Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images
When the Washington Capitals made a drastic overhaul of their goaltending tandem this past offseason, the signing of backup netminder Charlie Lindgren (a veteran of just 29 NHL games at the time) was likely not considered a home run move compared to the inking of starter Darcy Kuemper. 10 games and eight starts into his Capitals career, the 28-year Lindgren is proving fully capable of serving when called upon.
Since Kuemper was injured in a game against the Calgary Flames, Lindgren has been the de facto number one for Head Coach Peter Laviolette and has performed admirably. With a win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night, Lindgren extended his season record to 4-3-2, and has gone 2-0-0 in his past two games since replacing the team’s number one, stopping 29 of 30 Flyers shots tonight.
Goaltender Charlie Lindgren stopped 29 of 30 shots tonight and earned his second consecutive win. Over his last two games, Lindgren has posted a 2-0-0 record with a 1.51 GAA and a .950 SV%.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 8, 2022
After signing him to a three-year deal in free agency, General Manager Brian MacLellan stated his optimism for Lindgren to improve his game despite playing just five (four starts) NHL contests with the St. Louis Blues (during which he went 5-0-0, with a 1.22 Goals-Against Average, and .958 Save Percentage from December 7-17, 2021):
“I know it wasn’t a lot of games but we think there’s some upside there in the goalie, so we gave him the three-year term because it was competitive for him. I think there was a lot of teams that were looking at him, he was coming in at a good number and he had a good performance last year but limited games so we think he can continue to play well.”
Lindgren was named the Second Star of the Game after the victory over Philly, finishing the night with 29 saves (including all 25 at even-strength) and .967 Save Percentage.
#CapsFlyers 3 ⭐️’s of the game
⭐️: Dylan Strome
⭐️⭐️: Charlie Lindgren
⭐️⭐️⭐️: PHI – Hayes#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/tvhIdmbRKd— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2022
“In St. Louis, I wasn’t overly happy with the way I played, and then followed it up with New Jersey, certainly there was a couple there I wanted back. I wanted to kind of get it going on this road trip and I got that chance in Edmonton, I felt good and I felt good tonight. I think it helps, after just playing two nights ago it feels like you’re in a little bit of a rhythm. I had a lot of confidence coming into tonight…I had that mindset that I can go in there, do my job, and help the team win”, Lindgren said after the victory over Philadelphia.
“It was just a gutsy performance by our team.”
Charlie Lindgren after stopping 29-of-30 shots faced for his second straight win in net.#CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/uvkk5aIg9d
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2022
By Michael Fleetwood
I think he will be valuable down the stretch.
Agree. But will still like to see Hunter Shepard get a start before he goes back to Hershey.
Yes. Good to see Chuck get the win but I still feel Hunter should have played instead.
In Chuck We Trust
Woa. What’s upChuck? They hurled the kitchen sink at you, and you heaved it out of your way. Even the skaters in front of you weren’t retch-ed. Somebody toss him a cookie. And in the end Phillie threw up their hands in defeat. Ovi scores and somebody needs to gag Konecny for spewing sh*t.. He should have been expelled from the game. Nauseating. I wanted to vomit, but I shouldn’t say that word. That’s disgusting. Good luck next game, Chuck!
Well done, Jonathan 👏
yuk yuk. lol
Do we trust Hunter enough to move one of the two new goalies at the deadline. He is already 27 although no professional experience.