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Tom Wilson gets 20-game suspension for hit as NHL season begins

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) battles with St. Louis Blues right wing Dmitrij Jaskin (23) and defenseman Niko Mikkola, right, during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2018, file photo, St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist (70), of Sweden, is tended to by a trainer after he was checked by Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson, not seen, during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game,in Washington. Also seen are Blues defenseman Vince Dunn (29), St. Louis Blues left wing Mackenzie MacEachern (62) and St. Louis Blues right wing Dmitrij Jaskin (23), of Russia. Wilson has been suspended 20 games by the NHL for a blindside hit to the head of an opponent during a preseason game. Wilson's punishment was announced Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, just hours before the reigning Stanley Cup champion Capitals were to raise their banner and open their title defense by hosting the Boston Bruins to begin the regular season. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist, second from left, is helped off the ice by right wing Dmitrij Jaskin (23) and defenseman Vince Dunn (29) during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game after he was checked by Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
FILE - In this May 1, 2018, file photo, Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson sits on the bench after colliding with with Pittsburgh Penguins' Zach Aston-Reese (46) during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh. Wilson has been suspended 20 games by the NHL for a blindside hit to the head of an opponent during a preseason game. Wilson's punishment was announced Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, just hours before the reigning Stanley Cup champion Capitals were to raise their banner and open their title defense by hosting the Boston Bruins to begin the regular season. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist (70), of Sweden, is tended to after he was checked by Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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The Associated Press
October 3, 2018 - 1:18 pm
 

WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has been suspended 20 games by the NHL for a blindside hit to the head of an opponent during a preseason game.

Wilson’s punishment was announced Wednesday, just hours before the reigning Stanley Cup champion Capitals were to raise their banner and open their title defense by hosting the Boston Bruins to begin the regular season.

The physical right winger, who plays on Washington’s top line with captain Alex Ovechkin, drew a 10-minute penalty for the way he hit St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist in the second period of the teams’ exhibition game on Sunday.

Wilson’s hit on Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in May was described as a “wake-up call,” by some Knights players. Wilson was not suspended in that instance.

Wilson had an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety in New York on Wednesday.

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