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Tom Wilson’s reputation has gotten the best of him once again. The Washington Capitals forward was ejected in the second period following a hard blindside hit on New Jersey Devils forward Brett Seney.
The hit sent Seney to the ice. Wilson was coming into the zone and made contact with Seney in what appeared to be shoulder-to-shoulder. Wilson was assessed a match penalty, sending him to the showers for the day. Seney was assisted off the ice by the Devils’ training staff.
Tom Wilson has been ejected for a hit to Brett Seney. Right call? Judge for yourself.
Stream #CapsDevils live: https://t.co/Wn6LWyeTGx pic.twitter.com/COAetFl1l1
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 1, 2018
Wilson was suspended for 20 games after an illegal check during the preseason finale against St. Louis. He was reinstated after the suspension was reduced to 14 games by an independent arbitrator. Per the protocol of his suspension, Wilson will be subject to an indefinite suspension with his latest questionable hit.
Following the Capitals’ 6-3 win, head coach ToddĀ Reirden voiced his displeasure with the officials’ decision to assess a major penalty and eject Wilson.
“I’m having a really tough time with this one because he’s not even intending to make a hit,” Reirden said per Ian Oland of Russian Machine Never Breaks. “It’s incidental contact. He’s following his defenseman to the wall. Player backs into him. He tries to get himself out of the way of the player.”
Wilson scored his seventh goal in nine games to give Washington a 2-0 lead earlier in the second period. He has also six assists and a plus-8 rating on the season.
Now comes the waiting game as NHL’s Department of Player Safety will review Wilson’s latest controversial hit.
