Tom Wilson is not the most popular of supporters. His decisions on the rink have often been challenged. But at the Washington Capitals, his contribution is invaluable.
Updated yesterday at 4:43 p.m.
The 6-foot-4 forward, the Capitals’ 2012 first-round pick, is having a career-best offensive season with 52 points in 70 games, fourth in team scoring. He also has 214 hits, which puts him at 13and rank of the attackers of the circuit in this chapter.
In recent years, Wilson has drawn the ire of supporters of several teams for certain actions he has committed. He received a grand total of five suspensions and three fines in nine seasons. But it is more discreet this year. At least, in terms of controversies. Because his offensive contribution is obvious.
In a pre-game press briefing Saturday morning at the Bell Centre, Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette was asked about the key players on his roster. He launched into an enumeration.
” Obviously, [Alex] Ovechkin is having a good season, he began. [Evgeny] Kuztnetsov is on his way to his career-best season. The core of our defense is really solid. »
“A guy like Tom Wilson makes everyone ready to compete, just the way he plays the game,” he added.
PHOTO GEOFF BURKE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Tom Wilson (43) plays on the Capitals’ third line along with Lars Eller (20) and Anthony Mantha (39).
A few minutes later, striker Lars Eller, who leads the third line of Wilson and Anthony Mantha, was quick to throw flowers at his teammate.
“Tom is one of the more vocal guys, but I think what makes the difference, what brings the team into the game, is his physique on the ice,” he said. He finishes his checks. It has an impact on the other team. When you’re on the ice with him, it creates space and a little hesitation from the players on the other team when they have the puck because they say to themselves: Tom is going to check me, I have to get rid of this washer. »
When you’re on the ice with him, you feel it even more, all this space he creates for his teammates. It’s not the hits per se that have an impact, but what happens after. It is extremely important to us.
Lars Eller, about Tom Wilson
The Capitals have four wins and 26 goals in their last five games. However, they lost by the high score of 7 to 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
“Nobody likes to be humiliated and that’s how everyone felt after that game where we weren’t really there,” Eller said. We were slow, on our feet and in our heads. I like to think we’ll respond with a different effort and execution tonight. That’s what we’ve done in the past. I think it will be a completely different team than the one we saw in Toronto. »
The game will begin at 7 p.m. at the Bell Centre.
Capitals roster in practice
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Sheary
Johansson-Backstrom-Oshie
Mantha-Eller-Wilson
Larsson-Dowd-Hathaway
Fehervary-Carlson
Orlov Jensen
van Riemsdyk-Schultz
Vanecek