Capitals’ Tom Wilson Gets Three-Game Suspension For Jaw-Breaking Hit On Penguins Player [VIDEO]

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson will miss three games after dealing a vicious hit to a Pittsburgh Penguins player on Tuesday night that left the latter with a broken jaw.

Capitals’ Tom Wilson Suspended 3 Games

Wilson received a three-game suspension for illegally checking forward Zach Aston-Reese in the head during the second period of the Capitals’ 4-3 Game 3 victory in Pittsburgh. The hit was so hard that Aston-Reese crashed immediately onto the ice while Wilson fell back into his team’s bench. Washington leads the second-round series 2-1.

Aston-Reese also sustained a concussion after the nasty hit, which left him with a bloodied face. Wilson previously landed a big hit on Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin in Game 2. Dumoulin left after that incident.

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Wilson previously earned two suspensions during the preseason, and didn’t receive penalties on either of his two latest hits during this year’s playoffs. According to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, a two-game suspension would have been more appropriate to punish Wilson.

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The winger also knocked Columbus’s Alex Wennberg out of a game in Round 1 of the playoffs with a big hit, and was called for charging. However, the NHL was unable to assess the exact contact point in that incident. In the case involving Aston-Reese, a broken jaw seemed to have been enough for the league to justify a multi-game suspension.

Wilson thus won’t return to his team’s lineup until Game 7 on May 9. Game 4 is set for Thursday at 7pm EST in Pittsburgh. The contest will air on NBC Sports.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri was also recently suspended three games for a boarding penalty that left the Boston Bruins’ Tommy Wingels hurt.