Thompson Takes the Crease: Capitals Name Starting Goaltender as Spencer Carbery Ends Alternating Starts

Carbery didn't mince words after camp, and honestly, it felt refreshing. The coach said the quiet part out loud: Thompson earned the net, and the team won't juggle starts just to keep a pattern alive.

That's not shade at Charlie Lindgren; it's simply recognizing momentum and leaning into it, like good teams do when windows open.

Thompson's resume backs the vibe with serious substance. He stacked 31 wins in 43 appearances last season, posted a 2.49 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage, and finished fourth in Vezina voting.

The underlying stuff sings too, with 26 goals saved above expected that tilted tight nights Washington's way and helped fuel a top-of-the-East push.

Now, about Lindgren: the man's a gamer. Both guys re-upped last season, which says plenty about the trust in the room. Thompson inked six years at $35.1 million, Lindgren signed for three at $9 million, locking down the most volatile position with two right-catching competitors who push each other without drama.

That's why this choice feels smart rather than splashy. You ride the hot glove, but you don't burn it out, and you keep Lindgren ready for those gnarly back-to-backs or momentum resets.

It's a balancing act that good benches master: give your number one the rhythm he craves, keep your number two sharp, and let the skaters breathe knowing the crease isn't a nightly coin flip.

If you watched Thompson settle games last year, you saw a goalie who quieted scrambles and swallowed rebounds. That settles benches, and it lets the Caps play on the front foot instead of turtling late.

I'm not carving the parade route here, but giving the net to the guy who dragged high-danger chances back to earth is the kind of boring brilliance contenders embrace.