The 29-year-old goaltender's strong outing was spoiled by a tiebreaking goal with a minute to go.
WASHINGTON -- Everything was going well for Washington Capitals netminder Charlie Lindgren on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. With time winding down, he and his team were putting up a strong effort, and he had come up with some big saves to keep things even.
Then, with a minute to go, he went behind the net to play the puck, and as he whipped it around the boards, he saw it land perfectly on the tape for Matthew Tkachuk, who made him pay for it.
"I just went to play the puck, I tried to get it up and then wasn't able to," Lindgren said. "And then their guy picked it up in front and took a shot and it went off -- I don't know if it was their guy or our guy in front -- and tipped it in."
Tkachuk's 40th of the season secured a big 4-2 victory for the Panthers, who reclaimed the first Wild Card spot in the East. Washington, meanwhile, dropped its sixth straight contest.
Lindgren explained that he tried to elevate the puck as he wrapped it around, and that it staying on the ice made the situation worse.
"I tried," he said. "Sometimes you're able to get it up, sometimes you're not. On that one, I wasn't able to. He was able to pick it up clean; that's the tough part."
Lindgren, who made 33 of 36 saves (.916 save percentage) in his first game since March 21, said that the loss stung more considering the team played with heart and was close to forcing overtime, which doesn't matter when it comes to the standings but could have been a confidence booster.
"Losing like that, it's beyond disappointing, to be quite honest with you," Lindgren admitted. "It's a 2-2 game with a minute left, it was a nothing dump-in. Went out and played the puck. If I get that up, he's not able to pick that up clean and shoot it toward the net. Beyond disappointing, frustrating with the way that one ended."