Photo: @Capitals/Twitter
Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette made his weekly appearance on 106.7 The Fan’s Sports Junkies radio show. He discussed Charlie Lindgren’s success as of late, and Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom slowly getting back to the team.
“He’s been good the last four or games,” Laviolette said on goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who was named the NHL’s first star of the week on Monday. “He’s given us a chance to win hockey games…some big wins in there, and we needed it, especially with [Darcy Kuemper] being out. He had to step up, and he did, and he’s played really well.”
On Kuemper, Laviolette said the 32-year-old is still day-to-day with an upper-body injury, saying, “He’s working his way back in. He was out on the ice [on Monday]. I still think it might be a minute before he’s ready.” Laviolette indicated Lindgren and Hunter Shepard will be the netminders for tonight’s tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center (9 PM ET, ESPN).
The Capitals have gone 7-2-1 in the last ten games, with Laviolette noting having right wing T.J. Oshie and defenseman John Carlson adds to the team’s recent success. He commended their on-ice and off-ice leadership and experience, saying, “Certainly on the ice, they’re two of our top players…two of our top power-play guys as well. Our power play has been really good and scoring quite a bit here recently, so when you add that back into the lineup, there’s no question you’re going to get a boost from them.”
“Their practices are ramping up,” the Capitals bench boss said on right-wing Tom Wilson and center Nicklas Backstrom. The two players have skated more recently and traveled with the team to Winnipeg. “They’re looking really good to me out on the ice.”
Laviolette said Wilson and Backstrom are “not there yet,” but “the fact that they’re with us and they’re participating” is building “morale up inside the locker room.” “When will they be back? I don’t have the answer to that yet,” Laviolette added.
By Della Young
You gotta love an athlete named Charlie. The name conjures images of Charlie Hustle, or perhaps Charlie Brown (the old Redskins receiver, not the comic strip loser!) Good blue collar name. The fact that he’s the rare right handed goalie is just icing on the cake.
Given he only played five games last season, he’s been a solid addition! Much improved situation from last season!
6 in a row.