Charlie Lindgren Slated to Start Thursday, Navigating Capitals' Goalie Platoon

Charlie Lindgren is expected to start Thursday's road game against Montreal for the Washington Capitals. The 30-year-old goaltender is coming off a remarkable 2023-24 season, posting a 26-16-7 record with a 2.67 GAA and .911 save percentage, even earning Vezina and Hart Trophy votes. This breakout performance was pivotal in the Capitals reaching the postseason. However, Washington has since brought in Logan Thompson, creating a potential platoon situation. Lindgren's best-case scenario involves starting 50 games, while a worst-case could see him and Thompson splitting starts based on performance. In his first year with the Capitals, he played a career-high 31 games (13-11-3, 3.05 GAA, .899 SV%) and previously served as Darcy Kuemper's backup, signing a three-year, $3.3 million deal with the team.