Capitals forward Tom Wilson joked he might have been the happiest person in the arena after Washington’s 2-1 win Monday over the Pittsburgh Penguins — except for maybe teammate Alex Ovechkin.
A burden, after all, was lifted off Wilson’s shoulders. Serving the final game of his three-game suspension for a hit on Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese in Game 3, the win meant Wilson’s actions didn’t cost the Capitals the series.
Initially, his absence was seen as a potential series-changer, considering how tight the matchup was between the teams.