Tynan Lawrence is finding his college-hockey groove at just the right time.
The lottery prospect for this year's NHL Draft made headlines at mid-season when he jumped to Boston University from Muskegon of the USHL.
After notching just one point in his first 10 games, the New Brunswick-born centre has four assists in his past seven, including a huge play Wednesday in a Hockey East first-round playoff game against Vermont.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the third period, Lawrence forced a turnover in a battle on the boards in the Vermont zone and then fed a great pass to New York Islanders first-round pick Cole Eiserman for the go-ahead goal in a 4-1 Terriers win.
"He's got a motor on him," Boston coach Jay Pandolfo told reporters after the game, per the Boston Hockey Blog. "He's on pucks, he's got a good stick (and) when he's moving his feet, he's hard to handle. I thought that was the type of play he's going to make — create a turnover and make a nice pass to the slot. That was a huge play at a critical time for our team."
Lawrence, 17, has taken a unique developmental path. He was playoff MVP in the USHL last season, resisting any temptation to go to Canadian major-junior hockey after a rule change allowing ex-CHLers to play in the NCAA starting this season — the QMJHL-leading Chicoutimi Sagueneens picked Lawrence 10th overall in 2024.
After an early-season injury this season, followed by 13 productive games with Muskegon, Lawrence decided to make the leap to a Boston U program he originally planned to join next season.
Lawrence feels he's made progress after taking some time to adjust to a new level of play.
"I feel like it's gotten a lot better," he told reporters Wednesday. "I feel like I've gained a lot more confidence (and) adjusting to my teammates, the pace of play and building that chemistry with guys in the locker room. Just getting better as every game goes on."
The Terriers will likely need more good play from Lawrence if they are to make a late run for an NCAA championship tournament spot. Boston, just one game over .500 in a disappointing season, is at UConn on Saturday in a Hockey East quarterfinal. The Terriers need to win their conference to make it into the 16-team national championship tournament.
Boston is also dealing with a weird situation with talented centre Sacha Boisvert, who did not play on Wednesday. Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier this month that the Chicago Blackhawks are planning to sign the first-round pick, who hasn't lived up to expectations after transferring from North Dakota, following this NCAA season.
Pandolfo didn't give a reason for Boisvert's absence on Wednesday.
No matter how that situation unfolds, many scouting eyes will be on Lawrence to see if he can rise to the occasion again at the most important time of the season.
"Just growing up, I always tried to be the hardest worker," he said. "Always move your feet, never take a shift off, never glide on the back check or something like that. I feel like it's just been a part of me and (has kept) growing inside of me as I've gotten older. I feel like it's one of the big parts of my game now."
Race to the finish
With just over a week remaining in regular-season play, there are several races worth watching across the CHL.
• The Prince Albert Raiders and Medicine Hat Tigers are tied for top spot in the WHL's Eastern Conference. Each team features an intriguing Canadian NHL team prospect — Tigers defenceman Bryce Pickford (Montreal Canadiens) is putting up historic numbers, while Raiders forward Braeden Cootes (Vancouver Canucks) will bid for a junior title after starting the season with a cup of coffee in the NHL and then being traded from Seattle to Prince Alberta in the WHL.
• Chicoutimi and the Moncton Wildcats have been close all year in the battle for top spot in the QMJHL. Heading into Thursday's action, the Sagueneens had scored a ridiculous seven or more goals in each of their past five games. Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxim Masse of the Sagueneens took the lead in the QMJHL scoring race following a seven-point game against Charlottetown last week.
• The Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires look like they will take until the final weekend of the season to determine first place in the OHL's West Division and likely the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Windsor suffered a huge blow when NHL Draft first-round prospect and towering winger Ethan Belchetz suffered a likely season-ending broken clavicle earlier this month.
Games to watch
Kamloops Blazers (29-22-7-5) at Kelowna Rockets (36-19-6-3), Friday, 10:05 p.m. ET / 7:05 p.m. PT
This game kicks off a home-and-home series between potential WHL first-round playoff foes. Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla scored his 40th of the season for the Memorial Cup host Rockets earlier this week.
Penn State Nittany Lions (21-12-2) at Michigan Wolverines (27-7-1), Saturday, 5 p.m. ET
Two national powerhouses square off in a Big Ten semifinal. Both teams will get berths in the NCAA national championship tournament. Canadiens prospect Michael Hage had four assists for Michigan on Wednesday in a 6-1 quarterfinal win over Notre Dame.
Brantford Bulldogs (44-9-8-2) at Soo Greyhounds (38-19-1-5), Sunday, 2:07 p.m. ET
Two OHL teams that are all-in. The Greyhounds, after acquiring star goalie Carter George from Owen Sound at the trade deadline, are trying to stave off the London Knights for a top-four spot in the Western Conference playoffs.
Drummondville Voltigeurs (37-17-3-3) at Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (37-17-5-1), Sunday, 3 p.m. ET
These teams and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are in a tight battle for first place in the QMJHL's Western Conference.
1:09
