Tom Wilson was whistled for two questionable calls in the first 21 minutes of the Capitals-Stars game, and by the time Radek Faksa hit the deck 20 seconds into the second period, Sassy Tom came out.
The play in question occurred as the Stars forward was skating with the puck in the offensive zone. Wilson got his stick in on Faksa’s hands, and a second later, the Czech winger fell over like a sack of potatoes.
Play was immediately whistled dead, and as an enraged Wilson began skating to the penalty box, he gave Faksa a piece of his mind. Then Wilson dramatically threw up his arms and went down to one knee — twice, might I add — to illustrate Faksa’s dive.
Faksa cracked a wry smile as he noticed Wilson’s antics.
“Is there anybody more animated going to the box than Tom?” TJ Oshie remarked during ESPN’s second intermission coverage.
Wilson was likely already irritated by an interference penalty he was whistled for 13:43 into the first period. As he battled to get in front of the net for a screen, he hit Miro Heiskanen, but the Finnish forward fell over quite easily.
Wilson’s dramatic dive is just the latest fantastic taunt he has given the hockey world and social media. In recent years, Wilson has garnered headlines and GIFs for a sarcastic thumbs up, mimicking a crybaby, and mocking the Rangers from the penalty box as a big, tough guy.
One also can’t forget his chirp fest with Rasmus Andersson last season, when he mocked the Flames defenseman’s big head by putting his helmet on the very tippy top of his own noggin.
“It looks like [Tom] calmed down a little bit (after that penalty),” Oshie said. “But if that game woulda went a different way, you know, Tom’s a big guy and he can make a statement physically. Sometimes teammates get worried about him when he gets a little too physical.”
Or I suppose a little too chirpy, as well.
