Tom Wilson had an incredible New Year’s Eve that he’ll likely never forget.
The Washington Capitals winger started the day by being informed by Hockey Canada officials that he had made Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Hours later, the 31-year-old forward was on the ice for the Caps, starring in a 6-3 victory over a franchise he has regularly tormented.
Against the Rangers, Wilson registered his third career Gordie Howe hat trick, scoring a goal, recording an assist, and getting into a fight. He got his big game started with an enormous hit on Rangers rookie Noah Laba, springing the Capitals on an odd-man rush, which he ultimately finished past goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Tom Wilson’s goal
The goal was Wilson’s 20th of the season, his fifth time hitting the mark during his 13-season career. He achieved the milestone this season in his 39th game — the quickest he has ever done so — after needing 47 to accomplish the feat in 2024-25.
Wilson then checked off the fight portion of his Gordie as Rangers forward Sam Carrick forced him to drop the gloves for the big hit on Laba. Carrick received an extra minor penalty for roughing, which the Capitals punished with a power-play goal from Justin Sourdif.
Tom Wilson’s fight
Wilson added another goal late in the third period to put the Capitals up 5-2, pouncing on a feed from Connor McMichael. He rifled a shot over Quick’s right shoulder into the roof of the net and then celebrated in front of New York’s bench.
The second goal was a milestone tally for Wilson, the 200th of his career. He is just the sixth player in Capitals franchise history to reach the 200-goal mark with the club, joining Alex Ovechkin (912), Peter Bondra (472), Mike Gartner (397), Nicklas Backstrom (271), and Mike Ridley (218).
Wilson completed his hat trick with an assist on Sourdif’s second goal of the game, an empty netter with 49 seconds remaining in regulation.
Tom Wilson’s assist
Both of Wilson’s previous Gordie Howe hat tricks came last season, the first on Halloween against the Montreal Canadiens and the second on March 3 against the Ottawa Senators. He now has more in his career than the man himself, Gordie Howe, who only recorded two during his historic and long career.
With the three-point game on Wednesday, Wilson increased his 2025-26 season point total to 40 (21g, 19a) in 39 games. He is on pace to score 44 goals this season and record 83 total points, which would obliterate his previous single-season career-highs.
“I take a lot of pride in this team and my focus all year has been here, and it’s going to continue to be here until we get on that plane [to Italy],” Wilson said postgame. “I couldn’t have done it without all of these guys; it’s a team game, and I feel lucky to be one of the guys who get to go and play over there.”
“I told the guys in (the locker room) that could be one of the greatest days for a hockey player,” Caps head coach Spencer Carbery said. “Gordie Howe hat trick, plus one, 200th career goal, and gets named to his national team. He’s going to represent Team Canada at the Olympics in Italy. I mean, you can’t get much better than that for a day.
“I bet the Team Canada management and coaches were watching today, maybe, and going, ‘We made a good decision.’ And if they didn’t watch the game live, they are going to see some highlights of what went on today at 12:30.”
Wilson and his future Team Canada teammate, goaltender Logan Thompson, will now have another 19 games to play for the Capitals through January and the first week of February, after which they can turn their focus to Italy.
