Charlie Lindgren certainly didn’t plan on scoring an own goal as a goalie. During the third period of Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Washington Capitals’ goaltender tried to backhand the puck behind the net, but instead, he accidentally directed it into his own goal. Brayden Point, the Lightning center, was awarded the goal. On the bright side for Lindgren, the Capitals rallied to win the game 5-4 in regulation, with Lindgren making 24 saves to secure the victory.
Despite this mishap, Lindgren has had a strong season, holding a 5-5-0 record, a .901 save percentage, and a 2.64 goals-against average in his third year with the Capitals. Last season, he stepped up as the starting goalie, achieving a career-high 25 wins in 50 games.
A Lakeville, Minnesota native, Lindgren played three seasons for St. Cloud State in the NCAA before signing with the Montreal Canadiens as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Over his career, the 30-year-old goalie has appeared in 120 games for the Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Capitals, posting a 58-44-12 record with a .908 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average. He joined the Capitals in 2022 on a three-year deal worth $1.1 million per season.
Overall, Lindgren’s professional career includes 171 appearances in total, including time with the minor league teams St. John’s IceCaps/Laval Rocket and Springfield Thunderbirds, affiliated with the Canadiens and Blues, respectively.
With Wednesday’s win, the Capitals improved to 15-6-1 for the season, just two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Eastern Conference. They are on a two-game winning streak and hope to make it three in a row when they host the New York Islanders on Friday.
