exclusive New York Rangers Noah Laba tells The Post what he learned from first NHL fight — and how he wants to expand his game By Andrew Crane Published April 7, 2026, 8:02 p.m. ET New York Rangers center Noah Laba (42) fights with Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre (29) during the third period at Madison Square Garden on April 5, 2026. Danny Wild-Imagn Images When Noah Laba dropped the gloves with the Capitals’ Hendrix Lapierre late in the third period Sunday, it was an unfamiliar setting for the Rangers rookie center.
He’d be in a fight before, but a “long, long time ago, though,” he said Tuesday. It dated back to a preseason USHL game in 2020, when Laba was still with the Lincoln Stars and nearly two years away from getting drafted by the Blueshirts, according to HockeyFights.
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He’d consulted Matt Rempe a little bit on fighting earlier in the season, but just was mostly just messing around, Laba said. The bout — which lasted around 20 seconds, where Laba landed a couple right-handed jabs while otherwise holding on for dear life — against Lapierre showcased his inexperience, too.
“Definitely a lot to learn from and a lot to kinda take in,” Laba told The Post. “But it’s definitely nice to kinda get that first one out of the way, and, like, kinda understand what that feeling’s like — maybe next time actually throw a couple more punches.”
