Capitals, Rangers get into brawls at start of game after Tom Wilson incidents
The New York Rangers left no doubt they were displeased Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson received a $5,000 fine but no suspension for roughing Pavel Buchnevich during Monday's contest and no punishment for slamming Artemi Panarin to the ice, an incident that knocked Panarin out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury.
Players didn't wait to address the matter on Wednesday.
Immediately from the first faceoff, Washington and New York starters dropped their gloves for brawls:
Wilson, the man of the hour, saw his first bareknuckle battle almost as soon as his skates hit the ice:
The punches were interrupted for a couple of minutes of actual hockey until:
Broadcasters barely had time for commercial breaks between fights:
Rangers center Ryan Strome said on Tuesday it was "a joke" the NHL Department of Player Safety hit Wilson with only a fine but no ban for his actions on Monday. "I think it sends a bad message, in my opinion," Strome told reporters. "I think everyone pretty much agrees with that. I just think that the league missed one here big-time. It's unfortunate our best player is out for the rest of the year."
While the Capitals are competing to win the NHL East Division regular-season title, the Rangers have been eliminated from the playoffs and are playing mostly for pride:
As commentators said on multiple occasions, Wednesday's scenes could and likely would have been avoided had the NHL suspended Wilson for at least a handful of games.
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