Wilson scores, is ejected as Capitals extend win streak

Tom Wilson got back on the score sheet and put himself back under the microscope that has become a part of his existence in the NHL.

Wilson scored again before being ejected for a questionable hit and Nicklas Backstrom had a hat trick and four points in the Washington Capitals’ 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night that extended the defending Stanley Cup champions’ winning streak to seven games.

Wilson had a short-handed goal and showed some of his best attributes as a power forward and penalty killer before getting kicked out of the game for a polarizing hit on Brett Seney that earned him a match penalty and at least another look from the league’s department of player safety.

“He’s huge for our team,” centre Evgeny Kuznetsov said of Wilson.

“You can see he’s playing well and he scored the goals, he make those dirty plays when you’ve got to battle for the puck, when you go in the corner. It’s not easy to play there, and he play unbelievable for us. That’s why he’s such a big piece for us.”

Wilson now has seven goals and 13 points in nine games since coming back from a lengthy suspension.

He extended his careerbest goal streak to five games and point streak to seven games and at the same time raised questions about whether he’s headed toward further discipline.

After Seney released the puck and it had gone into the corner late in the second period, Wilson skated up from behind and hit him with his left shoulder.

Wilson was assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head, which carries with it an automatic suspension that the NHL must review but could decide to rescind.