NHL suspends Capitals’ Tom Wilson seven games for hit on Bruins’ Brandon Carlo

The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for seven games for his hit that knocked Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo out Friday’s game and sent him to the hospital in an ambulance.

In the video released by the league, it was stated that Carlo, engaged in a puck battle with Jakub Vrana, was in no position to anticipate the hit that drove Carlo’s head “violently” into the glass. Wilson could have made a legal hit, but he chose not to.

The video statement from the league stated, “While there are aspects of this hit that skirt the line between suspendable and not suspendable, it is the totality of the circumstances that cause this play to merit supplemental discipline. What separates this hit from others is the direct and significant contact to a defenseless player’s face and head, causing a violent impact with the glass. This is a player with a substantial disciplinary record taking advantage of an opponent in a defenseless position, and doing so with significant force.”

Referees Dean Morton and Pierre Lambert did not call a penalty on the play, even after huddling up with the linesmen.

Wilson had been suspended four previous times and fined twice. He will forfeit $311,781.61 of his salary.

Carlo, most likely concussed, was released from the hospital Saturday morning. He did not participate in Saturday’s team practice at Warrior Arena.

The Bruin defenseman had suffered a concussion in his rookie season on a hit from the Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin that ended his season and lingered into the summer.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2OyonaQ