Charlie Lindgren just gave up the most embarrassing goal of his professional career. In fact, let’s just say he pulled A Hagelin.
Moments after Dylan Strome tied the Capitals and Lightning 3-3 in the third period, Lindgren came out to the play the puck in the left faceoff circle. As he felt pressure, the Capitals goaltender turned and backhanded the puck into his own net as he attempted to clear the biscuit down the opposite side.
Sorry to steal your bit, Steve, but folks, that’s a dangit.
Lindgren’s misplay came as the puck seemed to bounce on him and stand up on its side, screwing up his angle as he attempted to knock the puck away.
After the own goal, indgren collected the puck from the net and chucked it sassily into the Lightning crowd.
The goal was eventually awarded to Brayden Point, giving the Lightning forward a hat trick as he was the last player to touch the puck. Point did so while trying to collect a clear by Vasilevskiy along the side boards approximately 180 feet away from Lindgren.
Goal judges took several minutes to review the tape. TNT’s Darren Pang even suggested that initially he thought the goal was Vasilevskiy’s. Tampa fans threw their hats during the next break in play once Point’s name was announced.
The Capitals were somehow able to get past Lindgren’s miscue though, getting goals from John Carlson and Tom Wilson late to win 5-4.
Post game, Jakob Chychrun awarded Lindgren the team’s gold chain as player of the game.
“This guy, first NHL tuck tonight,” Chychrun joked.
Lindgren later spoke to reporters afterward and talked through the gaffe.
“It was obviously the worst mistake I’ve probably ever made in my life, in terms of on-ice [mistakes],” Lindgren said. “I know better than that. I can’t go backhand there. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
He then credited his teammates, “We went down then, 4-3. We could have, if we weren’t a close team, we could have been frustrated and kind of packed it in, mailed it in. And I knew there was no chance. This team is, we’re too good, too good of guys in the locker room here. And found a way to get it done. Honestly, it was a pretty sweet victory. I’m not going to lie.”
