The Capitals alternate captain lost his grandfather before Thursday's game.
The Capitals alternate captain lost his grandfather before Thursday's game.
Before the game, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson stood before his teammates, rallying them with an inspiring speech from the heart and emphasizing one word: belief.
Belief that this team can still contend for a spot in the playoffs despite a sell-off ahead of the trade deadline. Belief they can beat the rival Penguins. And belief that his late grandfather, Jack Avery, was with him as he took the ice on Thursday.
"Right before we went out, he talked to everyone and said, 'Hey, we're still in this fight, we gotta believe that we can still make the playoffs,' and that's great leadership out of Tom there," goaltender Charlie Lindgren said.
Avery passed away on Thursday afternoon before the game. Wilson got to see him one last time last week with the family aware that he was nearing the end of his life. His "Grampy" was a huge hockey fan and follower of Wilson, and was also in attendance at the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend in Wilson's hometown of Toronto.
So, with a heavy heart, Wilson took the ice at PPG Paints Arena and said he felt his grandfather's presence. In the opening minutes of the game, Wilson scored a highlight-reel goal, batting his own rebound off the post past Tristan Jarry to make it 1-0 on the penalty kill. He added an assist later on for a multi-point night en route to a dominant 6-0 win that he dedicated to his late grandfather.
"I know he was up there and I know he was pulling for the Caps. This one's for my family and for Grampy," Wilson told reporters in Pittsburgh. "That's life, he had an amazing life, but I'm pretty happy to get this one for him and our whole family is in Toronto back home watching together tonight, so I know it probably brought a smile to their face."
For Wilson, the game held even more significance since he was originally drafted in 2012 at PPG Paints Arena.
"Rest in peace and that's not easy. He's gotta be damn proud about the grandson he has in Tom," Lindgren said.