Capitals Changing Goaltending Approach Down Final Stretch; What It Means For Lindgren & Thompson
The Capital will try and stick with one goaltender down the stretch. (Sammi Silber - The Hockey News)ARLINGTON, V.A. — After a season of alternating between Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson, coach Spencer Carbery is putting an end to the rotation for the Washington Capitals down the stretch.
Thompson will make his second consecutive start as he gets the call against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, which also signals the end of switching between goalies with 15 games remaining in the regular season.
"We want to have a good process for what we're doing... not just going back and forth and flipping every single game," Carbery said after Tuesday's morning skate. "I don't think you'll see that the rest of the way."
Thompson has the stronger of the stat lines for Washington, going 29-4-5 this season with a .916 save percentage and 2.32 GAA. Lindgren is 15-11-3 with a .899 save percentage and 2.65 GAA. However, stats don't tell the whole story, and both goaltenders have played relaible minutes for the team over the course of the season.
That said, though, Washington wants to start going with a No. 1 goalie and playing the hot hand with the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs approaching.
"We want to be as diligent as possible as a staff, of making sure that we're setting the group up for success," Carbery said, adding, "I think the easiest answer would be that you'd like to have one guy, but we have two guys that are very capable, and so that sometimes actually muddies the water a little bit."
Ultimately, Cabery said it's a "blessing and a curse" to have two strong goalies and have to decide to stick with one, but said that he's seen it work out best when there is a legitimate starter going into the postseason, citing how the Boston Bruins handled Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark as an example.
"I don't think there's a right answer, a cookie-cutter way to handle (it) when you have two really, really quality goaltenders," Carbery said. "But, we'll be digging into that decision-making process and making sure we're doing everything we can to make good decisions when it comes to who's starting in net."