Washington Capitals get terrible injury news ahead of Game 2 that could change the series

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Joshua Deeds
May 5, 2022 (12:36)

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The Washington Capitals will be less intimidating on the ice in game 2 against the Florida Panthers. As reported by Head Coach Peter Laviolette, Tom Wilson is out with an undisclosed lower-body injury and is listed as day to day by the team.

Wilson contributed a goal against the President's Trophy winners and then had to leave to be evaluated 11 minutes into the first period. Wilson only had to clock a minute and 31 seconds of time on ice, to put one up against former Vezina Trophy winner, Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 1.

You can't replace Tom. Especially in playoffs, he's one of our most important players because of his ability to play physical, his ability to score big goals like he did tonight, his ability to penalty kill [and] power play. He's just a guy that you can't replace. Knowing that, his presence in the room is very influential on our team so we're hoping for the best.

Wilson has appeared in 78 match-ups this season the most of any Capitals forwards this year and helped shore up the forward corps in the absence of Capitals stars like Alexander Ovechkin, TJ Oshie, and Nicklas Backstrom. And it shows as he has put up 24 goals and 28 assists, for 52 points with a +13 on the season.

This may give the Panthers a chance to create space on the ice, needed for their young, but talented group of forwards to be as explosive as they were in the regular season.