ARLINGTON, VA — After an action-packed weekend saw Washington score 15 goals over a back-to-back, the Capitals will look to continue their hot streak against the Calgary Flames Tuesday night. Calgary native Logan Thompson will get the nod in net against his hometown team for the second time in just under a month, this time on his 28th birthday.
Thompson has excelled this season in games with personal meaning to him, whether against the Flames or his former Vegas Golden Knights. Head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters Tuesday morning that Thompson has managed to find an extra gear in games that pack an emotional punch, pointing to his win against the Flames on January 28 as a prime example.
“I think [he has],” Carbery said. “I do. The Vegas games come to mind. Calgary, in their building, I thought he was fantastic. We were just okay in that game. He faced some significant chances in that game and a bunch of them. So I do think he digs in a little bit.
“I mean, as we’ve seen all year, he competes — I don’t care if it’s Tuesday night, Sunday afternoon, he’s a competitor. But I think there is a little bit of juice to the hometown teams, his former team. I’ve seen that…And it’s his birthday.”
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Thompson grew up a Flames fan and still pays homage to Mikka Kiprusoff, his favorite childhood goalie, with a flaming skull design on his Screaming Eagle helmet.
Since making his Capitals debut against his former squad on October 15, Thompson has been in net for every game against either Calgary or Vegas and has come up big each time. He allowed two goals in each matchup against the Golden Knights, earning Third and Second Star of the Game in those performances, and got First Star of the Game honors at the Saddledome when he stopped 32 of 33 shots the day after signing a six-year contract extension.
“Vegas [was] pretty emotional for me, but I love coming home,” Thompson told Monumental Sports Network’s Al Koken after that win. “I cherish every moment that I get to play the Flames.”
Thompson has proven one of the league’s best goaltenders regardless of opponent this season. Per MoneyPuck, is 28.2 goals saved above expected rank 0.8 goals behind Connor Hellebuyck for first in the league, despite playing 12 fewer games, and has lost just two games in regulation all year. He will now look to maintain a 16-game point streak when he faces his childhood team in their sole trip to Capital One Arena this season.
