Last season, Lapierre scored the goal that forced overtime in Game 7 of the finals against Coachella Valley. It was his third goal and sixth point in 20 playoff games. This time around, as the Bears prepare for a rematch against the Firebirds that begins Friday in Hershey, Lapierre is tied for the league lead in postseason scoring, with 15 points in 14 games.
The Capitals sent Lapierre back to Hershey for these playoffs because they wanted him to produce. Lapierre has welcomed the challenge, and while he tries not to think about it too much, he knows that living up to Washington’s expectations now would probably be his ticket to staying with the Capitals — and not returning to Hershey — come fall.
“I would like to see offense down there,” Washington General Manager Brian MacLellan said after the Capitals’ season ended. “It appeared to me that he got a little more confident here as we went on. … Going down there, with some confidence, knowing that he could do it at this level, I would hopefully like to see him score some goals and make some great plays and help that team in the playoffs.”
That’s exactly what Lapierre has done.
“I feel different than I’ve ever felt before,” Lapierre said, “and I embrace the challenge.”
When the Capitals drafted Lapierre with the 22nd pick in the 2020 draft — after trading up two spots — there was real risk associated with the selection. Lapierre played just 19 games in his draft season, and it wasn’t because of the coronavirus pandemic that shut down junior hockey in March 2020.
Multiple injuries, first thought to be concussions before Lapierre was diagnosed with a neck injury that was causing his symptoms, put his future in doubt as he headed toward the draft. He was medically cleared in April 2020 after his final injury in November 2019, but because of the pandemic, he didn’t return to game action until just four days before the draft that October.
“When my junior career ended, I wasn’t really satisfied with what I did,” Lapierre told The Washington Post last month. “I didn’t play many games, and I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be. But I like to think that everything happens for a reason. I’ve learned from that. I feel really good now. I learned to take care of my body and stuff.
“I do think about the draft sometimes and how it all played out. How the Caps kind of, at the time, took a chance on me. I want them to obviously feel good about that pick.”
Four years later, Lapierre is on the verge of being a full-time NHL player. His 51 games in Washington this season were partially driven by the Capitals’ needs, especially after Nicklas Backstrom stepped away in November and Evgeny Kuznetsov was traded in March, but Lapierre showed flashes of being an impactful, play-driving center who can be a key cog of Washington’s future.
His goal in Game 4 of Washington’s first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers was a highlight-reel moment, and the skills that enabled him to pull it off — speed, confidence and high-end ability with the puck — are the core attributes that will carry him in the NHL.
‘He’s one of our leaders’
In Lapierre’s first game back with the Bears, just three days after Washington was eliminated, he scored a goal less than four minutes in. The next game, it was a goal, an assist and a plus-3 rating at the end of the night. Hershey has a veteran-laden lineup, but even at just 22 years old, Lapierre has established himself as one of the Bears’ top players — and is becoming a leader within the team.
“He’s producing for us right now. That was an expectation,” Bears Coach Todd Nelson said after the first game of the Eastern Conference finals. “We expected that. The organization expected that from him. He understands that he’s still a young guy, but he’s one of our leaders. He has to relish the fact that he’s going to be the go-to guy.”
Lapierre scored one goal and racked up six assists in a seven-game grind against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. The goal, which came in the first game of the series, again showed off his speed, skill and confidence with the puck — and his determination to be the player who makes a difference.
“He’s special,” Hershey forward Mike Vecchione said. “Just wheels the puck and skates by guys. I think he caught the goalie a little off guard with that shot, snuck it five-hole. You can just see the way skates with the puck. He’s cutting, making guys move one way or the other, and he’s just buzzing by them. If he can continue to do that, it’s going to obviously put a lot of eyes on him.”
Added center Garrett Roe: “He’s just kind of driving it. Everyone sees what kind of player he is. He’s driving the game and continuing to play with his speed. His speed is his biggest asset, and then he’s got that confidence right now.”
Last season, Lapierre wanted to make an impact but knew that, as a rookie, his main focus was to learn the league and settle in. This season, his mentality has changed.
No longer content with just not making mistakes, he wants to be the player who drives Hershey to another Calder Cup — then graduate to the Capitals and not look back.
“I want to be the difference-maker,” Lapierre said. “I want to help the team win as much as I can. … I love it here in Hershey, but obviously my goal is for this time to be the last time I’m here. I want to make the most of it. I want us to go all the way. I want us to have success. It’s been a fun couple years, and I really enjoy every second here, but I want to make the jump.”
