Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson was asked about his run-ins with Tom Wilson during his season-ending press conference on Friday.
Anderson and Wilson, who have had a rivalry spanning back to their days in junior, exchanged big hits and angry words throughout the Capitals-Canadiens’ first-round playoff series. The biggest moment between the two was a bench brawl in Game 3 where they tried to punch each other as a linesman hung on for dear life.
When the Capitals eliminated the Canadiens in Game 5, Anderson and Wilson high-fived and hugged each other in the handshake line, letting bygones be bygones.
Anderson was asked what was said between the two. The reporter surmised that there seemed to be a lot of respect being shared.
“Yeah, I think that’s exactly what it was,” Anderson said. “I think we’ve played against each other for our whole careers. Like, we respect each other’s game. I think that’s what was pretty much said in the handshake line there. Obviously, I respect the way he plays his game overall, and that’s pretty much it.”
Anderson was then asked if they had talked about their bench brawl.
“No. No, no, no,” he said laughing. “After (the incident), I was though.”
Another reporter observed that the linesman who tried to break up the fight, Kyle Flemington, was one of Anderson’s former teammates. The two played together on the OHL’s London Knights during the 2011-12 season.
“Oh yeah!” Anderson said. “I honestly, I can’t even remember at that moment in time. I’ve noticed him a few times. He’s reffed us. It’s good to see him in that position for sure.”
