The Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 at the Shark Tank on Tuesday and it got chippy and chirpy.

Evander Kane was ejected for a high hit on Radko Gudas late in the game, knocking the Capitals defenseman woozy and out of the game.

At the teams’ two benches, Joe Thornton and Tom Wilson had a conversation that was, thankfully for all of us, caught on a hot mic.

Video

Joe Thornton: "He'd [Evander Kane] put you to sleep"
Tom Wilson: "At least I got a ring though" pic.twitter.com/UN0NlAWwkA

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 4, 2019

There is a lot of cross-talk, but Wilson and Thornton chat about the Kane hit and then turn to, of all people, Ryan Reaves. This video with enhanced sound features subtitles and the entire conversation.

“Yeah, he’s tough,” Thornton says of Evander Kane.

“Yeah, so?” Wilson replies.

“He’d put you to sleep,” Thornton says.

“So he can’t go off the ice?” Wilson replies. “You think I won’t fight him?”

“You wouldn’t fight Ryan Reaves,” Thornton says back.

Wilson’s history with Reaves is long. Reaves knocked Wilson out with a bad hit (and then later signed photos of Wilson woozy on the ice).

Wilson responds, “I still got a ring though. That was key, though. He went to the press box. We f*cking won. I’ll take that.”

The ring comment appears to be in response to Thornton bringing up Wilson not fighting Ryan Reaves.
"At least I got a ring though…he went to the press box and we won. I'll take that."
Reaves was a healthy scratch when Caps won Cup.

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 4, 2019

Talking about championships with Joe Thornton is especially cold. The 40-year-old has never won a Stanley Cup during his 22 years in the NHL.

Thornton and Wilson have fought before. Wilson knocked Thornton over with one punch in December 2017.

Headline photo: NBC Sports California