Last night the Washington Capitals got stomped by the Boston Bruins by a final of 5-1. What sparked the Bruins and changed momentum of the game for a beatdown was another controversial hit by Tom Wilson. This hit came in the first period and knocked a player out of the game, sending him to the hospital.
Wilson came in on the forecheck to Brandon Carlo with a viscous hit against the glass. Unfortunately for Carlo, he got hit right in the noggin, his head smashing against the glass.
It was after that hit the Bruins started to pile on goals. Then it seemed like everyone wanted a piece of Tom Wilson. Wilson and Jarred Tinordi dropped the gloves in the second period and in the third period Wilson tussled with Trent Frederic just days after Frederic tried to fight Alex Ovechkin.
After the game Bruce Cassidy told the media that Carlo went to the hospital. He was released from the hospital on Saturday morning. Also on Saturday morning, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced they would hold an in person hearing via Zoom with Tom Wilson under the criteria of his “boarding”. The date and time are still to be determined.
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Wilson could decline Zoom and have the hearing over the phone instead. An in person hearing allows for a suspension of more than five games but doesn’t guarantee supplemental discipline. Until this hearing takes place, Wilson is supsended.
There was no penalty on the play which occurred with 90 seconds left in the first period. Carlo was looking down trying to track the puck before Wilson came smashing in. Wilson unfurled a full body check on Carlo, smashing his head into the glass. Carlo grabbed his head and fell down and left the ice with a team doctor.
Boarding, by definition, is when a player checks or pushes a “defenseless opponent in such a manner that it causes the opponent to hit the boards violently or dangerously.”
The Bruins had strong words after the game, from their head coach Bruce Cassidy to Brad Marchand. Marchand used some choice words on the Bruins TV broadcast that we cannot include in this article. As for Cassidy, he called the hit “completely unnecessary, dirty”.
This isn’t Wilson’s only offense in the NHL so this punishment that is coming will be harsh and unfortunately, he had it coming to him. It is only a matter of time before we find out how bad it is.