In a bizarre turn of events during Wednesday night's NHL matchup between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning, Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren accidentally scored on his own net. With the game tied 3-3 in the third period, Lindgren retrieved a loose puck behind his net, intending to pass it to a teammate. However, his backhand attempt went awry, sending the puck directly into the Capitals' goal, giving Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead.
The unexpected goal momentarily stunned the Capitals, but they rallied remarkably. Just minutes after Lindgren's mishap, John Carlson netted his third goal of the season, tying the game once again. Later in the period, with Washington on a power play, Tom Wilson scored the eventual game-winner, securing a 5-4 victory for the Capitals. Despite the win, the own-goal undoubtedly added an unusual blemish to Lindgren's stat line, increasing his goals-against average for the season.
Lindgren, who led the NHL in shutouts last season with six and finished eighth in Vezina Trophy voting, has had a strong start to his career. While this own-goal was a moment he’d likely prefer to forget, the Capitals' resilience and eventual victory helped soften the blow.
