The Washington Capitals will be back on the ice at Capital One Arena against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night. When the puck drops, Hendrix Lapierre won’t be in the team’s lineup, as he’ll sit out as a healthy scratch.
Lapierre has played in 57 of the club’s 60 games so far this season, recording 10 points (2g, 8a). He has four of those points (2g, 2a) in his last nine games. The team’s 2020 first-round draft pick has struggled to receive consistent ice time from head coach Spencer Carbery, averaging just 8:28 per game.
In Wednesday’s 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers, Lapierre provided the primary assist on Rasmus Sandin‘s second-period goal.
Lapierre will head to the press box as the Capitals’ forward group is now fully healthy after the Olympic break. Connor McMichael was removed from injured reserve ahead of the win over Philadelphia, and Tom Wilson has recovered from his post-Team Canada illness.
The 24-year-old Lapierre is now the team’s only extra forward after Sonny Milano was waived and sent down to the AHL’s Hershey Bears earlier this week. He’ll be joined by defenseman Dylan McIlrath as the two healthy scratches on Friday night. John Carlson remains out with his lower-body injury.
Projected Capitals lineup for 2/27 game against Golden Knights
Logan Thompson was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate, meaning he’ll make the start against his former team. In two prior games against Vegas, Thompson is 2-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.
The Capitals have not yet played the Golden Knights this season. Vegas currently sits first in the NHL’s Pacific Division with a 28-16-14 record and will have Team USA Olympians Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin back in their lineup against the Caps.
