In just a few hours, the Capital One Arena will host the opening round of the postseason matchup between the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens. Despite having the advantage of playing at home, the Capitals face concerns due to their recent form, finishing the regular season with a 4-6-0 record. In contrast, Montreal comes in with strong momentum, having gone 7-1-2 in their last ten games.
Still, Washington enters the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, giving them a solid edge. However, questions are surfacing within the team, particularly around their goaltending situation.
On social media platform X, reporter Tom Gulitti mentioned a curious statement from Charlie Lindgren, one of the Capitals’ goalies. Lindgren hinted playfully at possibly starting the game, saying “I might be playing.” He also pointed out that he typically stays on the ice longer during morning skates, unlike fellow goalie Logan Thompson, who usually exits earlier. This detail often serves as an informal clue about who will start in net.
Charlie Lindgren is going along with the subterfuge about the Capitals starting goalie tonight. Said “I might be playing” and he likes to “go long” at morning skates and Logan Thompson likes to “go short.”
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 21, 2025
Earlier this year, the Capitals signaled confidence in both Lindgren and Thompson by extending their contracts. But complications arose when Thompson suffered an upper-body injury on April 2, leaving his availability in question. As a result, it’s still unclear who will start in goal against the Canadiens.
Both goaltenders have had solid seasons. Thompson played in 43 games, achieving 31 wins, 6 losses, and 6 overtime losses. He maintained a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.49 and a .910 save percentage, with two shutouts. Lindgren, in his 39 appearances, recorded 20 wins, 14 losses, and 3 overtime losses. He had a 2.73 GAA, a .894 save percentage, and one shutout. While Thompson leads in most statistical categories, Lindgren has also been vital to the team’s success.
In other team news, Washington might see the return of an important player soon. Forward Aliaksei Protas recently sustained a lower-body injury after a skate blade cut his foot during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Initially ruled out on a week-to-week basis, Protas had been enjoying a standout season with 30 goals, 36 assists, and 66 total points, along with a team-high plus-40 rating.
Encouraging updates suggest Protas is making steady progress in recovery. Reports from practice noted that he skated with greater ease and speed, including backward skating and crossovers. He also passed pucks around briefly before being called off the ice by a trainer. While it’s uncertain whether he will return to play in this postseason series, his visible improvement provides optimism for the team.