The US and Canadian women are headed for yet another gold-medal clash, Wilson is beloved by all people far and wide, and more in today's Caps Clips. Your savory breakfast links: The American women defeated Team Sweden 5-0 yesterday, and for the seventh time in Olympic history will face Team Canada in the gold medal game on Thursday. [AP, NPR, Olympics] Meanwhile, after earning first-round byes, the US and Canadian (and Slovakian and Finnish) men will have to wait until the end of today's games to see who they'll face in the quarterfinals. [Olympics]
📸: Katie Adler/RMNB will not receive any supplemental discipline after his big hit on Logan Stankoven during the Caps' 4-3 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes. With 6:57 remaining in regulation, Wilson leveled Stankoven behind the net, catching the Hurricanes forward with his head down and looking at the puck. Wilson appeared to initially strike Stankoven in the chest with his hit before also catching him in the head. Stankoven was bloodied on the play, leaking from a cut above the left eye.
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.
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.
