Tom Wilson explains why he got a 10-minute misconduct and was effectively tossed from Flames game: 'Not a smart play by me in that situation'

"It all began with 8:25 remaining, as Wilson, without the puck, shouldered Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar hard in the neutral zone. As the whistle blew, Wilson came to a stop right near the Flames bench, where 6-foot-8 forward Adam Klapka said hello by tapping Wilson on the back with his stick. Wilson didn't like this much, so he turned around and slapped Klapka in the head."

"But that didn't calm things down. Two minutes later, Nazem Kadri took a cheap shot at Jakob Chychrun as the Capitals defenseman got tangled up with a Flames forward and began falling to the ice. Kadri hit Chychrun from the blindside up near the neck, briefly injuring the defender and enraging the Capitals."

""Yeah, I got slashed a couple times from the bench," Wilson explained postgame. "So, I guess... Maybe those guys were watching last year's shenanigans. I guess it's the game within the game. You know, guys chirping each other and having some fun with it, and competitive nature and emotion. That's why hockey is the best sport in the world.""

With 8:25 remaining, Wilson shouldered Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar in the neutral zone. Adam Klapka tapped Wilson on the back from the Flames bench, and Wilson responded by slapping Klapka. Officials assessed Klapka a 10-minute misconduct. Two minutes later, Nazem Kadri delivered a blindside hit to Jakob Chychrun near the neck, briefly injuring him. Wilson later drew a high-sticking penalty on Yan Kuznetsov, prompting Flames bench ire and a verbal exchange with Weegar. Referees issued Wilson a misconduct with 5:23 left, effectively ending his night while the Capitals led 2-1. Wilson described the exchanges as in-game chirping and competitive emotion.

Read at RMNB