ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin scored numerous objectives down the stretch for the Washington Capitals, but he isn’t the most important motive they made the playoffs.
That can be undrafted, unheralded, late-blooming, mustached goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who emerged because the starter and carried the Capitals the second half of the season. No one within the NHL confronted extra pictures or made extra saves over the previous three months since supplanting Darcy Kuemper for the No. 1 job.
Lindgren’s play in internet has made him their MVP when it issues most.
“I’ve had a blast,” Lindgren said. “I’ve dreamed about this for 20 years, legitimately. And just to have the chance to play a lot of games and just the faith that this team has put in me, I appreciate it greatly.”
Lindgren earned it, finally at age 30, and on Sunday he will make his Stanley Cup playoff debut against brother Ryan and the heavily favored New York Rangers. Game 1 at Madison Square Garden comes less than a week since Minnesota native played on back-to-back nights to get Washington into the postseason.
Go back one further and Lindgren stopped 75 of the 78 shots he faced over a three-game winning streak, coming off a rough performance in Buffalo. Not winning would have sent he and his teammates to the golf course.
“Any adversity that he faces, it’s just like, ‘no big deal, I’m going to figure out a way to get through it,’” coach Spencer Carbery said. “Those are some quality, quality characteristics of a professional hockey player that can really help you. I think that’s been impressive to watch and seeing how all his teammates have rallied around him.”
Fourth-line center Nic Dowd, who overlapped one season with him at St. Cloud State, said Lindgren has become a leader without even knowing it. He noted Lindgren’s mustache game has improved, too.
“He’s really taken hold of it,” retired defenseman Karl Alzner said of Lindgren’s ‘stache, several years since they played together with Montreal and in the minors. “That’s his thing now. He’s channeling the ’80s and ’90s hockey players again.”
Lindgren is a throwback personality off the ice. He talks to reporters on game days, often a no-no for a superstitious goalie, and nothing seems to faze him in the crease.
“I have a lot of faith and confidence in myself, I have a lot of faith and confidence in my teammates, and I think when you’re prepared, that lessens the stress,” Lindgren said. “A lot of it just comes down to experience and confidence.”
It would have been simple for Lindgren to lose confidence shuttling between the NHL and American Hockey League into his late 20s. Alzner figured it was exhausting for groups to see Lindgren as something greater than a backup however believed the Caps have been getting a potential gem primarily based on what he had seen in Montreal and AHL Laval.
“He battles tougher in observe than numerous goalies do,” Alzner stated this week, praising Lindgren’s perspective. “I thought, ‘If this guy can find his confidence again, he’s going to get back to that level.’”
Kuemper is within the second season of a five-year, $26.25 million deal, whereas Lindgren is making $1.1 million a 12 months via 2024-25. When Kuemper began struggling, rookie head coach Carbery did not let that sway his pondering of who to place in internet.
It has been difficult for Kuemper, who stated he is “trying to help Charlie out the best I can whenever he needs help with anything. I’ve gone through these experiences, so I try to share those with him and help him along the way.”
Lindgren after beating Boston on Monday night time made some extent to thank Kuemper for dealing with the scenario “like an absolute pro” and all the time being in his nook. Plenty of persons are in his nook now, whilst his household may have cut up rooting pursuits within the first spherical, however he is already received over the Capitals for every little thing he has carried out to allow them to proceed taking part in hockey.
“His work ethic — not only in games but in practice as well, off the ice — is definitely noticed,” veteran winger T.J. Oshie stated. “To see all that work be rewarded is superior. You’re all the time cheering in your teammates and wanting the very best for them. Anyone that is aware of Chuckie or meets him, and even involves the sport and watches how exhausting he battles in there, it’s exhausting to not root for that man.”
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
