Brad Penner – USA TODAY Sports
The New York Rangers are heavy favorites to defeat the Washington Capitals in their Eastern Conference first-round series, but even the underdog team has at least one thing they want to do.
Charlie Lindgren has emerged as the bonafide No. 1 NHL goaltender this season, keeping the Capitals' playoff dreams alive and making it to the postseason. So Washington's hopes of upsetting the Rangers in the first round rest squarely on Lindgren.
“I think they're a pretty healthy underdog. There's only one path to victory for the Capitals and that's Charlie Lindgren,” ESPN hockey writer Greg Wiszynski told Forever Blueshirts and Sports Notes this week. Ta. “If he continues to play lights out and steal games, especially on the road, they'll at least have a chance to be a puncher.”
The Rangers and Capitals split the season series, with each team winning two on home ice. Lindgren was a big reason for that. Lindgren started three games against the Rangers this season, posting a 2-1-0 record with a 1.35 goals-against average and .955 save percentage. He shut out the Rangers 4-0 on December 9, stopping all 31 shots, and led the Capitals to a 3-2 victory on January 13.
Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren's older brother made 29 saves but lost a duel to Igor Shesterkin in a 2-1 loss to the Capitals on Jan. 14 at Madison Square Garden. Ta.
So the Rangers know they'll have their hands full in this best-of-seven series that begins Sunday afternoon at MSG.
Related: 3 Rangers keys in Game 1 against Capitals
Rangers must settle Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren in first round of series
At first glance, Lindgren may not seem like a big difference-maker for the Capitals. That's because the Capitals' goal differential during the regular season was a dismal -37, the worst of any playoff team.
But if you look closely, you'll see that much of that is down to the Capitals' near-ineffective offense and middling defense.
In other words, who knows how bad things would have been for Washington had Lindgren not replaced Darcy Kuemper as the No. 1 goaltender and saved Washington's season?
The 30-year-old was a backup option with the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues and Capitals before this season, appearing in just 60 games in seven NHL seasons. However, he had an outstanding performance in the 2023-24 season, posting 25 wins, 16 losses, and 7 losses, a goals against average of 2.67, a save percentage of .911, and tied for the league lead with six shutouts.
Lindgren was 8th among all goalkeepers (minimum 50 games played) in save percentage and 9th in GAA. His numbers are tied with those of former Vezina Trophy winner Shesterkin, who tied him for fifth in save percentage (.913) and placed him seventh in GAA (2.58). Shesterkin played behind a much better team that won the Presidents Trophy and posted a 36-17-2 record.
Lindgren started 19 of the final 22 games as a key player as the Capitals needed every point they could to win the final game of the regular season and advance to the playoffs. In that span, he posted a 12-6-2 record, a 2.39 GAA, a .919 save percentage, and three shutouts. The team's 12 wins from March 7 to the end of the season were the most in the NHL.
Lindgren backstopped three must-win goals to close out the season, allowing a total of three goals.
But coach Kenny Albert says there are “no holes” in the Forever Blueshirts' lineup, and is there a hot enough goaltender to lead the Capitals to an upset against the Rangers in the first round? Never say “never.” Because history shows us that teams can find ways to inspire their goaltenders, improve their play, and surprise the favorites in the postseason.
However, Wiszynski feels that is unlikely in this series.
“They were able to make the playoffs, and I give them full credit for that because it was a very close game,” Wiszynski said. “But ultimately, they will be swept in this series. If they can win this series, it will be one of the biggest upsets since Columbus beat the Lightning (in the first round in 2019).” There will be one.
“I would never count them out… They're a proud bunch, they're a stubborn bunch, but they're the clear underdog in this series.”
