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2009-10

Antti Niemi (Chicago): 39

Michael Leighton (Philadelphia): 34

Brian Boucher (Philadelphia): 33

2008-09

Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh): 62

Chris Osgood (Detroit): 46

2007-08

Chris Osgood (Detroit): 43

Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh): 40 (35 NHL, 5 AHL)

2006-07

J-S Giguere (Anaheim): 56

Ray Emery (Ottawa): 58

2005-06

Cam Ward (Carolina): 30 (28 NHL, 2 AHL)

Dwayne Roloson (Edmonton): 43

2003-04

Nikolai Khabibulin (Tampa Bay): 55

Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary): 38

Michael Traikos, Postmedia News[/np_storybar]

TORONTO — Some records, like Wayne Gretzky’s 92 goals in a single season, will never be broken. Others, like goalie Glenn Hall’s ironman streak of starting in 502 straight games, should not even be attempted.

Somewhere in the middle is Martin Brodeur’s single-season record of 48 wins, a number that Braden Holtby chased for most of last year, regardless of the consequences.

By the middle of March, the Washington Capitals had already clinched a playoff berth and with two weeks remaining they had secured home-ice advantage throughout the post-season. It was a time for the best players to put up their feet and relax. But rather than rest, Holtby started in 11 of the team’s final 14 games, sitting only when the team played on back-to-back nights.

In the second-last game of the season, Holtby finally tied Brodeur’s record. If it were left up to him, he would have been in the net the following night. But rather than break the record, he was simply told to take a break.