Charlie Lindgren might be better than Darcy Kuemper
The Washington Capitals got a huge win last night over the first place in the Metropolitan Division New York Rangers. A big factor of the win was Charlie Lindgren who was lights out as usual with 31 saves and his second shutout as a member of the Capitals.
It was also the fourth shutout of Lindgren’s career. Nothing divides the Caps fanbase quite like goaltending so now there’s social media debate on whether or not Lindgren is better than Darcy Kuemper. Not just debate but a bunch of negativity as well when it came to mention of Kuemper. We’re not going to do that here but instead look at the numbers.
What makes Lindgren’s good start to the season most impressive is both of his shutouts came against really good teams. In addition to Saturday over the first place team in their division, they shutout the Vegas Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup last season.
Lindgren’s record improves to 6-2-1 with a 2.34 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Kuemper, who the Caps also landed in the 2022 offseason as the big free agent prize, cost the Caps just a tad five million a season for the next four seasons.
Lindgren costs the Caps just $1.1 million with his contract set to expire at the end of next season. Kuemper is 5-6-2 with a 3.22 goals against average and an .887 save percentage. He made just two saves on five shots in the Caps 6-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes Monday. That included the first two of those shots going in the back of the net.
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With the Caps usually alternating goalies on back to back nights tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks is an important game for Kuemper. If he gets cold while Lindgren gets hot those debates will heat up more on social media.