Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson finds himself in the spotlight once again after another controversial hit.
The latest offence came in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final Monday when Wilson collided with Vegas Golden Knights star Jonathan Marchessault on a blindside hit in the third period. Marchessault was forced to the dressing room, but would return to the ice minutes later. Wilson was assessed a two-minute interference penalty on the play.
After the game, a 6-4 Golden Knights victory, Marchessault voiced his displeasure with the collision.
“It’s a late hit. I don’t really have to talk more about it,” Marchessault said. “The league’s going to take care of it. We know what type of player he is out there…”
Marchessault’s teammate Ryan Reaves was also vocal post-game, saying it’s just “Wilson doing what Wilson does.”
Wilson has been under the microscope during Washington’s playoff run, serving a three-game suspension for a devastating hit on Zach Aston-Reese of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round. Some believe he got away with an illegal check on Brian Dumoulin earlier in that series and escaped unscathed after blindsiding Columbus’s Alex Wennberg in Round 1.
Capitals coach Barry Trotz doesn’t expect Wilson to face supplemental discipline for his hit on Marchessault and believes the 24-year-old will be in the linuep for Wednesday’s Game 2.
As for Wilson himself? He believes the hit was clean.
Despite all the negative attention, Wilson manages to tune out the hatred.
What do you think? Should Wilson be suspended for his latest infraction?
With files from Luke Fox
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