Tom Wilson isn’t known for being the whiny type, but in Monday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, he proved just how tough he really is. The Capitals’ tough guy is now earning serious praise from his teammates, who call his actions ‘the hardest thing’ they’ve ever seen.
Tom Wilson has always been known for his physical play and big hits. Midway through the first period against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, his toughness was on display as he took a shot from Jakob Chychrun directly to his face.
Wilson was sent to the locker room, and many expected him not to return. In most cases, a player’s night would definitely be over, but before the first intermission, Wilson was already back on the ice.
Tom Wilson got shot in the face
Not only did Wilson heroically return to the game, but he also scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the 4-2 victory. He played the rest of the game with a swollen and bloodied cheek, icing the injured area every time he was on the bench. That didn’t stop him from playing stellar hockey, laying hits, and even screening the goalie on power plays.
Wilson’s Capitals teammates were shocked to see him return to the game, and afterward, they praised him for his incredible toughness, with some calling it the most impressive thing they’ve ever seen.
“It’s awesome,” Logan Thompson said. “That’s got to be up there for the toughest [thing I’ve seen a guy do]… And then him coming out and putting up two goals is even more impressive. So yeah, that’s for sure the hardest thing I’ve seen.”
Tom Wilson praised by teammates
After it happened, his teammates were initially worried about the extent of his injury.
“You never [like seeing a guy] get hit in the face with a puck,” said Nic Dowd. “You never know what can go wrong, so it’s nice to see him come back.”
“I think it’s a little bit scary at first,” added Rasmus Sandin. “A puck coming at you that hard, no matter where it hits you—especially in the face—you never know what’s happening. Because it goes so quick, and all of a sudden, he’s in the dressing room, and you don’t really know what’s going on, so it was good to see him back.”
Jakob Chychrun is also known for having a hard shot. According to NHL Edge, his average shot speed is in the top 10 percent of the league.
“He’s a tough guy, for sure,” Dylan Strome said. “Every time you get hit in the face, you don’t know if something’s broken. There’s so much adrenaline during the game that you just want to get back out there. What he did was fantastic. Two goals, obviously, and coming back after getting your face [hurt] like that. He was icing it constantly on the bench, so that was another thing.”
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