Capitals’ starting goaltender impresses with a 35-save shutout in season debut against the Rangers: ‘It’s unbelievable.’
Charlie Lindgren may not be the Capitals’ starting goaltender, but he proved on Sunday that he’s still perfectly capable of stealing games.
In his first start of the 2025-26 season, Lindgren posted a clean sheet against the New York Rangers, stopping all 35 shots in the 1-0 win.
“I thought he was the best player,” Anthony Beauvillier said of Lindgren’s game. “I think if he wasn’t there, I don’t think we would have walked out of here with two points.”
The shutout was the 10th of Lindgren’s NHL career and the seventh time in Capitals history that a goaltender posted a perfect game in his season debut.
Though it hardly showed on the ice, Lindgren admitted postgame that he felt some jitters in his first start of the campaign, crediting his teammates for their showing in front of him.
“It’s the first game — you always kind of wonder how it’s going to go,” Lindgren said. “You want to feel the first couple pucks but credit to the guys in front of me. I thought they did a terrific job tonight. I got to see a lot of pucks, and the Rangers do a good job bringing guys to the net, and I thought my guys did a really good job of clearing guys out and taking away rebounds. I gave up a couple rebounds and they cleared it out. So, love the job my guys did.”
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery had named Logan Thompson as the Capitals’ starting goaltender to begin the season, but Lindgren has plenty of experience stealing the role mid-year. He pushed Darcy Kuemper out of the starting role in 2023-24 season, posting a breakout season and pushing the Capitals into the playoffs.
Lindgren made his case once again with a stellar showing on Sunday. No save was more spectacular than Lindgren’s stop on Mika Zibanejad early in the second period. Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin — the team’s top two scorers last season — went on a two-on-one for the Ranger’s best scoring chance of the night with the score tied 0-0. While their goal looked all but guaranteed, an acrobatic Lindgren went diving after the puck, rolling on the ice once he’d secured it in his glove.
“It’s unbelievable,” Carbery said of the save. “That’s a highlight reel; they’ll be showing that for a long time. Against those players too, 2-on-1, one-timer — that’s as good as it gets from a goaltender, to make a single save like that. In the moment too — there’s great moments in games and that, but when games are on the line, that was a huge save in a 0-0 game that could have completely turned how this game turned out tonight.”
Lindgren’s performance — including that stop — also earned a shout out in Carbery’s postgame locker room speech.
“If that’s not the f— number one top-10 save, tonight, holy f—,” Carbery said to a round of applause.
After the win, Lindgren told reporters that he wasn’t sure he’d made the save until he saw the puck in his catching mitt.
“I felt I got a nice piece of it with my glove,” he said. “I felt like, just for a second, I saw a little flash going into the net. I don’t know what it was, but then I looked in my glove and it was in my glove. So, pretty happy about that. But no, it was a great play and thankfully I made the save.”
He noted that getting a shutout against the Rangers in particular held extra meaning: not only did the Capitals give up a first-round sweep to New York in 2024 with Lindgren in net, but his brother Ryan spent parts of seven seasons with the franchise from 2019 to 2025.
“I think there was a little extra for a while with my brother,” Lindgren said of facing the Rangers. “There’s still a little history here with my brother. So I mean, I think (that’s) part of it.
“There’s been some good moments against the Rangers. There’s been some tough moments. I go back to the playoffs and them sweeping us. But yeah, it seems –through my brother, I end up knowing a lot of those guys, so I think it adds a little bit extra motivation.”
The Capitals and Rangers will face off three more times this season, with their next meeting set in Washington for December 23.
JJ McCarthy Provides Detailed Update on His Injury Recovery: "I'm Focused on Coming Back Stronger and Better Than Ever"
Michigan Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy has provided an update on his injury, assuring fans and teammates that he is focused on recovery and determined to return stronger. After sustaining a recent injury, McCarthy has been working closely with the medical team to get back to full strength.
“I’m feeling better, and I’ve been doing everything I can to recover,” McCarthy said in a statement. “It’s frustrating to be sidelined, but I’m staying positive and focused on getting back on the field. I’m committed to doing everything I can to return at 100%.”
While McCarthy has not specified a timeline for his return, he emphasized that he is taking the necessary steps to ensure a full recovery. His leadership and skill have been vital to Michigan’s success, and the team is eager to have him back in action.
“I’m excited to get back with the team as soon as I can,” McCarthy added. “The most important thing right now is my health, and I’m doing all the right things to come back stronger and continue helping my team.”
The Wolverines are confident in McCarthy’s determination, knowing he will give everything to return to the field as soon as possible. In the meantime, McCarthy’s recovery remains the top priority, and he remains focused on making a full and effective comeback.
