Tom Wilson, the Washington Capitals forward believes that the Department of Player Safety of the NHL will take a close look at the hard-hit which was delivered by Anton Stralman, the Tampa Bay Lighting defenseman in the first period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
“I think they’re probably reviewing it. I don’t know how much goes into it,” said Wilson, who served a three-game suspension earlier this postseason for a hit which led to breaking the jaw of Zach Aston-Reese, the Pittsburgh Penguins forward.
In the first period, Stralman delivered a hard hit towards Wilson which drives his head into the boards. Wilson dropped to the ice and left for the trainer’s room to get treated. Stralman faced a minor boarding penalty, but after the game, Wilson made it clear that he did not think that penalty was enough.
Wilson said, “He leaves his feet, I’m in a pretty vulnerable spot, and he drives my head through the glass.”
Wilson returned back to the game before the end of the period. Wilson had received a stiff three-game suspension when he had hit Aston-Reese in the second round, a suspension which Wilson had disagreed with strongly.
And now, Wilson is asking for the Department to be a bit consistent in its decision.
There is no doubt about the fact that Wilson holds a little reputation across the NHL which brings scrutiny on him and on his physical play in the game. However, an illegal hit will remain illegal hit without considering who it was delivered to. The question is, does the hit made by Stralman rises to the level where supplementary discipline is called for?
Wilson said, “It’s a vulnerable position, and no doubt there’s contact with my head. I’m just talking about it for the better of the game and for the better of player safety.”
