Joel Auerbach/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals’ much-anticipated Game 1 matchup against the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs got off to a positive start for the visiting Caps, as right wing Tom Wilson scored the team’s first goal of the postseason. However things would turn 180 when Wilson departed the bench for a second time.
Wilson scored his first goal of the playoffs just 3:47 into the first frame, on assists from Anthony Mantha and Justin Schultz.
WILLYYYY!!
Caps start the playoffs up 1-0 pic.twitter.com/6VHAwc3Pcg
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) May 3, 2022
Wilson played just 1:31 before exiting the game with a presumed injury. Wilson left the Capitals’ bench once but returned, however, exited again after just three shifts.
I don’t see Tom Wilson on the Capitals bench to start the second period.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) May 4, 2022
Tom Wilson — who has the WASH goal — has played just three shifts tonight. He took a spin during recent TV time out, but went back to room.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 4, 2022
According to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, Wilson appeared to have taken the worst of a hit delivered to Florida defenseman Mackenzie Weegar in the first.
He took the worst of a hit on Weegar in right corner in Florida’s end. https://t.co/KVVjPQ2p5g
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 4, 2022
About halfway through the second, the Capitals announced that Wilson was being evaluated.
Capitals say Tom Wilson is being evaluated.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 4, 2022
Wilson’s goal marked his 14th career playoff tally and his sixth consecutive postseason appearance with a goal.
By Michael Fleetwood
Wilsooooooon!