A season after helping lead the Washington Capitals to an unlikely playoff appearance, goaltender Charlie Lindgren has continued his strong play during the 2024-25 campaign. He’s made several unbelievable stops that rank among potential NHL Save of the Year candidates, and he’s continued to put up good numbers while alternating starts with Logan Thompson.
But Charlie’s also had his moments this season where he’s had what I can only describe as the yips. Lindgren nearly singlehandedly lost a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, passing the puck into his own net to notch one of the worst own goals in recent NHL history. He’s also has his struggles on the bench. Like, just sitting there as a backup with his full gear on like he’s a hockey turtle.
You’d think having the best seat in the house is fun, but Lindgren’s proved it can be a precarious place to be.
Case in point: on November 29 against the New York Islanders, Lindgren found himself on his back looking up at the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup championship banner after some unfriendly fire in the neutral zone. An Isles skater attempted to dump the puck into the offensive zone, except the chip in missed its target, flew over the boards, and struck the heavily-padded Lindgren in the belly like a cannon shot.
Lindgren flopped over in his chair and could be seen with his skates straight up in the air. Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary had to help The Outlaw back up.
A little over two months later, Lindgren met the same fate while serving as a backup against the Winnipeg Jets. As Jets centerman Rasmus Kupari attempted to clear the puck, the biscuit went into the Capitals bench. Lindgren scrunched up and made a right shoulder save, but again fell over in the process.
Thanks to great video from Monumental Sports Network’s Ethan Cadeaux, you’ll notice Connor McMichael, sitting beside his goaltending teammate, was very amused by the moment.
Hockey can be a game of inches, or in Lindgren’s case, a game of magnets, and now I’m worrying he’s cursed.
