Capitals' Charlie Lindgren Speaks On Scrum With Senators, Potential Fight With Linus Ullmark: 'I Was Running Hot At That Point'

The Capitals goaltender recalls what led to his scrum against the Senators and discusses the intensity of the moment.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Charlie Lindgren’s not a fighter.

“I don’t think I’ve ever thrown a proper punch in my life,” the Washington Capitals goaltender said with a smile.

But on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators, Lindgren, with his team down 4-0 in the second period, had had enough when Ridly Greig crashed his crease.

“Obviously emotions are running high at that point,” Lindgren said. “The refs did a good job of making sure no one got taken advantage of but I was probably running hot at that point.”

It wasn’t just Greig’s invasion of the blue paint or the scoreboard that set Lindgren off, though; it was Greig going after Martin Fehervary.

“I didn’t want to see Marty getting taken advantage of. Just tried to step in and do my part, that’s it,” Lindgren said.

With Lindgren and Ottawa’s skaters tangled up behind his net, the 31-year-old netminder didn’t realize at first that Linus Ullmark was coming down the ice to join in the action.

Ultimately, though, Lindgren was never considering a goalie fight, and stressed that he thinks highly of the Senators goaltender.

“I have a ton of respect for Ullmark, we kind of grew up playing each other in the American League… At the end of the day, what happened is what happened, and move forward,” Lindgren said.

The feeling was mutual for Ullmark, who moreso went down not to fight Lindgren, but to be a presence for his teammates.

“I love Charlie,” Ullmark said Saturday. “I think he’s a heck of a goaltender. Obviously, he’s very fired up (in that moment), so he shows a lot of emotions. So when he goes in there and sticks up for his guys, I could stand waiting as well.”

At the end of the day, Lindgren is looking forward to bouncing back, and when it comes to the road ahead when it comes to scrums in front, the plan is to “play the cards” however they’re dealt.

“I’m not a fighter myself… When the intensity’s that high, things just kind of happen,” Lindgren shrugged. “You just play the cards you’re dealt, whatever was gonna happen was gonna happen.”