Capitals' Tom Wilson takes all the boos in stride
Metropolitan Division's Tom Wilson, of the Capitals, reacts during the second period of an NHL All-Star Game semifinal against the Pacific Division on Saturday in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/Rick Scuteri
LAS VEGAS — Tom Wilson is not a popular man outside of Washington, apparently. The bruising Capitals winger, who was a last-minute replacement for teammate Alex Ovechkin after Ovechkin tested positive for COVID-19, was booed lustily whenever his name was announced over the weekend.
Wilson was booed when he was introduced with the Metropolitan Division squad for the Skills Competition on Friday night and when he was announced as a participant in the Hardest Shot competition.
He was booed Saturday when he was introduced with the Metropolitan squad before the game, booed when he was introduced in the starting lineup and booed after he scored the first goal of the day 13 seconds into the Metropolitan Division’s 6-4 win over the Pacific Division.
Wilson seemed to get some enjoyment out of his villain status with the crowd.
"You know what I think? I think it’s good,’’ he said after the Metropolitan Division beat the Central Division, 5-3, in the title game. "I think it’s good for the game. I think it’s passion. I love playing here. It’s one of the best rinks in the league and obviously a pretty passionate fan base. So I think it’s all good fun.
"I had a great experience being here and the guys seem to get a chuckle out of it. So it’s all good.’’
All-Star notes
The Central Division beat the Atlantic Division, 8-5, in the second game, setting up a final between the Metropolitan and Central teams . . . Flyers captain Claude Giroux, who replaced Ovechkin as captain of the Metropolitan team, was named MVP. He scored two goals in the final and one goal in the win over the Pacific Division . . . The winning team earned $1 million to be split among the 11 players on the roster.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
