Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
With the Washington Capitals having lost captain Alex Ovechkin after one shift, with two forwards and a defenseman already out of the lineup, the team would require grit and grind from the rest of the lineup to find a way to beat the New York Rangers.
However, the second period of play would see a scramble in front of Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek turn into a multi-player pile as the two teams saw tempers flare.
With the Caps down 3-2 having allowed three consecutive goals from the Blueshirts, the Rangers contained the puck in the offensive zone. After Vanecek made a save on a Rangers shot.
This is the best angle to see the kick by Buchnevich that Wilson was reacting to. Not saying it was on purpose or with malice intent, but he clearly kicks at Vanecek. For some reason no one is showing this angle. pic.twitter.com/4SVCwWiNhv
— Drew Reynolds (@dreynoldsawl) May 4, 2021
The crease became crowded as players began to pile on one another. The Capitals’ Tom Wilson found himself in the middle of it, and delivered a punch to Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich, which resulted in retaliation from multiple New York skaters.
Things are getting heated between the Capitals and Rangers👀 pic.twitter.com/5z1uACdVXi
— 12oz Sports (@12ozSports) May 4, 2021
The penalty list for the scrum was lengthy:
Tom Wilson – 10 min Game Misconduct, 2 PIM for Roughing, 2 PIM for Roughing
Brenden Dillon – 2 PIM for Roughing
Artemi Panarin – 2 PIM for Roughing
Pavel Buchnevich – 2 PIM for Roughing
As one might expect, the reaction to Wilson’s involvement in the scrum drew the ire on social media:
Look at this f*cking 🤡
🎥 @MSGNetworks pic.twitter.com/W9zCRN8OJr— Here’s Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) May 4, 2021
Tom Wilson once again crosses the line, as he goes after Pavel Buchnevich in the crease after play is stopped #NYR pic.twitter.com/o8aSjcLWEV
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 4, 2021
Tom Wilson is a psychopath. This time is the last time. Ban him for life, arrest him #Capitals #Psycho pic.twitter.com/nxslWXbuOO
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) May 4, 2021
The Capitals ended the night in a decisive 6-3 victory, with Wilson adding an empty-net goal to seal the win for the Caps.
@VallysView just went off on Tom Wilson during the intermission #NYR pic.twitter.com/cvCA2YZHdr
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) May 4, 2021
Capitals Head Coach Peter Laviolette commented on the dustup after the game, saying:
“I thought it was just a scrum, like physical play. There was something going on, originally with the goalie and the jamming at the goalie and we had a bunch of players jump in there. Happens a lot.”
By Michael Fleetwood
Tom Wilson is like the hot chick that won’t date you, so you get pissed and call her names. But if she called you one night….
Any good thing Wilson does is almost right away cancelled out by doing something stupid! Couldn’t find someone his size to take on? Second coming of Sean Avery!!
Panarin grabbed him around the neck. I’m fighting back if someone grabs me around my neck, regardless of size.
Worse than that really, he had as many as 3 Rangers on him at once multiple times during the scrum (with no 3rd man in called). How dare he defend himself with guys coming at him from all directions at once! Maybe Panarin will think twice about jumping on his (or anyones) back again. I also like how everyone skips over the guy he punched kicking VV after the whistle (which is probably why he got punched).
I don’t think Wilson is the second coming of Sean Avery. They have a totally different style of playing. Avery’s the agitator type. Wilson’s the physical power forward. Avery seemed to have more problems in relationships with teammates and/or coaches from what I remember. To the best of my knowledge, Wilson hasn’t had problems with coaches or teammates. But hard to know what happens behind closed doors.
He’s turning into Todd Bertuzzi
So much of this goes on in hockey every game. If he is reprimanded, it’s by previous reputation, which I have a problem with.
Capitals were down 3-2, Tom Wilson did what goons do. Sparked his team to comeback and kick ass.
It goes back to the Flyers days and the Bullies of Broad Street. Wilson is our enforcer . He’s the Force of F St!, or the Sacker of 7Th. take your choice.