Eight days after blowing a third period lead to the Rangers en route to a 7-3 loss, the Caps decided to flip the script and actually hold onto the third period lead this time for a 6-3 win. It was a closer game than the final score would suggest for most of the afternoon until the Caps broke free in the third period to take the win. While it was a big team win with lots of contributors, it was an excellent day for newly crowned Olympian Tom Wilson…so let’s take a look at his first goal.
With the game tied at 1-1 almost halfway through the second period, Noah Laba got ahold of the puck in the neutral zone and attempted to go up the wall with it. Unfortunately on the way, he ran into Tom Wilson – literally – who absolutely freight trained him.
The hit freed up the puck, which then landed on John Carlson’s stick, who was able to send it over to Connor McMichael. With Laba completely out of the play at this point, the Caps moved in on a 4-on-2. McMichael passed it back to Rasmus Sandin, who sent it right back to McMichael who went to the side of the net, leaving Wilson alone in front of the net – although he wasn’t wide open, as there was a Rangers’ blueliner between McMichael and Wilson.
That didn’t dissuade McMichael, though, as he made a sweet pass through the smallest gap to Wilson. Being the sniper he’s become, Wilson then one-timed it with a wrister and roofed it past Jonathan Quick to give the Caps a 2-1 lead. It’s worth noting that just a few minutes later, Wilson fought Sam Carrick to defend his hit; the Caps got a power play out of it and they scored on that as well to give them a 3-1 lead.
On the day that Tom Wilson was selected for the Canadian Olympic team, he showed what he can bring to the table: speed, physicality, goal scoring and pure tenacity. Overall, it was a good game by the Caps – and now they need to carry that same energy into the new year as they are right back in action against the Senators this afternoon.