Canada left little doubt in its Olympic matchup against France and won the game 10-2. However, a late third-period incident drew all the spotlight. Tom Wilson dropped the gloves after Pierre Crinon delivered a forearm to Nathan MacKinnon’s head. The scrap added edge to an otherwise one-sided game. Fans immediately flooded X as the fight could result in further discipline.
Under IIHF rules, fighting results in a game misconduct rather than the standard five-minute major seen in the NHL. Both Wilson and Crinon were ejected from the game.
Wilson made his presence felt beyond the fight, as he recorded a goal and an assist, completing a Gordie Howe hat trick with the bout. He earned his Olympic spot for his physical play and playmaking, traits he has shown with the Washington Capitals this season. Pierre LeBrun summed it up on X, writing,
“No fighting in the Olympics, eh? Think again, says Tom Wilson.”
The post prompted fans to debate what comes next for Wilson.
“So no Wilson in the QF right? Or is fighting just an automatic ejection not necessarily suspension?” One user questioned.
“Probably a suspension on the way for Wilson, I would think…” Another fan wrote.
“More embarrassing than anything else. Felt the need to do it against France, of all teams,” A fan reacted.
Here are some more reactions from fans:
“What a bad decision from Wilson. Looks horrible in a 10-2 game.” A fan said.
“I love how Peacock just cut us off from the middle of the game and brought the game back right after the fight was over, cmon.” A fan mentioned.
“One thing I’ve always wondered is why North American players always need to fight after a clean hard hit?” One user questioned.
Elliotte Friedman Spoke About Tom Wilson’s Potential Discipline
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman noted on X that the fighting major does not trigger an automatic one-game suspension.
“The fighting major assessed to Tom Wilson is not an automatic 1-game suspension,” Friedman wrote on X. “Further supplemental discipline could be imposed if the IIHF wished to do so, but it is not automatic as per the 2025-26 rulebook.”
The uncertainty around Wilson comes at a time when Canada is heading toward the knockout stage. Regardless of discipline, the 31-year-old winger has sent a clear message that he is going to stand up for his teammates even at the Olympic stage.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in golf, hockey, baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
