Tom Wilson scored the first goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and NHL Twitter was conflicted
The 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs have officially begun! Saturday kicked off the NHL postseason with Game 1 between the Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins, and less than 10 minutes in we had our first goal scored by… Tom Wilson?
Yes, that Tom Wilson, who less than two weeks ago was in hot water after his unnecessary extracurriculars against the New York Rangers drew the ire of fans, media, and even the team itself! The NHL didn’t help things either by fining Wilson — who has a suspension history — just $5,000 for the whole affair.
Wilson’s antics were the biggest story coming into the playoffs this year, and it seemed the NHL’s script writers knew what they were doing as he opened the scoring for the Capitals with the first goal of the postseason.
The first goal of the #StanleyCup Playoffs belongs to Tom Wilson!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/HU6zllFHTj
— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) May 15, 2021
Wilson was able to pick the top corner on Tuukka Rask off a Capitals rush to get Washington on the board early. It was a gorgeous goal to kick off the 2021 NHL playoffs, as the Capitals were able to exploit Charlie McAvoy who was without a stick on the play.
And yet, hockey fans were… conflicted over Wilson being the first goalscorer of these playoffs. The jokes poured in on Twitter quickly after Wilson’s goal.
no matter what happens during these playoffs the unavoidable truth is that the scoring was opened by tom wilson
— playoff noah hockey stick emoji (@capsboybebop) May 15, 2021
tom wilson has scored the first goal of the 2021 stanley cup playoffs pic.twitter.com/MAXCWBSngy
— The Cec and Ava Show (@CecAndAvaShow) May 15, 2021
Lol of course Tom Wilson opens the playoff scoring.
— David Alter (@dalter) May 15, 2021
getting mad at Tom Wilson achieving success but also realizing it means misery for the city of Boston pic.twitter.com/DbPzqaOicx
— Mike Stephens (@mikeystephens81) May 15, 2021
Hockey Twitter when Tom Wilson scores against the Bruins pic.twitter.com/8MhRlYcWvj
— j. (@omgjoce) May 15, 2021
You let Tom Wilson score the first goal? @Bruins pic.twitter.com/ziOvBZWfy4
— ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????? (@incredelman11) May 15, 2021
“Tom Wilson with the first goal of the playoffs” pic.twitter.com/6qE7kxfRb3
— alyssa (@aturnz11) May 15, 2021
There really was no other way the 2021 playoffs were going to begin other than Wilson scoring the first goal to the chagrin of hockey fans.