The NHL preseason is a time for teams to not only gear up for the regular season, but to trim their rosters down in preparation for an 82-game campaign while taking a look at both veterans and youngsters alike. One such youngster in camp for the Washington Capitals is 2020 first-round pick Hendrix Lapierre (22nd overall), who through two preseason contests, has four assists.
One such helper came on a goal by T.J. Oshie during the team’s 5-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. After the game, the veteran Oshie had strong words of praise for the 19-year old Lapierre.
Lapierre, who logged 13:39 of ice time and recorded three shots on goal, also recorded two assists during the game, the first of which came on Oshie’s goal at the 13:00 mark of the second period.
𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 pic.twitter.com/wwQaoosQKe
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 30, 2021
After the game, Oshie praised Lapierre’s play and pointed to how confident the Gatineau, Quebec native looked on the ice, telling The Washington Post’s Samantha Pell that, “The way he was carrying the puck out there, he looked like he was just playing free. Just making his reads, and a lot of times they were the right ones”.
T.J. Oshie on Hendrix Lapierre: “He’s confident in his game and I think it shows on the ice. The way he was carrying the puck out there, he looked like he was just playing free. Just making his reads, and a lot of times they were the right ones.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) September 30, 2021
Oshie also admitted that he wasn’t entirely prepared for a few plays that Lapierre made to him, and complimented the 19-year old’s “great game tonight”.
More Oshie on Lapierre: “He actually had two super nice plays to me in the middle and I didn’t quite read them fast enough … thought he did a great job. Good game for him tonight.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) September 30, 2021
Under a tweet by the Capitals regarding Lapierre’s age and slick pass up the middle to Oshie for the goal, Oshie poked fun at his and Lapierre’s age:
I could’ve swore I’m 34 but I’ll take it!! 😉
— TJ Oshie (@TJOshie77) September 30, 2021
The Capitals next play on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
By Michael Fleetwood
