One moment, Logan Thompson was the last line of defense for the Washington Capitals in the NHL; the next, he was crumpled on the ice, his playoff fate hanging in the balance. In Game 3 against the Montreal Canadiens, a bone-rattling collision left fans gasping and Thompson limping off. Yet, just 48 hours later, the 28-year-old goalie was back in the net for Game 4 at Bell Centre on Sunday, proving he’s tougher than the toughest playoff hits—and giving Caps fans a reason to roar.

In his post-game presser, Thompson downplayed the drama with a wry grin. “I don’t know if you want to know about my life. Yeah, not your whole life, but the last 48 hours or so. Yeah, I mean that was, I kind of… Don’t talk too much. You know, I kind of got my belt rung a bit there”. Logan Thompson’s injury scare came late in Game 3 when teammate Dylan Strome, hustling back on defense, crashed into him just as Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky scored to make it 5-3. Thompson couldn’t put weight on his left leg, nearly collapsing before Strome, Brandon Duhaime, and athletic trainer Jason Serbus helped him off the ice.

He further said. “I think it could definitely could have been a lot worse, but you know, coming back from an injury. I had to do some protocol, you know, I kind of lost my balance getting up, but luckily you know, things were okay and I’m able to play, but you know, thankful that it wasn’t worse because yeah, it definitely, I think, looked a lot worse than it was.” Charlie Lindgren stepped in, stopping four of five shots, but the Capitals fell 6-3. Thompson’s status was uncertain. However, coach Spencer Carbery called him a game-time decision after he skipped Saturday’s optional practice but joined the morning skate on Sunday.

He described losing his balance after the hit, going through protocol, and feeling grateful to be back. “It was, I mean, it was just, you know, Stromer was backchecking, you know, I didn’t read the play well and I got caught with my head down and unfortunately Stromer didn’t see me there and yeah, it’s a crappy play to be a part of and it wasn’t intentional and just thankful that I’m able to play today.“

Thompson’s numbers speak louder than his understated words. He’s 2-1 in the series with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. According to MoneyPuck, he’s saved 2.7 more goals than expected, ranking fourth among playoff starters entering Sunday. That’s the kind of performance that keeps Washington in the driver’s seat.

Meanwhile, the Capitals were still without forward Aliaksei Protas, sidelined since April 4 with a skate cut to his left foot. Montreal’s goalie Sam Montembeault, also day-to-day, missed Game 4 after leaving Game 3 early following a chat with his team’s sports medicine director.

Thompson’s return wasn’t just about stats—it was about grit. From a scary moment to skating out for Game 4, he showed the heart of a playoff warrior. As the Capitals push forward, their goalie’s resilience is a story worth rooting for.

Logan Thompson appreciates Tom Wilson after recent Caps win

In a thrilling Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Bell Centre, the Washington Capitals rallied for a 5-2 victory against the Montreal Canadiens, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series. Brandon Duhaime’s two goals in a four-goal third period fueled the comeback, but it was Tom Wilson’s momentum-shifting body check that ignited the Capitals’ surge. The hit on Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier not only led to Duhaime’s game-tying goal at 6:39 of the third but also galvanized the team to dominate the final frame, setting the stage for a potential series-clinching Game 5 at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.

Despite nursing an undisclosed injury from a collision in Game 3, goaltender Logan Thompson was stellar, making 16 saves to anchor the Capitals’ defense. In the post-game press conference, Thompson didn’t hesitate to shower praise on teammate Tom Wilson, calling him an important part of the team. “I don’t even want to make his head any bigger, but he’s been huge for us,” Thompson said. “You know, he’s, you know, heart and soul of this organization, right? You know, when he’s making plays, big hits, we feed off that. Especially in our home rink, I think the whole building feeds off it. So, you know, he’s a huge part of this team and yeah, no, we love him”

Wilson’s physicality and leadership have been pivotal for Washington throughout the series. His perfectly timed hit in Game 4 not only disrupted Montreal’s rhythm but also energized the Capitals’ bench and fans. The play epitomized Wilson’s role as a catalyst, blending skill, toughness, and clutch performance to shift games in Washington’s favor. As the Capitals prepare for Game 5, Thompson’s words reflect the team’s reliance on Wilson’s intensity to carry them forward. With one more win, Washington can advance to the second round, and Wilson’s impact will undoubtedly be central to their push.