While everyone knew Game 3 was a do-or-die one for the Montreal Canadiens, no one expected the chaos that unfolded. One of the announcers put it best. “Control has been lost here in Montreal,” said the announcer. What started as heated banter between Washington Capitals star Tom Wilson and Canadiens’ Josh Anderson devolved into a team-wide brawl. Wilson and Anderson even took the fight to the Capitals’ bench. Thankfully, a linesman followed.
Yet, how did that happen, you ask? Well, the two rivals got into it as the two teams stepped onto the ice at the beginning of the third period. Tensions boiled over as Wilson and Anderson started throwing hands with the Capitals trailing 3-2 after the second period. Fortunately, the linemen were right in the mix and immediately jumped into action. One linesman immediately put himself between the two rivals, while others scrambled before everything got out of hand.
“I think the linesman were in between us, so there wasn’t much said to be honest,” Josh Anderson recalled after the game. Had it not been for the official, things could’ve ended badly as the Washington Capitals and Canadiens players swung for the fences. The only reason none of the punches landed was because of the referee’s quick thinking. Considering how hard the NHL/NHLPA has come down on players who let their emotions get the better of them, it’s safe to say the ref did them a huge favor.
Josh Anderson speaks with the media following a wild Game 3 in Montreal pic.twitter.com/6mkpTLV8ul
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 26, 2025
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