. They haven’t made the third-string goalie work for it, and instead it’s been the guys in front of Holtby who have frustrated the Bruins. 

Holtby has 73 saves and has allowed just one regulation goal through two games this postseason. Those are spectacular numbers, but if anyone should be getting praise, it should be coach Dale Hunter for what he’s been able to do to this Washington team. Tight play in the neutral zone and shot-blocking in the defensive zone has helped the Capitals do a lot of what the Bruins are used to doing to opponents and made Holtby’s work far more manageable. 

“They play a patient game” Claude Julien. “They sit back, and they get into their 1-4, and if you want to get cute in the neutral zone, then you’re not getting pucks in.”

The 1-4 is the same neutral zone trap that the B’s use. It consists of one forechecker with the other four skaters holding strong on the blue line to prevent an easy transition through the neutral zone. It’s been called boring, but it works. Plus, it limits odd-man rushes like no other. 

When both teams are playing as defensively sound – and as stingy – as the Bruins and Capitals have been playing, it’s difficult to break into the offensive zone with numbers. That’s why you haven’t seen the breakaways or the 2-on-1s, and, in turn, why you haven’t seen the goals. 

When the Bruins have been in the Washington zone, the quality looks at Holtby haven’t been anywhere near what the shots on goal count suggests. Holtby has made 73 saves through the first two games of the series, and each one of them is crucial when the games are this close, but how many of them have really left the Bruins hanging their heads wondering how they can solve the 22-year-old? 

Some of Tim Thomas’ better statistical nights as a Bruin have come when the defense has closed lanes and forced the opponent to find other ways to get the puck to the net, and this isn’t much different. What remains the difference is that Thomas has long proven that he is one of the league’s best goaltenders, while Holtby had played in 21 career NHL games prior to this postseason. 

As long as the Bruins struggle to get good looks, it doesn’t matter if Holtby is inexperienced. He’ll match Thomas save-for-save.

“He probably saw a lot of pucks,” Johnny Boychuk said, “and it’s pretty easy to stop –- well, not that I’m a goalie — but it’s probably pretty easy to stop if there’s nobody in front."

Of course, the Bruins are working with what they’ve been given. The B’s had 26 of their shots blocked by the Capitals Saturday. Defenseman Karl Alzner had five of them. 

“We’re trying to put the puck on net,” Patrice Bergeron said after the game. “They’re doing a good job of blocking it – we have to be better at finding that seam, finding that hole to put it there and create some rebounds.” 

The first two games of the series have also left something to be desired in front of Holtby. The B’s have lacked the net-front presence they hoped would have been established by now, so between an abundance of non-threatening shots on goal, a ton of blocked shots, and an inability to wreak havoc in front, the Bruins’ time in the offensive zone has done nothing but make Holtby look a lot better than he’s had to be. 

“I just don’t think we’re playing our game,” David Krejci said Saturday. “Especially my line. I don’t know what it is, but we have to find a way to help each other out there. Sometimes it seems like one guy’s working and the two others are just waiting and hoping for the puck to have a scoring chance. It doesn’t work like that. We’ve got to help each other out there, and go do that. We have good players. Good size too. We should be able to get some scoring chances.”

You have to give credit where credit is due, but right now all the credit isn’t due to Holtby. It’s due to an entire team buying into Hunter’s approach and seeing it pay off. Don’t kid yourself  -- that may be just as scary as facing a goaltender who’s hit his stride. Hunter has wanted to make this team stingier since taking over for Bruce Boudreau in November, and it’s working. 

“[The defense] was outstanding,” Holtby said after Game 2. “I don’t think we even gave up an odd man rush or a two on one all game.  That’s a huge thing.  That means that everyone is committed. Blocked shots like crazy again, just like we did in Game 1.”  

The Bruins still haven’t led through two games, and unless they can get a lead, the Capitals will continue to play their tight style to limit their chances. Washington’s done a good job at that, and the Bruins haven’t done a good enough job offensively. Holtby’s done what he’s had to, but the Bruins still haven’t made him do much.