'I always feel ready': Washington goalie Lindgren pumped to play against his former team in playoffs
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Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren spent portions of five seasons with the Canadiens.
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And while he won't go down in history as the greatest netminder to play for Montreal — indeed, far from it — he believes he's more than prepared to beat his former organization in the playoffs, if necessary.
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'I definitely have a background with this organization, even though there has been a lot of turnover since I left,' Lindgren said Saturday, after he participated in an optional practice at the Bell Centre. 'At the end of the day, it's the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's playoff hockey. I don't care who you're playing against. You're always going to get up for it. It's always exciting. It's fun to be a part of. Obviously, if given a chance it would be awesome.'
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Lindgren entered Friday's third game of the best-of-seven series — won 6-3 by the Canadiens — with 6:37 remaining in the third period after starter Logan Thompson suffered a lower-body injury. Capitals teammate Dylan Strome ran into Thompson on Montreal's fifth goal, scored by Juraj Slafkovsky.
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Lindgren faced only five shots, but he allowed a power-play goal by Alex Newhook.
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Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said he still had no immediate update on Thompson's condition when he met the media early Saturday afternoon — although it would be surprising if Thompson doesn't miss at least one or two games. Thompson returned for this series after being sidelined April 2 with an upper-body injury and was brilliant through the opening two games, allowing only three goals.
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The fourth game of the series goes Sunday night at the Bell Centre (6:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM).
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The Canadiens also lost Samuel Montembeault, their starting goalie, with 8:21 remaining in the second period. He was replaced by rookie Jakub Dobes, who allowed only one goal — scored by Alex Ovechkin — on eight shots and was credited with the win.
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'Next man up for us,' Carbery said. 'I won't comment on their situation, but it'll be next man up for us. Lindgren has done a great job for us and he's a great goaltender. There's no concern of our group having a letdown or from our staff having a lack of confidence.'
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Lindgren appeared in 39 games this season and proved to be more than capable backstopping the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. He went 20-14-3 with a 2.73 average and one shutout, although his save percentage of .896 was merely pedestrian. The 6-foot-2, 190 pounder has appeared in five playoff games, has yet to record a win or loss and has a 3.73 average along with a .861 save percentage.
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