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SPORTS Thursday 4 OcTOber 2018
Caps winger Wilson banned 20 games for preseason hit

By HOWARD FENDRICH longest in the NHL for on- a vital part of the franchise,
AP Sports Writer ice play since Raffi Torres and general manager Bri-
WASHINGTON (AP) — of the San Jose Sharks was an MacLellan signed him to
Washington Capitals for- banned for 41 games in a $31 million, six-year con-
ward Tom Wilson was 2015, also for a preseason tract this offseason.
banned 20 games by the hit. Wilson doubled his career
NHL on Wednesday for a The league noted that Wil- high with 14 goals and set
blindside hit to the head son "is considered a repeat a new mark with 35 points
of an opponent during the offender" — and, indeed, last season, when he was
preseason, a punishment this is hardly the first time the only NHL forward with
reflecting what the league Wilson has been in trouble 30-plus points and 90-plus
called an "unprecedented" for the way he has taken penalty minutes, finishing
series of suspensions for the out an opposing player. with 187 and a league-high
physical player. He was suspended twice 41 minors. Then he contrib-
Wilson's fourth ban in less because of preseason hits uted 15 points in 21 games
than 13 months will cost a year ago, then had to during Washington's run to
him nearly a quarter of the In this Sept. 30, 2018, file photo, Washington Capitals right wing sit out three games during its first championship.
82-game regular season Tom Wilson (43) is escorted by an official off the ice after he the playoffs for a check "There are certain ways
and $1.26 million in salary. It checked St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist, on ice at back to the head that broke they are calling things. You
center, during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey
was announced just hours game, in Washington. Pittsburgh Penguins cen- need to be aware of how
before the reigning Stan- Associated Press ter Zach Aston-Reese's jaw they're making their calls
ley Cup champion Capitals and caused a concussion. on suspensions. He's a big,
were to raise a banner and riod of the teams' exhibition Sundqvist's head the main "In short, including pre- strong guy who skates re-
open their title defense by game on Sunday. Wilson point of contact on a hit season and postseason ally well. There is a lot of
hosting the Boston Bruins. had an in-person hearing where such head contact games played, this is Wil- force behind his contact,"
The right winger, who plays with the NHL's Department was avoidable and causes son's fourth suspension in MacLellan said Tuesday,
on Washington's top line of Player Safety in New York an injury." It also admon- his last 105 games, an un- the day before the suspen-
with captain Alex Ovech- on Wednesday. ishes him for taking "a poor precedented frequency of sion was issued. "He needs
kin, drew a 10-minute pen- The video released to ex- angle of approach." suspensions in the history of to be aware of how they're
alty for the hit on St. Louis plain the punishment says: Blues coach Mike Yeo the Department of Player determining what's legal
Blues center Oskar Sun- "Wilson delivers a high, called the hit "predatory." Safety," the NHL video says. and what's illegal from the
dqvist in the second pe- forceful hit, which makes Wilson's suspension is the The Capitals see Wilson as league's standpoint."q