Tom Wilson was in Tom Wilson mode on Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Washington Capitals forward drove the net and collided with Jack Campbell in the first period, but the Maple Leafs goalie sloughed off the hit as “a hockey play,” even though Wilson was dinged for a goalie interference penalty:
“Met him at the all-star game. Nice guy. I don’t think any harm was done by it. Love a little contact here and there," Campbell said after Toronto's 7-3 win.
Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, however, had a different view of the clip:
“Anytime a guy gets hit in the head, you don't know like it. Especially when it's a goalie and the mask goes flying off, all that. I didn’t like it at all," he said.
Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was spotted shaking his head after Campbell hit the deck — which says it all.
“It was definitely a scary moment,” Bunting said. “And as long as Soupy’s OK, we’re OK.”
Toronto's Kyle Clifford dropped the gloves with Wilson, and the two engaged in a spirited bought later in the game. (Wilson also scored a shorthanded goal.)
“Cliffy’s always got his teammates’ backs," said Campbell, who was acquired by Toronto from the L.A. Kings alongside Clifford.
"Man, he's been doing it since I've ever met him. He backs it up every time. That’s why everybody loves him in the room. Doesn't matter what team he's on, everybody loves him — and we sure love him in here.”
Keefe has expanded on his philosophy on how he'd like his team to deal with Wilson and those like him in the past.
On Thursday, the coach said he would've liked the Leafs to have scored with Wilson in the box but otherwise thought his players responded well to the incident.
"Our emotions went up with it," Keefe said. "There was still some physicality, but I thought it really settled down from there. I thought Clifford and [Wayne] Simmonds, Clifford in particular, did a really good job."
