The Washington Capitals were a rowdy and happy bunch after one of their most complete victories of the season: a 3-0 throttling of the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. The Capitals got goals from Aliaksei Protas, Ethen Frank, and Alex Ovechkin, and outshot the the Western Conference team 32 to 22.
Inside the locker room after the game, the Capitals played Charlie Lindgren’s cover of “Talladega,” originally made famous by country singer Eric Church.
“Wow, right away, eh?” Lindgren said as the team hit the play button.
Capitals players, some smiling and laughing while others were shirtless and very serious, clapped to the beat and sang along. Lindgren, in the flesh, started singing along too. Ovechkin could be heard scream-singing when the song reached the to Talladega part.
“That guy did exactly what he told you he was going to do: Chuckie!” Spencer Carbery said as the team broke out into applause. Lindgren showed his appreciate by making a heart back with his hands.
Matt Roy also awarded the goaltender the gold chain as player of the game.
“Yeah, I got so much agape love for you boys,” Lindgren said after accepting his distinguished award. “It’s unbelievable. Being out two weeks, and then just coming back in, the way you guys competed, mad respect. And yeah, good job.”
Lindgren’s start against the Kraken was his first since suffering an upper-body injury on January 10 against the Montreal Canadienss. Logan Thompson won all five of his starts with Lindgren either out on injured reserve or backing him up, earning two shutouts and NHL First Star of the Week honors.
“You could tell the guys were digging in for him and really wanted to get the goose eg for him,” Carbery said. “And even that late save, like we give up that chance like a minute or two minutes to go, huge save. He made some big saves at 1-0, 0-0, like I’ve talked about throughout the year when you need — the game’s hanging there, right? We’re doing a lot of things right. We’re carrying play. We’ve had some chances, but again, the breakaway save. Those are key moments in the game that can flip momentum and every time they had a little bit of light or an opportunity, he shut the door. He was outstanding.”
Lindgren’s “Talladega” cover became the Capitals’ victory song halfway through last season as the career backup replaced incumbent but struggling starter Darcy Kuemper in net.
Lindgren formed the band, the “Michisota Boys,” while a college hockey player at St. Cloud State. Then-teammate Ben Storm, a fellow singer and guitar player, recorded a series of country covers on YouTube. Less than a month after Lindgren made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens, he and Storm released their version of “Talladega,” complete with cowboy hats and flannel shirts.
“I think obviously the guys get a kick out of it, I get a kick out of it, my buddy Ben got a kick out of it, so it’s been a funny little deal,” Lindgren told RMNB last season.
The victory was an emotional one for Lindgren as the injury forced him out of his routine and for a brief time, out of the locker room.
“I felt really good (tonight),” Lindgren said. “It sucks being out. Honestly, I can’t even describe how much even though it was two weeks. Getting back in there with the guys and being in the room again, I can’t overstate how much I love this team and how much I love the guys, staff, everything.”
