In seasons past at Stars and Sticks you’ll see us writing about the top 3 players after a big Washington Capitals win. We’ll call them either the top 3 heroes, winners or studs. But this is a different one after their 4-0 goose egg showing against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.
It was a competitive game in the opening 20 minutes. In the first 10 minutes of that contest the Capitals looked like the better team as they were applying the pressure. The final 50 minutes, it was “same old Caps” after a brutal season last year.
So here were the top 3 duds from last night’s loss with the second one being a complete shocker for my critics:
#3 Charlie Lindgren
It wasn’t that Charlie Lindgren was the reason the Caps lost the game last night but the way he played in the second and third period didn’t look good. After Darcy Kuemper and his wife welcomed their first child Thursday night, Lindgren knew he was very likely to get the nod for opening night.
Lindgren allowed three goals in the second period from the Penguins two biggest threats in Sidney Crosby (twice) and Evgeni Malkin. His night finished with 31 saves on 35 shots. Not a good night.