Article content

SUNRISE, Fla. — Canadiens coach Claude Julien had some words of advice for goalie Charlie Lindgren before Monday night’s game against the Florida Panthers.

“It was funny,” Lindgren said about a chat during the morning skate at BB&T Arena. “Coach Julien said this morning: ‘Stop that first shot.’ So that was pretty funny. Fortunately, tonight I did that.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or In the Habs' Room: 'One of the best nights of my life' says Lindgren Back to video

Lindgren stopped the first shot and 30 more in his first NHL start this season as the Canadiens beat the Panthers 4-1 to clinch first place in the Atlantic Division.

Lindgren was called up from the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps last week after backup goalie Al Montoya suffered a lower-body injury, and Monday’s game was only the second in the NHL for the 23-year-old. In his NHL debut last April in Carolina, Lindgren was beaten on the first shot he faced before making 26 saves in a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes.

The Canadiens signed Lindgren as a free agent last March after he played three seasons of NCAA university hockey at St. Cloud State. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder was never selected at the NHL Draft and as a result said he plays with a chip on his shoulder. Monday night he was also playing with his IceCaps undershirt beneath his equipment. He has a 22-17-1 record this season in St. John’s with four shutouts, a 2.62 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.