The Capitals alternate captain said he had enough of Rempe's hits.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — By the second period, Tom Wilson had just about enough of Matt Rempe in Game 3 between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers.
At that point, Rempe had taken out yet another Capitals defenseman, hitting a vulnerable Trevor van Riemsdyk late in the first period. Then, in the second, Rempe crashed into T.J. Oshie along the boards, breaking his left hand in the process. He also had some big hits on Beck Malenstyn and other members of Washington's roster, and with his team trailing, Wilson was fed up.
"I just felt like there's a certain point where he hits enough of your teammates — that are kind of borderline hits — that it doesn't matter whether it's the playoffs or a big game, it doesn't mean anything, it's still hockey, you can still stand up for your teammates," Wilson said.
Wilson then threw some subtle shade at the Rangers rookie.
"I don't know, maybe that'll be his one chance (to fight me)," Wilson cracked. "We'll see."
Wilson had three points in four playoff games games against Rangers, and at that point in time, said he had considered the options and felt it was the right time to try and goad Rempe into a scrap.
"It's hockey. You're weighing a lot of different options in situations like that. 'Is it the right time? Do I really want to sit in the box for seven or eight minutes with him?'... I felt like, in that moment, I wanted to do that. He didn't want to do it. He obviously didn't want the momentum in the game to change. They were winning at the time."
Rempe said before the series that he had "a lot of respect" for Wilson and even watched his hits to get fired up for games. Wilson also said that he expected a lot of energy from the 21-year-old.
That praise seems to have taken a backseat for now and going forward should be interesting between both sides.