Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson dropped Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jamie Oleksiak with a vicious punch 55 seconds into the first period Wednesday night at Capital One Arena.
Tom Wilson KOs Jamie Oleksiak just 55 seconds into the game. #Caps #Pens pic.twitter.com/vD9zJsnwQV
— Ben Krimmel (@BenKrimmel) December 20, 2018
After coming off second best in the quick bout, Oleksiak needed help getting off the ice.
I hope Jamie Oleksiak is okay. Never want to see anybody get hurt. But you get into the ring. You know what you signed up for.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 20, 2018This quick fight may have carried over from last season when Penguins GM Jim Rutherford called out Wilson.
“When Jamie challenged Wilson, he couldn't run quick enough to get away from him,” Rutherford told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
After the game, Wilson told reporters, "I read the stuff that's said after last season and leading up to it. Yeah, I think it probably had to be done sooner or later, give him a chance to defend his teammate after what happened last year."
Wilson was asked if Rutherford's comments were on his mind ..."It doesn't really matter, I don't think. ... [Oleksiak> came out pretty aggressive right on the first shift there. He went a long way to make that hit, and right when we looked at each other, it was on."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 20, 2018Before the game, Wilson said, "They don't like us, we don't like them."
*quote* pic.twitter.com/l7eapEkwT6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 20, 2018Wilson didn't help change that on Wednesday.
Tom Wilson with a gorgeous pass on a 2-on-1 to lead to the #Caps first goal. Can you imagine how upset Penguins fans are? They hate him so much.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 20, 2018The Penguins would go on to beat the Caps, 2-1.
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