UPDATE (1:35 p.m. ET): Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson has been fined but not suspended for his knee-to-knee hit on Pittsburgh Penguins winger Conor Sheary.
Washington’s Tom Wilson has been fined $2,403.67, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for kneeing Pittsburgh’s Conor Sheary.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 29, 2016
ORIGINAL STORY: Tom Wilson is known for dishing out big — and often borderline — hits, and this particular one might earn him a call from the NHL office.
As the Washington Capitals winger skated toward the bench during Thursday night’s Game 1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, he veered toward Penguins winger Conor Sheary and dropped the UMass product with a knee-on-knee hit.
Though Wilson was not penalized on the play, his hit clearly was dirty and uncalled for. But was it suspension-worthy?
Wilson has never been suspended in his NHL career, though he did receive a match penalty in December for a questionable hit on Ottawa Senators winger Curtis Lazar. The NHL also has been hesitant to hand out substantial supplemental discipline during the postseason.
It’s also worth noting that Sheary was able to return to the game, which the Capitals won 4-3 in overtime to take a 1-0 lead in the second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Image
