Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Capitals Make Goalie Decision Before Key Penguins Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 12, 2026 1:17 PM ET

The Washington Capitals enter Sunday’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins facing a narrow path to the postseason, with only two games remaining on their schedule.

After keeping their hopes alive with a win over the same Penguins on Saturday, the Capitals must keep earning points to remain alive in the Metropolitan Division race.

Washington sits fifth in the division with 91 points, trailing third-place Philadelphia by three points and fourth-place Columbus by one point.

With four points still up for grabs, the Capitals cannot afford a regulation loss without risking elimination, depending on what the Flyers and the Blue Jackets do in their respective games.

The situation entering Sunday is also complicated by recent injuries, with Washington dealing with issues in net and across the lineup.

Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson (48) takes shots during warm-up.David Kirouac-Imagn Images

According to head coach Spencer Carbery, per Sammi Silber, goaltender Charlie Lindgren hasn't been able to recover in time for Sunday's outing.

That means fellow netminder Logan Thompson will start against the Penguins, marking his second consecutive start in the back-to-back set with no rest days between.

Thompson, who has not previously started both legs of a back-to-back this season, enters with a 30-21-6 record, a 2.48 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

Rasmus Sandin and Pierre-Luc Dubois are game-time decisions, per Spencer Carbery.

Logan Thompson will start with Charlie Lindgren still day-to-day. Clay Stevenson will back up.

No other lineup changes
— Sammi Silber (@sammisilber) April 12, 2026

The decision also means Lindgren, who is dealing with an upper-body injury, will miss his third consecutive game.

The Capitals lost two more players on Saturday, as both Pierre-Luc Dubois and Rasmus Sandin exited the first game against the Penguins with upper-body injuries. They are game-time decisions for Sunday.

Washington will close out the regular season Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets in what could be a win-and-in game for both franchises, depending on how they arrive at it.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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