Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
The NHL announced on Monday that Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren has been named the league’s first star of the week.
While starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been out due to an upper-body injury, the 28-year-old led the NHL in wins (four) and saves (111). He posted a .949 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against average to help Washington climb just one point of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference despite missing four regulars in Kuemper, center Nicklas Backstrom, right-wing Tom Wilson, and defenseman Martin Fehervary due to injury. Defenseman Dmitry Orlov returned from a 15-game injury absence against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
This save will may not make all the highlights for this game but Charlie Lindgren with a game saver on McDavid pic.twitter.com/i8TtRAJSFQ
— Mike Kosciesza (@mikekosciesza) November 8, 2022
Lindgren is 6-3-2 with a .910 save percentage and 2.79 goals-against average in 12 games this season.
He stopped 28 shots, including all 11 he faced in the third period, in a 3-2 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 5. Lindgren then yielded one goal in each of his next two starts, making 29 saves in a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers Dec. 7 and 25 stops in a 4-1 win versus the Seattle Kraken Dec. 9. He finished the week with 29 saves in a 5-2 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets Dec. 11.
The locker room showing some love for the NHL’s First Star of the Week#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/pcpAiLWMDA
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 12, 2022
By Harrison Brown
Way to go Charlie!
Kuemper has an upper-body injury, not lower.
No way they sit him when Darcy is healthy.
Does Kuemper automatically get his starting spot back when he returns?
Have to think they give him a shot. Paid him $26M+ Over the offseason while they gave Lindgren just over $3M.
I remember a time, back in 2018, when the Caps had a German backup goaltender on a hot streak. And the Caps had a former Vezina trophy winner wearing a ball cap, and riding the pine.
I forget what happened after that…
Emrick: “And it didn’t go!”
McGuire: ” In Washington they’ll be calling that ‘The Save’!”
Trade Kuemper
Not too many teams out there, that’ll want that contract. We’re stuck with him, for the foreseeable future. If BMac can unload it, without giving a king’s ransom in sweeteners, he’s a genius.
Saw a headline today that many teams are switching from a 1 and 2 goalie to a goalie tandem. Haven’t read it yet. I would think the sticker would be the price. When the salaries are this far apart, going to be hard to do.
Hockey’s version of a QB controversy.
PS: I wanted Gruby. Even after the save.
Used to be the most popular man in DC was the Redskins’….. er, the football team’s backup QB. Now it’s the Caps’ backup goalie. How times have changed.
Fondly remember a number of Skins QB controversies.
We had an “I Like Sonny” bumper sticker on the station wagon
I almost wish Charlie had finished 2nd, so I could have said “Sorry Charlie!”
Just kidding. Congrats Charlie, and keep it up!
yep, Starkist might steal him from us.
Also, remember “We’re Number 2. We Try Harder.” I often think of that one in sports.
The Hockey Writers has an article “Best 5 Goalie Acquisitions” and Vitek and Sammy are on the list.
Coming into this season, Kuemper had the best GAA and SV% in the league over the last 4 seasons spending some of that time on an awful Arizona team. I wouldn’t give up on him yet.