ARLINGTON, VA — After the Washington Capitals clinched a playoff spot in Game 82 against the Philadelphia Flyers last week, they celebrated with a rousing rendition of Eric Church’s “Talladega” in the locker room. Head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that the tradition started midway through the season and center Dylan Strome suggested that it centered around goaltender Charlie Lindgren, but both stayed mum when pressed for further details.
“You know what? I’m going to bite my tongue,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery told RMNB ahead of Game One. “I — normally, that’s a players’ thing. If they want to comment on that, they can. But I’ll leave that alone. That’s their thing.”
“Oh, I think it’s just a good song,” Strome said. “I think you’re going to have to ask Chuckie on that one. He’s got the scoop on it.”
While Lindgren’s skills in net have become a crucial part of the Capitals’ success this season, the key to the mystery lay in his off-ice talents. As it turns out, the Caps aren’t listening to Eric Church at all — they’re singing along to a cover performed by none other than Lindgren himself.
Hendrix Lapierre divulged the story during a radio interview on NHL Morning Skate. After praising Lindgren’s goaltending, he touched on the team’s postgame ritual.
“After the games, we get to all sing his song,” he said. “It’s a little cover that he made on the guitar, so we all sing together and it makes for a pretty good moment.”
Turns out, Lindgren’s version of the song dates back to his days at St. Cloud State, when he and then-teammate Ben Storm, a fellow singer and guitar player, recorded a series of country covers for YouTube as the “Michisota Boys.” Less than a month after Lindgren made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens, he and Storm released their version of “Talladega,” complete with cowboy hats and flannel shirts.
When asked about the tradition on Thursday, Lindgren was initially cagey but eventually confirmed the video’s existence.
“That’s impressive that you found it — it’s not even under my name,” he told RMNB. “So kudos.”
Lindgren is arguably the Capitals’ most valuable player of the 2023-24 campaign despite entering the season as the team’s presumed backup goaltender. He started in 28 of the Capitals’ 35 games after the All-Star Break — earning a record of 15-10-3 in those games — tied for the NHL lead of six shutouts, and ended the year with a .911 save percentage.
As Lindgren’s on-ice impact grows, he’s enjoyed leaving his mark on the locker room as well.
“Yeah, obviously it’s been fun,” he said of the “Talladega” tradition. “It probably started a couple months ago. I think obviously the guys get a kick out of it, I get a kick out of it, my buddy Ben got a kick out of it, so it’s been a funny little deal.”
Still, the question remains — how did the virtually unknown eight-year-old country cover make it into the Capitals’ dressing room? Not even Lindgren was willing to give up that story.
“That’s a good question,” he said. “I think you’ve got to talk to the guy sitting next to me on the plane, Tommy Wilson, about that.”
By that point, Wilson had already left the locker room and was not available for questions. Alas.
As the Capitals and Rangers take their series to Washington, the Caps will try and upset the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners after falling in their first two games. If they get their wish, they’ll be singing “Talladega” again soon.
S/T to Caps Radio 24/7 host Ben Raby for alerting us to Lapierre’s interview.
