Both Capitals goaltenders share a tight bond, and Kuemper is happy to see Lindgren seizing his chance.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — After both signing contracts to join the Washington Capitals last summer, goaltenders Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren have become good friends while helping revamp the crease. And though both are competing for starts, it's all a friendly battle, and Kuemper's happy to see Lindgren take his chance and run with it.
Kuemper spoke on Lindgren's play to start the season, citing how impressed he's been with his goaltending duo and how it's important for the team to have two strong options between the pipes.
"He's been on fire," Kuemper said of his goaltending partner, who has won four straight starts and has a .955 save percentage over that span. "It's been great for the team."
It's been a bit of a rocky start for Kuemper, who is 3-3-2 with a .892 save percentage and 3.02 GAA to start the season. And while Lindgren's first game of the season — a 4-0 loss in the season opener — didn't go according to plan, he has turned it around with a .940 save percentage and 2.01 GAA through five games.
Kuemper, who started 56 games last season, said it's a testament to the work that Lindgren, who signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract in July 2022 to back up Kuemper, has put in.
"I'm super happy for him. I mean, he works his butt off every day," Kuemper explained. "It's nice to see him having the success that he's been having."
Kuemper, who was off the ice first on Tuesday, could get a game back between the pipes on Wednesday as the Capitals play host to the Buffalo Sabres. But ultimately, the competition hasn't gotten in the way for the tandem, as they push each other to be better and, ultimately, have formed a strong bond on and off the ice.
"We just like to hang out and spend time together and talk. I can call him a really good buddy. He's someone that I can talk to a lot and we obviously see each other at the rink, spend a lot of time together as goalie partners," Lindgren said of Kuemper. "But it's been fun to watch him as a goalie and learn from him because he's awesome at what he does."