Despite Game 1 win over Panthers, lower-body injury to Tom Wilson a 'concern' for Capitals

By Jacob Calvin Meyer - The Washington Times - Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Nearly everything about the Capitals’ Game 1 win over the top-seeded Florida Panthers on Tuesday night was good news.

Vitek Vanecek was on his game, allowing only two goals in net and outplaying Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Alex Ovechkin was healthy and made a key defensive play that led to the game-tying goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov in the third period. And Anthony Mantha was all over the ice, dishing out 10 hits and adding an assist.

But the worst news coming out of the 4-2 victory was the health of Tom Wilson, who suffered a lower-body injury early in the first period.

He left the bench midway through the first but never reentered the game. According to multiple reports, he did skate during a timeout in the second period.

“Any time a player doesn’t finish a game, there’s a concern level with it,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said after the win.

Laviolette said Wednesday that Wilson will be a game-time decision for Game 2 on Thursday.

The 1 minute, 31 seconds of ice time Wilson did see, however, was enough for him to make an impact, as he scored a power-play goal to draw first blood for the Capitals.

WILLYYYY!!

Caps start the playoffs up 1-0 pic.twitter.com/6VHAwc3Pcg
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) May 3, 2022

The Capitals are back in action Thursday in Game 2 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Washington returns home on Saturday and Monday for Games 3 and 4.

• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.