Photo credit: Gary Wiepert

Late in the second period, Washington Capitals rookie forward Tom Wilson delivered another crushing hit. This time it was to Buffalo Sabres forward Ville Leino. It was a beauty.

You can guess what happened next.

Marcus Foligno skated over and forced Wilson to fight. Because every clean hit must be avenged! Or something.

Here’s the entire scrap.

CSN Washington color man Craig Laughlin was disgusted.

“Foligno goes after Wilson after a beautiful check,” Locker said. “I mean I don’t understand that. If you finish a good check, there always seems to be retribution. In the game of hockey, there’s supposed to be hitting.”

“I don’t understand,” Laughlin continued, genuinely confused. “I never got that.”

Foligno was given an instigator penalty and the Caps got a two-minute power play. They failed to convert.

While the fourth line is struggling, these are the types of positive plays they can bring to help the team.

Also: that hair.

I dig Wilson's hair after the fight pic.twitter.com/QzLrHDY5kt

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 29, 2013