Logan Thompson Responds To Trying To Fight Frederik Andersen; Why Refs Aren't Letting Goalies Drop The Gloves
The Capitals have seen two near goalie fights over the last two weeks.
The Washington Capitals have now seen two almost-goalie fights take place over the last two weeks, with Logan Thompson the latest to try to go with the netminder at the other end of the ice.
During Tuesday’s win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Thompson dropped his glove and blocker and waited at center ice, challenging Frederik Andersen to go after the Hurricanes goalie got involved in a scrum behind his net.
For Thompson, though, there was “no animosity” meant in the challenge.
“I have tons of respect for Andersen as a goalie... I grew up watching him,” Thompson said postgame, adding, “Just one of those things where you see your guys a little outnumbered there and wanted to try and come and help out.”
It was a similar situation that Charlie Lindgren got into back on Oct. 25, when Linus Ullmark skated the length of the ice to go toe-to-toe with him after he got involved in pushing and shoving with the Ottawa Senators behind his net.
“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.
“I’m not a fighter myself. I don’t think I’ve ever thrown a proper punch in my life… When the intensity’s that high, things just kind of happen. You just play the cards you’re dealt, whatever was gonna happen was gonna happen.”
Lindgren applauded the referees for getting things under control, and Thompson didn’t delve further into the potential scrap. Ultimately, though, there’s a reason that the fights are being shut down.
The last true goalie fight took place back in 2020 beore the COVID-19 pandemic, when Mike Smith and Cam Talbot exchanged fisticuffs during the “Battle of Alberta.”
Since then, there have been a number of times goalies have tried to go, including Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Binnington in 2023, Jeremy Swayman and Darcy Kuemper last March and these last two instances involving both Capitals netminders.
Ultimately, the officials have been trying to keep goalie fights out of the game because of the risk involved. It’s hard to replace a goaltender, so stopping fights prevents any injuries to either team’s netminder.
A goalie’s full set of equipment also weighs between 40-50 pounds, and with all the bulk, the masks and pads involved, it constitutes a bigger risk when goalies exchange blows, especially since they have to take their masks off before the scrap and can fall and hit their heads on the ice.
Washington won 4-1, and Andersen later left the game with injury following a collision with Jordan Staal in the third period.