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Greg WyshynskiESPN
WASHINGTON – Before the Washington Capitals brandished their first ever Stanley Cup franchise history banner at the opening night of the NHL season, every team member was introduced to the raucous crowd. Among them, Tom Wilson, the 24-year-old physical and fan favorite, received one of the highest standing ovations.
Unless he wins a call, this will be the last time Wilson will take on the Capitals uniform. He was suspended 20 times by the NHL's Department of Player Safety just hours before Washington's 7-0 win against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night. The incident was an illegal check on the head of St. Louis Blues striker Oskar Sundqvist in a preseason game last Sunday. But the enormity of the suspension is the result of Wilson's fourth ban on 105 matches.
As delighted that the Capitals are following an emphatic victory and an ultimate celebration of their championship, they are also unhappy with the league's decision to pitch the book to Wilson.
"If I say what I think, they will also suspend me," said center Evgeny Kuznetsov.
"Honestly, I think it's garbage," said winger Devante Smith-Pelly at ESPN. "We watched a league video saying that the hits are good and those are not, they have been showing much worse hits than that … maybe not in effect, but in terms of the head, – called "allowed." I guess it just has a different rule book, and I think it's a trash bin, honestly. "
The Department of Player Safety argued that it was not just the nature of the shot, but the unprecedented frequency of Wilson suspensions. There were only 16 games between Wilson's last suspension, for breaking Pittsburgh Penguins' Zach Aston-Reese's jaw in Match 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, and this one.
"It's good, but you have to look at every shot. [suspend] because that's him, "said Smith-Pelly. We all think that he has gone through the shoulder. The guy has a separate shoulder. Just because it's him, you do not have to make a statement. "
Capitals winger T.J. Oshie learned about the suspension when he arrived at the game around 5 pm. AND. He sent a message of support to Wilson. He then took him in his arms when he saw him in the locker room.
"He wants to be with us, he won a good contract and he loses a quarter," said Oshie.
Wilson will lose $ 1,260,162.60 if the suspension is maintained. He has the right to call a neutral referee because his suspension is greater than six games.
Oshie contrasted Wilson's actions with those of the Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand, who was inflicted an instigator penalty and misconduct for hitting center-stage Lars Eller in the third period, resulting in a fight in which he blew the Washington player.
"I think it's unfortunate for Tom that the league gives him the example.They set the standards.They want to eliminate the dirty stuff from the game," Oshie said. "At least Tom's game was on the ice, he was hitting a guy who already had the puck a few milliseconds ago, and then you see tonight the sucker [Lars] Eller took. They set the standard. Marchand has a story. We hope that they will do what they are supposed to do and take care of their business. "
Wilson's suspension was off ice on Wednesday. On the ice, the Capitals dispelled any uncertainty over the Stanley Cup hangover by taking the Bruins out of the arena. They had a 2-0 lead in the first minute, 47 seconds of the match. At the 7:28 mark of the second period, he was 5-0 and the Bruins leave Tuukka Rask (14 saves) was coached by Bruce Cassidy for Jaroslav Halak, making his Boston debut.
"They were in shock," said captain Alex Ovechkin, who gave a last kiss to the Stanley Cup at the end of the pre-game ceremony. "We had some lucky rebounds and we had another one, and after that, we settled in and played our game."
Ovechkin, Eller, Oshie, the new Capitals center, Nic Dowd, and defenseman John Carlson each had a goal. Kuznetsov had two.
Capitals fans chanted "back to back!" in the last moments of the eruption, echoing a song that Oshie had started during their championship parade in June.
"I said it because I believe it, we have a lot of guys here who, not so long ago, raised the Stanley Cup above our heads, so little has changed." said Oshie. "Obviously tonight it's the first game, but the way we played did the little things, that's what got us the Stanley Cup last year, and that's what it's all about." It's still in our game now, so I believe it. "
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