The Carolina Hurricanes put on a great performance Monday to beat the Washington Capitals 6-1 in D.C., avoiding a four-game regular season sweep to the Caps. Everything seemed to click. However, NHL fans surely cringed when defenseman Brendan Smith was pummeled during a fight with Caps forward Tom Wilson.
Wilson got the most shots in, finishing off Smith with at least one uppercut and a series of stiff blows. Smith hit the ice before officials called off the fight.
The sight was troubling considering Smith is one month removed from suffering a skull fracture. He took a puck to the back of his ear trying to block a shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He momentarily was left with no feeling in his arms or legs as he lay on the ice.
Fortunately, he regained feelings in his extremities and recovered. Monday was just his fifth game back from the injury. So, seeing him hit the ice the way he did was difficult to watch.
Brendan Smith and Tom Wilson have a history. Smith and Wilson went to blows last year when Smith was a member of the New York Rangers.
In the last meeting between the Capitals and Hurricanes on Mar. 18, Smith delivered blows to three different Washington players including Wilson that drew blood.
During Monday’s contest, Smith invited Wilson to a fight from the bench. At one point on the ice, Wilson dropped the gloves but Smith wasn’t interested. Wilson was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Eventually the two went to blows and Wilson came out on top.
