Tom Wilson didn’t need a stat sheet to know he made an impact in Game 2. The Washington Capitals winger was everywhere in Thursday night’s 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes—blocking shots, generating offense, and setting the tone with intensity that helped even the series.
While officially credited with just two blocked shots, Wilson’s fearless first-period dive to deny Jordan Staal a prime scoring chance may have shifted momentum early. “He does everything the right way,” said goalie Logan Thompson, who made 27 saves. “The whole stadium built off it.”
Wilson’s all-around play extended to the scoresheet. He set up John Carlson’s power-play blast early in the third, breaking Carolina’s perfect postseason penalty kill. Later, he buried the empty-net dagger, sealing a much-needed bounce-back victory.
Coming off a subpar Game 1, Wilson led by example. He challenged teammates, consulted coaches, and made sure the team’s effort didn’t fall short again. “You want the guy next to you to show up and give it everything,” Wilson said. “And tonight, we all did.”
With Game 3 looming in Raleigh, Wilson’s leadership will remain vital. If the Capitals hope to advance, they’ll need more of the tenacity that their alternate captain brought to the ice in Game 2.
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