Michal Neuvirth

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Goaltender Michal Neuvirth (30) of the Washington Capitals blocks a shot on goal by Antoine Vermette (50) of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second period in preseason hockey at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Goaltender Michal Neuvirth (30) of the Washington Capitals loses his balance and falls over during preseason hockey against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second period at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) and Patrick Wellar (41) of the Washington Capitals sit dejected as Colin Wilson(33) and Niclas Bergfors (18) of the Nashville Predators celebrate Wilson's goal in the third period in the Washington Capitals loss to the Nashville Predators, 2-0, in a preseason exhibition game. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) watches the puck go by him during a preseason loss to the Nashville Predators at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore on Sept. 20, 2011. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) of the Washington Capitals chases after a loose puck in the second period of the Washington Capitals loss to the Nashville Predators, 2-0, in a preseason exhibition game at the 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD, Tuesday, September 20, 2011. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals' 23-year-old goalie Michal Neuvirth opened some eyes with his stellar play this past season season: a 27-12-4 record, .914 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average. He will look to improve upon those numbers next season without Arturs Irbe, Washington's goalie coach of the past two years, who won't be back with the team. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Tampa Bay's Dominic Moore celebrates a goal by Sean Bergenheim (not pictured) in front of Washington goalie Michal Neuvirth during the Lightning's 5-3, series-clinching victory in Game 4.

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Tampa Bay Lightning's Ryan Malone (6) scores past Washington Capitals' John Carlson (74) and goalie Michal Neuvirth (30), of the Czech Republic, during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff Eastern Conference semifinal series in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Tampa Bay won 4-3. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth checks the scoreboard after Tampa Bay scored two goals during a span of 24 seconds to take a 4-3 lead in the third period in Game 3.

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Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth compiled a 1.38 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage in Washington's five-game Eastern Conference quarterfinal win over the New York Rangers. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Associated press photographs Capitals goalies (from left) Michal Neuvirth, Semyon Varlamov and Braden Holtby have earned their teammates' confidence with strong showings in the regular season. Neuvirth has started the first three games of the series with the Rangers.

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) watches as Brandon Dubinsky's (back left) game-winning shot flies over the left shoulder of Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth in the third period of the New York Rangers' 3-2 victory in Game 3 of their first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, April 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Washington Capitals right wing Boyd Gordon (15) celebrates teammates with Michal Neuvirth, center, of the Czech Republic, and Scott Hannan (23) after a 2-0 win over the New York Rangers in Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoff series on Friday, April 15, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Rangers center Brian Boyle gets the puck past Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth for a goal to put the Rangers up 1-0 during the third period of a playoff game at the Verizon Center in Washington on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth, from the Czech Republic, keeps his eye on the puck in the second period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series with the New York Rangers, Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Michal Neuvirth

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Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth (30), of the Czech Republic, deflects a shot from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Washington, on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Buffalo Sabres right wing Jason Pominville (29) shoots the puck at Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth (30), of the Czech Republic, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, in Washington. Washington won 4-2.