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Montreal Canadiens: Can Charlie Lindgren backup Carey Price full time?

By Omar L

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 11: Charlie Lindgren #39 of the Montreal Canadiens guards his net during warmups prior to a game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 11, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 11: Charlie Lindgren #39 of the Montreal Canadiens guards his net during warmups prior to a game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 11, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 06: Charlie Lindgren Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Lindgren’s debut game in the 2015-17 season stopping 26 of 28 shots for .929 save percentage is still in the minds of most fans. Despite the cautionary tale of Dustin Tokarski, many thought there was a future for Lindgren in the NHL behind Price. Even though his numbers in the AHL weren’t ideal, he managed to give the team in front of him an opportunity each time he was called upon.

This was mostly seen in the 2017-18 season when goaltending was up to Lindgren and Niemi. The former St. Cloud State goaltender went 4-8-2 in his 14 NHL games that year, but none of those losses could be pinned on him. He kept the Habs in it as long as he could before defensive breakdowns got the best of him. Not to mention the fact that he rarely got any goal support that season being on the wrong side of five shutouts.

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His call-up this year wasn’t as comforting as the one from two years ago. Lindgren played six games, getting two wins and four losses while sporting a .888 save percentage.

There were some impressive nights for Lindgren, including back-to-back wins against the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes, which saw a last-minute glove save to force overtime for the Habs, and others that weren’t as good.

At the moment, the backup position is in Lindgren’s point-of-view. The Habs still have the option of hitting the open market again and signing another player they feel can handle the gig. It’s not only about starting on the second-half of back-to-backs. The Montreal Canadiens need someone who can get the off mid-week start to give Price rest.

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