Chaos in Washington Locker Room as Tension Rises for Capitals Goaltender Spot in Playoffs

In just a few hours, the Capital One Arena is set to host the first round of the postseason clash between the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens. There will be home pressure and support for the Caps, yet their recent performance raises concerns, as they finished with a 4-6-0 record in the last 10 games of the regular season, in stark contrast to Montreal’s impressive 7-1-2.

Nevertheless, the Capitals remain the leading seed in the Eastern Conference, and there is an increased likelihood that they will dominate their rivals on home ice. However, it appears that tension is already brewing within the Washington Capitals locker room.

On X, Tom Gulitti stated: “Charlie Lindgren is going along with the subterfuge about the Capitals starting goalie tonight. Said ‘I might be playing’ and he likes to ‘go long’ at morning skates and Logan Thompson likes to ‘go short.'” What precisely is happening, then?

The Capitals clearly showed their commitment to two main goaltenders by extending the contracts of both Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson earlier this year. On April 2, Thompson sustained an upper-body injury, resulting in his sidelining. At this point, there is no confirmation regarding whether Thompson will take the starting goalie position against the Canadiens, or if it will be Lindgren instead.

According to the reports, Lindgren hinted at the possibility of being the starter in the upcoming match. Additionally, Lindgren observed that he usually remains on the ice for an extended period during morning skates, whereas Thompson often leaves early—this is a frequent indication used to determine the starting goalie for the night.

What has their season looked like? The goaltenders delivered commendable performances, playing a crucial role in the team’s success. Thompson participated in 43 games, securing a record of 31 wins, 6 losses, and 6 overtime losses, alongside a goals-against average of 2.49, a save percentage of .910, and two shutouts. Lindgren participated in 39 games, achieving a record of 20 wins, 14 losses, and 3 overtime losses, with a goals-against average of 2.73, a save percentage of .894, and one shutout to his name.

Although Thompson topped the charts in victories and boasted a lower GAA, Lindgren’s impact was equally crucial in keeping the team competitive all season long. In addition to that, have you heard that the Caps could be welcoming back a recognizable figure on the ice shortly?

Potential comeback of the Washington Capitals forward

Recently, Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas sustained a lower-body injury during the third period of the team’s 5-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The injury occurred when a skate blade cut into his foot, leading to Protas being classified as week-to-week. The team encountered a concerning situation, as the forward was having an exceptional season, reaching career milestones with 30 goals, 36 assists, and 66 points, along with a team-leading plus-40 rating. However, he’s already gliding on the rink!

Tom Gulitti reported: “Aliaksei Protas (skate cut on foot) skating more freely and with more speed today than yesterday. Protas also skating backwards and doing backward crossovers, which I didn’t see him do yesterday. Protas skated for about 15 minutes, passed some pucks around with Ethen Frank for a few minutes when Frank came out before the morning skate, and then left after being called off by trainer Jason Serbus.”

The forward’s performance has evidently progressed, with the NHL correspondent highlighting that Protas showcased a more fluid skating technique and enhanced speed compared to his previous outing. In addition, demonstrating his adaptability, Protas was observed executing backward skating and performing backward crossovers during his training sessions. These indicators were promising, highlighting the player’s development. Only time will reveal whether he will suit up for the Caps in the postseason.