Logan Thompson has arguably been the Washington Capitals’ MVP early this season. And Saturday, his “low light” of the year was more of a triumph than anything else.

Thompson surrendered more than two goals in a game for the first time during the 2025-26 campaign, surrendering 3 goals to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Capitals’ 3-2 loss. The performance ended Thompson’s “Quality Start” streak at 9. Per Money Puck, Thompson posted -1.31 goals saved above expected against the Lightning — the first time he’s been in the negative with the stat this season.

Before Saturday night, Thompson’s last time giving up more than 2 goals was when he was blitzed for 5 by the Carolina Hurricanes on April 2 during the 2024-25 campaign.

Logan Thompson’s ‘Quality Start’ streak

Date
Opponent
Goals allowed
Goals Saved Above Expected

Oct. 8
vs. BOS
2
0.36

Oct. 11
@ NYI
2
1.39

Oct. 14
vs. TBL
2
0.33

Oct. 17
vs. MIN
1
0.77

Oct. 21
vs. SEA
1
0.66

Oct. 24
@ CBJ
1
4.00

Oct. 28
@ DAL
1
1.62

Oct. 31
vs NYI
2
0.05

Nov. 5
vs STL
1
1.3

Nov. 8
@ TBL
3
-1.31

After the game, Thompson was hard on himself for his performance, putting focus on the Lightning’s third goal where Brandon Hagel cut to the middle of the ice and beat the Capitals netminder with a snap shot from between the circles.

“I think from puck drop, I thought we came out hard,” Thompson said. “I think their first two goals were fortuitous bounces. The second one goes off a knee. Unfortunately, third one was a mental error. [Hagel] almost seemed like he fanned on it or whiffed on it, and it went off speed. It just handcuffed me. It’s unfortunate that ended up being the game-winner because I thought overall – from the team standpoint, even the goalie standpoint — I felt good tonight.

“Unfortunately, that’s sometimes how hockey works, and I’ll take responsibility for that third one. It happens: just, error and in the back of the net. Ended up being the game winner. Sucks, but a lot of good things to go along with it.”

Despite Thompson’s string of excellent play during the streak, the Capitals have only won six of those nine games. And Saturday’s failing against Tampa Bay marked the team’s sixth loss in their last seven games.

“We’re in a little bit of a slump right now, right,” Thompson said. “We all know that. We’re adults here, and we just need to keep working ourselves out of it. We know we’re not going to be perfect every day. Like I said, for tonight’s game, we were one little error away from getting at least a point in overtime, and unfortunately, it was my error. I’m going to own that, and I’ll be better next game.”

On the season, Thompson is now 6-4-0 with a 1.45 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Both latter marks still lead all number-one netminders in the NHL.