On Thursday, the Washington Capitals announced they have called up goaltender Clay Stevenson from the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
The 26-year-old netminder joins the Capitals just ahead of a crucial Game 5 matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. Stevenson made his NHL debut in the team’s final regular-season game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, impressing coach Spencer Carbery despite a 5-2 loss. He was subsequently sent back to Hershey on May 1, with Mitchell Gibson taking his spot.
Last week, Stevenson recorded his first AHL playoff win by making 28 saves in a 6-4 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, pushing the series to a deciding Game 5. However, Hunter Shepard took over for that final game, helping Hershey clinch the series with a 4-2 win.
In the regular season with Hershey, Stevenson compiled an 18-8-4 record, a 2.94 goals-against average, an .888 save percentage, and two shutouts across 33 games. He was also part of Hershey’s Calder Cup championship run last year, serving as Shepard’s backup and playing in two playoff games.
With Stevenson now recalled, the Capitals are carrying four goaltenders on their roster: Stevenson, Gibson, Logan Thompson, and Charlie Lindgren.
From the official press release:
Clay Stevenson has been recalled by the Capitals, as announced by GM Chris Patrick. This season with Hershey, Stevenson posted an 18-8-4 record along with a 2.94 GAA, an .888 SV%, and two shutouts in 33 games. He made 28 saves in his sole playoff start on May 9 in Game 4 against Lehigh Valley. Stevenson debuted in the NHL on April 17, stopping 33 shots against the Penguins.
In 2023-24, his first full AHL season, Stevenson went 24-10-2 with a 2.06 GAA, .922 SV%, and a league-leading seven shutouts in 36 games. He also earned AHL All-Star honors and, alongside Shepard, won the Harry “Hap” Holmes Award for fewest goals allowed per game by a goaltending tandem.
Previously, Stevenson spent the 2022-23 season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, going 19-12-3 with a 2.54 GAA and a .916 SV%, plus three shutouts. He also played briefly with Hershey that year, going 3-0-0 with a 1.96 GAA and a .924 SV%. Over 72 AHL games, he has a 45-18-6 record, 2.44 GAA, .907 SV%, and nine shutouts.
The Capitals signed Stevenson to an entry-level deal in March 2022 after his standout sophomore season at Dartmouth College, where he led the team in every goaltending category and was honored as team MVP.
