Hendrix Lapierre finally put an end to what was the longest active goalless streak in the NHL. The 23-year-old forward struck in the second period of Friday night’s game between the Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames, eventually spurring the Caps on to a 3-1 victory.
After John Carlson attempted a pass deep in Calgary’s zone, the puck deflected off players in front of the net right onto Lapierre’s tape. Lapierre then punched home a shot from the side of the net past Flames goaltender Devin Cooley.
“Yeah, it’s a good test of patience,” Lapierre said postgame. “Obviously, it’s been a while. I think faith in myself never went away. I know what I can do in this league, and, obviously, it had been a while, but the confidence has always been there. I trust the work that I put in on a daily basis. So, again, it feels good to get one. Just got to keep going with the consistency now and rack a couple wins up.”
The goal, Lapierre’s first since March 18, 2024, saw his teammates explode into celebration both on the ice and on their bench. Carlson nearly tackled Lapierre in the same way that TJ Oshie did when Lapierre scored his first NHL goal during the 2021-22 season. Lapierre stated he felt some of those same emotions on Friday night.
“They just told me that it might have been a little extra celebration on that one,” Lapierre said. “I felt it right away. Johnny kind of jumped into my arms, and it felt like I scored my first goal all over again. Don’t want that to happen too often. But no, it’s an awesome group of guys. I love these guys to death. I’ve said it a lot. I consider myself very lucky to go to battle with these guys pretty much every other day.
“I mean, if a guy didn’t score for whatever it is, 80-something games, I would have probably done the same thing. So, I love it. Johnny’s been great to me since he’s been here, and I think he was pretty happy, too. So it was just awesome, yeah.”
Coming into the contest, the Capitals were flailing, having lost four games in a row in regulation, including one to the league-worst Vancouver Canucks. Many of the team’s players credited Lapierre with providing them the spark they needed to find the game-winning goal later in the game.
“Oh, yeah, it’s actually was a big emotional boost for everyone,” Aliaksei Protas said. “I think if you take a look at the bench, it says everything, like how happy we are for him. He went through some tough streak, I will say. It didn’t go his way. But finally, when we really needed it, he stepped in and scored. So we’re so happy for him. And hopefully, just it goes from here.”
Protas would go on to score the game-winning goal 7:35 into the third period.
“Yeah, I mean, guys were going nuts on the bench,” head coach Spencer Carbery said. “Actually, by the end of it, because I think a timeout came right after it, there was a few guys that I heard, ‘All right, settle down, settle down.’ Lappy works so hard, and he cares so much, and he’s such a great teammate. Every guy in there pulls for him and is doing everything they can to help him be successful on the ice. And for that to come to fruition tonight and him to score a goal, guys were ecstatic for him on the bench.”
Lapierre’s last goal before Friday night’s also came against the Flames, giving him two goals in two career games against the club.
“I think you can tell from, I think, John’s reaction on the ice,” Logan Thompson said. “Everyone so happy for him, he works hard, he’s a he’s a great kid, and he’s deserved a couple more goals. So, happy he got the monkey off the back, and yeah, I think hopefully he can build off it, and just a big game for confidence from everyone in this room.”
“Yeah, he’s such a good kid, and he’s such a good person,” Tom Wilson added. “Not once did he come to the rink and be frustrated or take anything away from the team. Just a really good kid, he stuck with it, and it’s a huge goal for us at this point in the season.
“I’m happy for him. Him and Leno are my kid’s favorite players, so Teddy’s going to be fired up when he wakes up tomorrow and sees that Lappy scored a goal. Yeah, just an awesome person, and the guys love him, so it’s nice to see one go in.”
Lapierre will quickly get a chance to see if he can start a hot streak as the Capitals will be right back on the ice in the second half of a back-to-back against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. In two career games against the Oilers, Lapierre has recorded four shots on goal but has yet to dent the twine.
