Capitals’ Charlie Lindgren exits game with upper-body injury

Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren left Friday night’s contest versus the Montreal Canadiens after sustaining an upper-body injury.

The incident occurred early in the second period when Capitals forward Brandon Duhaime shoved Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki into Lindgren. Lindgren was able to get up on his feet quick but was ultimately helped off the ice by training staff and eventually ruled out of the game.

Lindgren was a perfect 9 for 9 with saves before Capitals backup netminder Logan Thompson came in for relief. Washington lost the game 3-2 in overtime.

Lindgren has put together a 10-8-2 record with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage this season.

The Lakeville, Minnesota native was coming off the best season of his NHL career, posting a 25-16-7 record during the regular season, registering a 2.67 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage with six shutouts–tied for most in the league.

Lindgren was a big reason Washington was able to rally in the late stages of the season to snatch the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

If Lindgren is out for a while, Washington will need to recall either Hunter Shepard or Clay Stevenson from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Washington currently sits first in the Metropolitan Division with a 27-10-5 record and 59 points through 42 games.

The Caps are slated to face the Nashville Predators on Saturday and the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. An update on Lindgren’s status for those games will likely come tomorrow from Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery.