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After a hard fought series, Wilson and Anderson have nothing but respect for eachother
Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson addressed his on-ice confrontations with Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson during his season-ending media availability on Friday.
Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson have nothing but respect for eachother after a hard fought first-round series.
Josh Anderson and Tom Wilson, whose rivalry dates back to their junior hockey days, reignited their feud during the Capitals-Canadiens first-round playoff series with several heavy hits and heated exchanges. Their most intense clash came in Game 3, when the two nearly fought during a chaotic bench-side scuffle, trading punches while a linesman desperately tried to separate them.
Ian Oland from RMNB writes that after a fiery and physical series, Josh Anderson and Tom Wilson put their rivalry aside in a show of sportsmanship, high-fiving and sharing a hug during the handshake line after the Capitals eliminated the Canadiens in Game 5.
When asked about the exchange, Josh Anderson confirmed that despite the physicality and intensity of the series, there was mutual respect between him and Tom Wilson.
«Yeah, I think that's exactly what it was. I think we've played against each other for our whole careers. Like, we respect each other's game. I think that's what was pretty much said in the handshake line there. Obviously, I respect the way he plays his game overall, and that's pretty much it.» -Anderson
Oland also writes that another reporter noted that the linesman trying to break up the bench brawl in Game 3, Kyle Flemington, used to be Anderson's teammate on the London Knights during the 2011-12 OHL season.
«Oh yeah! I honestly, I can't even remember at that moment in time. I've noticed him a few times. He's reffed us. It's good to see him in that position for sure.» -Anderson
It's moments like this that make hockey the greatest sport on the planet.
| POLL | ||
MAI 5 | 32 ANSWERS After a hard fought series, Wilson and Anderson have nothing but respect for eachother Who do you think is a better hockey player? | ||
| Tom Wilson | 29 | 90.6 % |
| Josh Anderson | 3 | 9.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
