The Washington Capitals were romped on the scoreboard and beaten up on the ice by the New York Rangers in their 8-1 loss on Sunday — except for one fun moment in the third period.
The lovable and undersized Hendrix Lapierre dropped the gloves with 6-foot-3 forward Noah Laba, earning a decisive victory in the first fight of his career at any level.
The bout occurred with 4:24 remaining in the third period, with the Capitals losing 7-1. Lapierre slashed Laba hard across the body as they battled for a loose puck in the corner. The 22-year-old Rangers centerman didn’t appear to appreciate the gesture very much and approached the 24-year-old Lapierre, asking him to dance. The Capitals’ 2020 first-round pick obliged, and away they went.
Lapierre, generously listed on his NHL.com page as six-foot, was unable to grab onto Laba’s collar, so he just started throwing punches. He landed about five of them, mostly to his opponent’s helmet, before the two were separated by officials.
Eighty-two percent of HockeyFights.com voters said Lapierre won the fight — the other 18 percent must be blind or Rangers fans — giving him a victory in his first official throwing of hands. The bout was also Laba’s first in the NHL. He last fought during the USHL preseason in 2020.
Lapierre and Laba’s do-si-do was one of three face-punching exhibitions in the game.
Jakob Chychrun started the fight night off with a bout against Will Cuylle after the Rangers forward leveled Ryan Leonard with a huge open-ice hit with 2:48 remaining in the second period.
With the Rangers up 5-1, Cuylle landed a big opening punch and won the fight handily.
On the next shift, Brandon Duhaime fought Rangers winger Tye Kartye 33 seconds later. Both players threw several punches before Kartye wrestled Duhaime down to the ice.
The two fights in the second period appeared to give more momentum to the Rangers, who scored once more before the second intermission. Adam Fox scored a power-play goal on the extra minor Duhaime was assessed for roughing.
The first combatant of the night, Cuylle, would go on to score his first career hat trick, as the Rangers essentially ended the Capitals’ playoff hopes.
