Capitals' Tom Wilson suspended 6 games for high-sticking incident - ESPN

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has been suspended six games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for a high stick to the head of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor on Wednesday night.

This is the sixth suspension of Wilson's career and his first since 2021.

Gregor was skating into the Capitals zone when Wilson, who was back-checking, checked Gregor against the boards to force a turnover. After the hit, Gregor and Wilson were separating when Wilson's stick struck Gregor in the face. Wilson immediately turned back to Gregor to check on him while appearing to show contrition for the incident before receiving a double minor at 12:15 of the third period.

«Wilson draws his stick back and then swings it forward in an extremely reckless fashion, making direct and forceful contact with Gregor's face,» NHL Player Safety said in its ruling Friday.

NHL Player Safety also said in its ruling that Wilson was «solely in control of his actions» throughout the play. NHL Player Safety also acknowledged that while Wilson didn't mean to strike Gregor in the face, Wilson's stick was drawn behind him before it was «swung forcefully and recklessly into his opponent.»

«Wilson's actions on this play are fully under his own control, irresponsible and not related to any sort of legitimate hockey action,» NHL Player Safety said in the ruling. «He is accountable for the dangerous result of the play which is a direct and forceful blow to an opponent's head by a player with a substantial track record of supplemental discipline.»

His most recent suspension in 2021 was seven games for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo. It was the second-longest suspension of Wilson's career with the longest coming in the 2018-19 preseason