WASHINGTON — Jamie Oleksiak and Tom Wilson dropped the gloves less than a minute into Wednesday's game in Washington.
The animosity between the two players was a carryover from last season. After Wilson ended Zach Aston-Reese's season with an illegal high hit, Oleksiak challenged Wilson to a fight, and Wilson declined. This time, Wilson made a beeline straight for Oleksiak.
"I think both parties knew all the stuff that was said after last season leading up to it," Wilson told reporters after the game. "It probably had to be done sooner or later, give him a chance to defend his teammate on what happened last year."
The fight was over in a matter of seconds after Oleksiak lost his helmet and took a hard right hook to the head:
Oleksiak appeared dazed upon standing and needed assistance to skate off the ice. He sat on the Penguins' bench for a few moments before heading to the locker room.
Oleksiak did not return to the game. Mike Sullivan did not have an update on Oleksiak's status, but added that players gave him a standing ovation when he returned to the locker room after the game.
"You never want to see a guy go down like that," said Wilson. "That’s hockey. I respect (Oleksiak) as a player. It’s unfortunate to see that."
Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin could be seen jawing at each other from their benches after the fight.
Crosby told reporters after the game that he was asking officials why Wilson didn't receive an instigator penalty when Ovechkin joined in.
"(Ovechkin) started yelling at me for some reason," he said. "My conversation was with the official, not with him. So I don’t know why he felt the need to come over."
