Capitals' Tom Wilson, Canadiens' Josh Anderson brawl on bench in wild Stanley Cup Playoffs scene

There’s nothing quite like the intensity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the heat of competition spilled over into a brawl between the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens on Friday night to the point where players were fighting on the bench.

The period had ended in Game 3 of this first-round series, in which the Capitals were up 2-0. Capitals star Tom Wilson, known for being an instigator as much as an offensive threat, and Canadiens’ Josh Anderson were jawing back and forth as they went toward the locker rooms. 

Things escalated quite quickly, as they began to fight on the Capitals’ bench, while a linesman attempted to get in between them. But it was to no avail, as the referee was only caught up in the fight pushing its way down the bench, and they eventually fell to the floor. 

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Other players started to get involved and going after each other as Wilson and Anderson kept fighting, including Washington’s Lars Eller and Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj. 

"I was on my way to walk across the ice . . . so then I had to reverse my course and head back, because there was two large individuals coming through the door that I was trying to exit," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said about the altercation after the 6-3 loss to the Canadiens. 

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"It was just two competitive teams, two competitive guys going at it."

"Things escalated, got out of control there a little bit," Anderson added. "At the end of the day, you’re just trying to stick up for your teammates."

Wilson, who received a 10-minute game misconduct and a roughing minor, the same discipline as Anderson, was seen mocking the Canadiens after the fight was eventually broken up. 

The Canadiens led after the second period 3-2, and they didn’t look back to collect their much-needed first win in the best-of-seven series on Friday night. 

Tension was felt on the Bell Centre ice before puck drop, as Wilson and Xhekaj were exchanging some words during warm-ups, which began making its rounds on social media.

Again, these are two players known for not only sticking up for teammates, but also ruffling the feathers of opponents whenever they can. 

We might see more fireworks between these two squads, as Game 4 on Sunday sees Montreal looking to even it up, while Washington hopes to have a commanding lead with the second round in mind. 

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Shedeur Sanders is falling in NFL Draft because of his father, Stephen A. Smith says

Thirty-one teams made first-round selections on Thursday night (the Houston Texans traded back), and none of them selected Shedeur Sanders.

But then night two came, and more of the same occurred. In fact, the Colorado quarterback, who was once expected to potentially go in the top-five, was not even one of the top five QBs selected.

Three more quarterbacks, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel, were all selected on Friday; Shough at 40 to the Saints, Milroe to the Seahawks at 92, and Gabriel going to Cleveland at 95.

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Over recent days, reports have been tough on Sanders, with one assistant coach saying he was "entitled" and simply "not that good," while adding his formal interview was "the worst."

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky pointed out some plays that need fixing ahead of the NFL Draft, but his colleague, Stephen A. Smith, doesn't think Sanders fell because of football reasons at all.

"I believe that the biggest issue in all of this was Primetime Deion Sanders and the thought of having to deal with him," Smith said on Friday's "First Take," hours before the second round even began.

"It’s hard for me to sit here today and to watch a dude that was once projected to be one of the top two picks potentially in the draft to drop completely out of the first round and to ignore all those reports that had come out about him leading into the draft."

Sanders' father, of course, has been rather vocal, on top of plenty of NFL rumors, over his coaching days.

"If you think that I’m going to sit here and assume that that was strictly an evaluation about his football skills alone that led to him falling out the entire first round without his father having an impact, I don’t buy that," Smith continued.

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Sanders, at one point, was considered to be the 1B to Cam Ward’s 1A. Ward separated himself and went first overall to the Tennessee Titans.

But, in recent days, it was becoming apparent that teams did not love Sanders – the Raiders took Ashton Jeanty at six, and the Saints went with Kelvin Banks Jr. at nine, officially starting the Sanders fall.

All eyes were on the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21. But as no one traded up in front of them, the Steelers’ selection came and went without a QB – they opted for Derrick Harmon.

The New York Giants traded back into the first round, but they opted for Jaxson Dart instead.

And then, rounds two and three happened.

The former University of Colorado star admitted that he and his family "did not expect" what occurred on Thursday night, in footage posted by his brother, Deion Jr.

"We all didn't expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything possible, everything possible. I don't feel like this happened for no reason. All of this is, of course, fuel to the fire. Under no circumstances did we all know this was going to happen, but we understand we on to bigger and better things," the quarterback said

"Tomorrow's the day. We going to be happy regardless. Legendary."

Tomorrow was not the day, and if Saturday isn't it, then perhaps the NFL world will be left speechless.

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