Washington Capitals fans saw history at Capital One Arena with Alex Ovechkin’s 1,500th career NHL game. They also almost saw the first goalie fight on home ice in what feels like decades.
Late in the second period against the Ottawa Senators, Charlie Lindgren, who was already fuming, completely lost his marbles after being run into by Senators center Ridly Greig.
Greig was deposited hard to the ice by Martin Fehervary, but this was not enough for The Outlaw, who came out of the crease with his guns figuratively blazing.
As a melee broke out behind the net, Lindgren started taking pot shots at Greig with his blocker and David Perron. As the circle of violence made its way to the end boards, Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark had seen enough and skated down the entire length of the ice to join the party.
Unfortunately for us all, the two netminders were never really able to get free, and the referees pushed Ullmark out of the scrum, preventing the goalie fight.
📸: Alan Dobbins/RMNB
📸: Alan Dobbins/RMNB
A screaming Lindgren was certainly willing to engage after giving up 4 goals in two periods of work and a possible early shower.
“I mean, he’s a competitor, he wants to win,” Trevor van Riemsdyk said of Lindgren after the game. “The game wasn’t going the way we wanted, and it gave us a little spark, seeing him going after it like that.”
Somehow, only 10 penalty minutes were awarded to both teams. Lindgren and Ullmark both received two-minute minors for leaving the crease. Fehervary got a double minor for roughing Ridley Greig, while Greig got a single minor for roughing. The Senators ended up getting a two-minute power play which Drake Batherson eventually converted 55 seconds into the third period, making it 5-0.
Lindgren’s night turned sour 3:27 into the second period when Shane Pinto crashed into the Capitals backup goaltender and was awarded a goal after being pushed into the net by Jakob Chychrun.
With Lindgren incensed, the Capitals called a timeout and eventually challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal still stood after review.
On the Senators’ resulting power play for the failed challenge, Dylan Cozens scored making it 3-0 Senators. Nick Cousins then added his first goal of the season shortly after putting the Sens up 4-0.