The Washington Capitals entered the 2021-22 season with a number of rookies adorning their lineup, including former first-round picks Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre, and former second-round pick Martin Fehervary.
With a number of injuries hitting the team in the first 10 games of the regular season, the addition of 2019 second-round pick Brett Leason has added a shot of youth to the roster. On Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers on a night when broadcasting duo Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin were honored for 25 years in the booth, the kids came up big.
With the Caps down 2-0 in the third period, the line of Lapierre, McMichael, and Leason cut the Flyers’ lead in half, with Leason scoring his second career goal on a beautiful assist from McMichael to make the game 2-1; John Carlson, the only veteran on the ice (Fehervary was also on-ice for the tally), picked up the second assist on the goal.
SURPRISE! pic.twitter.com/gTFIP7mcbI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 7, 2021
The goal marked Leason’s third point in his first four career games, and his second goal. McMichael’s assist marked his third of the season and his second consecutive game with a point.
Connor McMichael picked up the primary assist on Leason’s goal, his third assist of the season and second straight game with a point (1g, 1a).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 7, 2021
McMichael, Lapierre, Leason, and Fehervary have all scored their first NHL goals this season.
The kids are alright!@budlight | #BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/1KrFUVmSNE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 7, 2021
By Michael Fleetwood
The kids are certainly gaining a ton of valuable experience, and that is excellent, as long as the team remains competitive and near the top of the standings. If things begin to rank they may need to look at bringing a forward in.