The Washington Capitals came into their game Monday night banged up and bruised. Four players had gotten hurt in the span of the week, and what was left of the roster was set to face an Ottawa Senators lineup that had gone 7-2-1 in their last 10. Six points out of a playoff spot and a week removed from the trade deadline, the Caps needed every point they could get.
But with so many of their teammates watching injured from the press box, the Capitals’ young players answered the call–few more so than Hendrix Lapierre.
Called up three days earlier, Lapierre had not played on NHL ice in more than a month before re-joining the lineup against Ottawa. He made a splash in his return to Washington, potting two goals for the first multi-goal game of his NHL career.
Lapierre wasn’t the only recent Hershey Bear to show up big against the Senators. Seven players on Monday nights’ roster have spent time in Hershey over the past two seasons, including Aliaksei Protas, who had a three-point night against Ottawa to earn First Star of the Game.
After witnessing his teammates’ potential up close, Lapierre knew the crew of Bears players was up to the challenge.
“When really important pieces go down, like it’s the case right now, you have to see other guys step up,” he said postgame. “And I know what those guys can do, the guys that played in Hershey, very talented, very hardworking. For me personally, there was never a doubt that the guys that played in Hershey could accomplish great things here and help the team win. So I’m super happy to see everyone come together and contribute. If they need us to step up–or whatever it is–we’re going to be there. We’re going to be ready.”
Head coach Spencer Carbery highlighted both players nights in his postgame press conference, calling Protas’ performance “one of his best games of the season.”
“He had three or four instances where he used his size and his frame and his skating to protect the puck to make a play, even when he had pressure and defenders draped all over him,” he explained. “And that’s—if he can develop that, it’s such a unique skill because of his size and his reach and his skating ability. And so I was really proud of him tonight for showing that and making a few plays. And he gets rewarded offensively or production wise with the goal and two assist.
“And Lappy coming in right away, steps into that fourth line center role. I thought that line was arguably our best line, start to finish. I think their shot attempts were astronomical, 17 to 5 or something around there. Had some good chemistry with Mal (Beck Malenstyn) and Kuby (Nicolas Aube-Kubel), good with their puck touches and he gets rewarded.”
Lapierre’s big night came just a week after he lit up Ottawa’s minor-league affiliate, notching his second career AHL hat trick against the Belleville Senators. He admitted postgame that the potential for another three-goal night crossed his mind, though he denied that the specific opponent played a part in his success.
“I think it’s not about the Senators,” he said with a smile. “It’s just, had a couple bounces, couple good games. So when I had two tonight, I was thinking about it a little bit, how fun it would be. But I’ll gladly take two in a 6-3 win, for sure.”
That month in Hershey, hat trick included, gave Lapierre time to work on both his play and his confidence before coming back to DC.
“[I concentrated on] just my overall game, just my consistency,” he told Monumental Sports Network’s Al Koken. “Obviously when I got sent down, I thought I played a couple bad games. But then that kind of got rolling and I was playing with a lot of confidence.
“I think when you go down there, it’s just hockey at the end of the day. right? So you just give your best whenever you’re on the ice. You try to be consistent. Play good on both sides of the ice. I know it’s really cliche, but I thought those couple weeks were beneficial and feel really good right now and happy to be here.”
Protas opened the night’s goal count 6:30 into the game, striking on a two-on-one with Anthony Mantha. Mantha got the puck underneath a laid-out Travis Hamonic, allowing Protas to score on his backhand.
Early in the second, Lapierre would etch his name onto the scoresheet just moments after Brady Tkachuk cut the Capitals’ lead to one. When a pass from Ethan Bear ricocheted off of Beck Malenstyn, Lapierre stood ready at the post to redirect it in.
Less than ten minutes later, Lapierre scored again thanks to yet another two-on-one with Mantha. Senators goaltender Joonas Korpisalo slid right to block Mantha’s lane, leaving Lapierre’s side of the net wide open despite a sprawling attempt to recover.
If Lapierre came back to Washington with something to prove, he made his point Monday night. And all the while, his teammates are cheering him on.
“He’s a great player, great guy, always works hard,” Protas told Koken after the win. “Leaves everything on the ice. Great attitude. So we’re all happy for him, wish nothing but keep going.”
