With two goals in Wednesday night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson solidified himself in team history. With his first goal of the game, he passed Bobby Carpenter for all-time goals, putting himself in the top 10. His second goal was just the cherry on top.
He’s a mere 28 goals from jumping into the top five, overtaking T.J. Oshie, Dave Christian, Bengt-Ake Gustafsson, Alexander Semin, and Mike Ridley. Last season was a 33-goal season for Wilson, and he is on pace to meet or exceed that total. The forward is, arguably, the Capitals’ MVP this season.
Wilson Is a Near Point-Per-Game Player
Not only is Wilson a high-scoring player, but he is also a consistent scorer, finding himself on the scoresheet night after night with either goals, assists, or both. He has 20 points in 21 games this season — the only Capitals player who is close to a point-per-game average. There are only seven games where Wilson did not register a point, and the team lost four of those six. Those stats make it clear that when he does well, the team succeeds.
Even when he doesn’t make it on the scoresheet with an official point, he is making an impact. For example, in the Capitals’ recent game against the Montreal Canadiens, Wilson placed a big hit on the opponent to create a break in coverage, allowing Jakob Chychrun to score and help their team to a victory. His strong, unwavering ability to show up game after game makes him a definite MVP.
Wilson’s Season Statistics
The Canadian winger has some outstanding statistics on the season so far. He is the team’s leader in goals with 11, points with 20, and is also the forward with the highest time on ice (19:37). He also leads the team in power-play goals with four. With the Capitals’ power play struggling like it has, a player like Wilson is an asset on special teams. He is tied for third place in assists, sitting at nine alongside Alex Ovechkin.