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Capitals' Tom Wilson ejected for another late hit
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- Capitals' Tom Wilson ejected for another late hit
Tom Wilson , it seems, remains intent on hurting people.
As to almost dare the NHL's Department of Player Safety to rain down more punishment, the Washington Capitals forward added to his rap sheet Friday night by initiating forceful, late, blindside contact, albeit it glancing, with New Jersey's Brett Seney .
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He was ejected for the hit, nine games into his return from a predatory blow in the preseason that initially earned him a 20-game suspension before a successful appeal had it shortened to 14.
Here's the knock, which has raised no shortage of debate online.
While not not nearly as brutal as the hit on Oskar Sundqvist in the preseason or the hit last spring that broke the jaw of Zach Aston-Reese , Wilson lost the benefit of the doubt many predatory collisions ago.
While he'll certainly claim that he was attempting to step around Seney and made incidental contact as the opponent swung into his path (and with his shoulder, not the head), what the NHL will see is a direct line, the initiation of high, blindside contact, and a defenseless opponent sprawled out on the ice. At this point to not levy more punishment would be negligence on the part of the NHL.
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But there might be one thing that works in Wilson's favour here.
While he's reached a point with Player Safety where his suspensions multiply with each transgression, this is a hit that might bring forth merely a warning for a player with a clean record.
So does the NHL come down hard and risk having their rule again reversed by an arbitrator?
Knowing what's at stake, Capitals coach Todd Reirden came out in strong defense of his forward:
Wilson has been suspended four times over the last 105 games in Washington. When not making brainless decisions this year, he's been scoring goals. Wilson notched his 7th goal in his ninth game back before being ejected.
(Getty)
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