Home / News / Charlie Lindgren’s been so good lately he won First Star of the Week over Tage Thompson who had a five-goal game

Charlie Lindgren’s been so good lately he won First Star of the Week over Tage Thompson who had a five-goal game

By Ian Oland

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December 12, 2022 1:17 pm

Charlie Lindgren (and his mustache from the Industrial Revolution) just received one of the biggest honors of his career.

The Capitals’ backup goaltender was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week for the week ending in December 11.

Lindgren, forced into the starting spot after Darcy Kuemper was elbowed in the head, has been sensational, leading the Capitals to a four-game winning streak.

Lindgren went 4-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .949 save percentage during the week. He led the NHL in both wins (4) and saves (111). The Capitals now sit one point behind a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Capitals posted video of the team learning of the award earlier in the day. The team gave “Chuckie” a loud ovation.

Lindgren won despite Tage Thompson having one of the biggest games in NHL history last week. Thompson scored five goals and had six points in the Sabres’ 9-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 7.

That huge night was not enough for Thompson to nab the award.

Congratulations, Charlie! We’re proud of ya!

Lindgren, Thompson and Nylander Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

NEW YORK (Dec. 12, 2022) – Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson and Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 11.

FIRST STAR – CHARLIE LINDGREN, G, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Lindgren led the NHL in both wins (4) and saves (111), going 4-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .949 save percentage to help the Capitals (14-12-4, 32 points) move within one point of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He stopped 28 shots, including all 11 he faced in the third period, in a 3-2 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 5. Lindgren then yielded one goal in each of his next two starts, making 29 saves in a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers Dec. 7 and 25 stops in a 4-1 win versus the Seattle Kraken Dec. 9. He finished the week with 29 saves in a 5-2 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets Dec. 11. The 28-year-old Lindgren, who signed with Washington during the offseason, has appeared in 12 total games in 2022-23, compiling a 6-3-2 record, 2.79 goals-against average and .910 save percentage.

SECOND STAR – TAGE THOMPSON, C, BUFFALO SABRES

Thompson shared the League lead in both goals (5) and points (7) across three outings to guide the Sabres (12-14-2, 26 points) to a 1-1-1 week. He posted 5-1—6, including 4-1—5 in the first period, in a 9-4 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets Dec. 7. In doing so, Thompson matched the NHL record for goals in one period, set franchise marks for goals and points in any period, and tied the Buffalo record for goals in a game. He then added one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 9 before being held off the scoresheet in a 3-1 defeat versus the Penguins Dec. 10. The 25-year-old Thompson has played in 28 total contests this season, ranking among the NHL leaders in goals (3rd; 21), shots on goal (3rd; 130), points (4th; 41), power-play goals (t-4th; 9) and power-play points (t-8th; 16).

THIRD STAR – WILLIAM NYLANDER, RW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Nylander registered 3-4—7 in three games to power the Maple Leafs (18-5-6, 42 points) to a perfect week as they extended their point streak to 14 contests dating to Nov. 12 (11-0-3). He failed to record a point in a 4-0 win against the Dallas Stars Dec. 6, but rebounded with 1-1—2 in a 5-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 8. Nylander then factored on all five Toronto goals in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Calgary Flames Dec. 10, producing 2-3—5 (including assists on both the tying and winning tallies) as part of his first career five-point performance. The 26-year-old Nylander, the eighth overall pick from the 2014 NHL Draft, has collected 17-16—33 in 29 total appearances this season to share eighth place in the League in goals and rank 17th in points.

Headline photo: Alan Dobbins/RMNB

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