Leason's loan to Hershey comes ahead of Tom Wilson's likely return to the team's lineup after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. Wilson remains on injured reserve for the time being, but can be activated whenever the Caps deem necessary, with a roster spot now open. Leason played six games for the Capitals in his second NHL stint with the team and first since his rookie 2021-22 season. He did not record a point and averaged 8:34 of ice time per game.
While chasing a loose puck in the offensive zone, Wilson absorbed a counter hit from Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy. As Wilson fell to the ice, his right leg got caught underneath him along the boards. The Capitals' alternate captain immediately grabbed at his lower leg and slowly limped off the ice. Wilson then needed help down the tunnel from the team's training staff, which was most concerning of all.
Remember that time Chris Drury sold James Dolan a false bill of goods after Tom Wilson embarrassed the Rangers in 2021 and got the regime changed? Well Tom Wilson certainly had a day for the Capitals after being named to the Team Canada Olympic team with 2 goals and a fight after taking Noah Laba out of the game with a clean hit. Yes it was clean. No response from the Rangers though, so maybe that Tom Wilson problem hasn't been fixed after all.
Caps-Cats games are rarely dull, and tonight's game was no exception...although perhaps this one had a bit too much action, and not of the good kind, in a penalty-filled affair that ultimately went the wrong way for the good guys. Plus: Two goals for Tom Wilson tonight, you absolutely love to see it.
Friedman asked the Capitals' alternate captain if he's ever discussed with Marchand the shared scrutiny the two get for almost anything they do on the ice. 'Yeah, there was something on Instagram the other day, a tournament tree for the most hated player in the league, and I think we were facing off in the finals,' Wilson said. 'I jokingly took a screenshot of it and sent it to him because we connected in Calgary this summer at the orientation camp.'
Wilson, who one anonymous respondent listed as having the "most punchable face" in the league during the 2023-24 season, did not appear when players were asked the same question this year. When asked about where he ranked two seasons ago, Wilson responded by saying, "I'd probably punch that guy in the face, too," which could have been threatening enough to keep him off the most recent list.
Wilson got his stick in on Faksa's hands, and a second later, the Czech winger fell over like a sack of potatoes. Play was immediately whistled dead, and as an enraged Wilson began skating to the penalty box, he gave Faksa a piece of his mind. Then Wilson dramatically threw up his arms and went down to one knee - twice, might I add - to illustrate Faksa's dive. Faksa cracked a wry smile as he noticed Wilson's antics.
Tom Wilson flattened Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil with a huge, open-ice hit in Sunday afternoon's Capitals-Canucks matchup. The hit, which took Chytil out of the game and temporarily landed Wilson in the penalty box, was plastered all over the hockey media landscape seconds after being made. Given the injurious result of the play and the fact that a major penalty was initially called, the NHL's Department of Player Safety reviewed Wilson's hit after the game.
Tom Wilson landed a huge hit at the end of the first period against the Vancouver Canucks that nearly landed him in some hot water. After Filip Chytil made a pass in the neutral zone, Wilson knocked him loopy with a punishing hit, nailing the Canucks forward in the chest about a second after he released the puck. The open-ice hit crumpled Chytil to the ice and eventually knocked him woozily down to the tunnel and out of the game.
"Honestly, I think it started like last year," Cristall said. "I think Willy just like, I had some good flow going last year and Willy called me that one time and kind of stuck on with him."
It was as a fun series to play. Montreal, they were really good at the end of the regular season, first, so they came in with a lot of confidence. We knew what we were all about, too. I think we all knew that we were a good team, even though a lot of guys on the outside did not think we were that good.
