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Rangers praised by rival goalie: ‘They’re going to be tough out this year’
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- Rangers praised by rival goalie: ‘They’re going to be tough out this year’
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Charlie Lindgren definitely had the New York Rangers number Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, but the Washington Capitals goalie also had plenty of praise for the Blueshirts after he shut them out 1-0 .
"I want to give credit to the Rangers and what they did tonight, they're a good hockey team, definitely, top to bottom. I thought they worked really hard, were well balanced, and they're going to be a tough out this year," he stated postgame .
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You could sense the respect Lindgren has for the Rangers, who already look the part of a team that's going to rebound this season after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs a year ago. The Rangers were tenacious, largely sticking to a very effective north-south style, and controlled puck possession most of the night, especially the first two periods.
New York out-shot and out-chanced the visitors in each period. That included a 13-5 shots advantage in the second period, when they had seven high-danger scoring opportunities and surrendered none, per Natural Stat Trick .
But Lindgren was nothing short of sensational, stopping all 35 Rangers shots in the early-season thriller at The Garden. The 31-year-old Capitals goalie saved a whopping 3.3 goals above expected, per MoneyPuck .
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Raising his game against the Rangers isn't new for Lindgren. He's 4-1-0 in five regular-season starts against them, with a 1.19 goals-against average, .957 save percentage, and two shutouts. In fact, the last time the Rangers were shut out in a game where they recorded more than 30 shots on goal before last night was Dec. 9, 2023. They had 31 shots that night, but were blanked by, you guessed it, Lindgren.
"I like playing here. It's a fun building to play in, obviously the history here. They've got a good hockey team and it was a good hockey game," he explained.
And is there anything more to it for him with the Rangers since he's the older brother of former Blueshirts defenseman Ryan Lindgren ? Especially after the Rangers traded the heart-and-soul blueliner last season?
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"I mean, I think there was a little extra for a while with my brother. There's still a little history here with my brother, so that's part of it," Lindgren admitted. "There've been some good moments against the Rangers, and some tough moments, going back to them sweeping us in the playoffs (in 2024). Through my brother, I ended up getting to know a lot of those guys, so I think that adds a little extra motivation."
Rangers 'going to win more games than we lose' with efforts like the one against Capitals
Lindgren's brilliance Sunday was encapsulated by one incredible save he made near the five-minute mark of the second period. The Rangers had a 2-on-1 with Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad bearing down on the Capitals net off the rush. Panarin zipped a pass from right to left, and Zibanejad unloaded a screaming one-timer which seemed ticketed to beat Lindgren short side.
Instead, Lindgren burst across the crease and gloved Zibanejad's shot and the game remained scoreless. Later in the period, Anthony Beauvillier scored the only goal of the contest, on a deflection past Jonathan Quick .
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"Two really good hockey players coming down on a 2-on-1, it's not easy," Lindgren explained. "Panarin made a nice play, a nice pass. Zibanejad got a lot on it. I felt like I got a nice piece of it with my glove. And for a second I saw kind of a flash like going into the net, I don't know what it was. But then I looked down in my glove and it was in my glove. I was pretty happy about that."
And what did Capitals coach Spencer Carbery think of that save?
"Unbelievable. Highlight-reel. They'll be showing that one for a long time. Against those players, too, 2-on-1, one-timer. That's as good as it gets from a goaltender," Carbery gushed after the game .
The Rangers weren't happy about not getting anything past Lindgren. But the overriding theme postgame from the Rangers circled back to what their nemesis, Lindgren, stated. If the Rangers play this relentless style, with the same conviction and intensity, they're going to be a really good team and a force in the NHL this season.
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"I thought from an effort standpoint, determination, our attitude — for me, this type of game is the kind of game that we're trying to build," Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said . "If we continue to play with that kind of an effort and that kind of focus and attention to detail, I think we're going to win more games than we lose, that's for sure."
When asked if this is the best the Rangers looked to date since he took over as coach, Sullivan responded quickly.
"Absolutely. I think this was the best game we've played all year, the most complete game we've played all year, against a really good team."
So, though their record says 2-2-0, the Rangers can "sleep better" — in the words of captain J.T. Miller — knowing that they're doing the right things and playing a solid brand of hockey. That bodes extremely well moving forward.
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