Goalie Promotion Leaves Stingrays With Short End of the Stick

Charleston, S.C. – When Charlie Lindgren got injured in Friday’s loss to the Islanders, the Capitals had to promote Hunter Shepard from the Hershey Bears to start in Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators.

With Shepard up from the Bears, the Bears called on Mitchell Gibson from the South Carolina Stingrays, though he only played as a backup to Clay Stevenson in Saturday’s 4-0 win against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. That left the Stingrays, who are in second play in the Eastern Conference, with one Caps prospect, goalie Garin Bjorklund, and a 9-1 loss to the Orlando Solar Bears on Saturday at North Charleston Coliseum.

While it’s a stretch to blame a blowout loss on a goalie promotion alone, that’s the easiest explanation for a Caps reporter making an annual trip to check out the Washington’s ECHL affiliate, where young Caps goalies tend to flourish. In the loss, the Stingrays only gave up 22 shots, and put up 40.

Bjorklund was pulled after giving up four goals about half way through the first period, and Reid Cooper didn’t fare much better as he gave up five more. A Solar Bears player even attempted the Michigan shot late in the game but fumbled it. Josh Wilkins scored late in the game to avoid the shutout.

For the goalies in the minor leagues, a goalie injury in the upper levels is an opportunity for them to shine. Unfortunately, it can also expose issues. While the 9-1 loss can’t be pinned on them alone, it’s certainly a missed opportunity to step up when their number is called.