Alex Ovechkin wasn’t the only player to accomplish some history against the St. Louis Blues. Logan Thompson also did so in the Capitals’ 8-1 blowout victory, Saturday.
Thompson became the first Capitals’ goalie of all-time to win his first seven games with the team, leapfrogging Tomas Vokoun, who was the former record holder at 6.
Logan Thompson stopped 24 of 25 shots against tonight to improve to 7-0-0 on the season. Thompson is the first Capitals goaltender to win each of their first seven games with the franchise.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 10, 2024
Thompson made 24 saves, including an incredible glove save on a two-on-one break, to improve his record to a gaudy 7-0-0 to start the 2024-25 season.
After the game, Dylan Strome, a part-time stat memorizer, shouted out the accomplishment during Spencer Carbery’s post-game speech.
“Way to go, LT. Franchise record,” Strome said as the team began whistling. “Seven in a row.”
“Give him the puck,” another player demanded before the team erupted in a loud cheer for goaltending coach Scott Murray as he entered the locker room.
Thompson, who was brought in after the Capitals traded Darcy Kuemper to the Los Angeles Kings for Pierre-Luc Dubois, has formed a powerful one-two punch with Charlie Lindgren this season as both goaltenders have alternated starts. Thompson, a Calgary native, has a 2.55 goals against average and a .910 save percentage, sitting 12th in the league with 4.9 goals saved above expected per Money Puck.
To give an example of just how transformative Thompson has been to the team, consider Kumper’s start to the season last year. Darcy didn’t get to seven wins until December 17, 2023, needing three months and 15 games to do so. Overall, Kuemper won just 13 times in 33 games.
Thompson’s tremendous start comes after he requested and received a trade out of Vegas this summer. He’s seemed deeply motivated to prove a point, joking, “I’m curious to see…if I can even play in the league” after being asked if his past success was the result of the Golden Knights’ defensive system.
Not only has Thompson been productive, but he’s also providing a lot of surplus value. The 27-year-old netminder makes below the league minimum ($766,667) and will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
