The Capitals’ Tom Wilson and the Blue Jackets’ Josh Anderson have avoided suspensions from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety according to the Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan.
Both players doled out dangerous blindside hits which injured players.
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Wilson’s hit occurred one minute and eighteen seconds into the third period. Wilson lined up Alexander Wennberg and followed through on the Blue Jackets forward, making contact to the head.
Wennberg did not return to the game.
Jarmo Kekalainenon called Wilson’s hit “dangerous” after the game.
#CBJ Jarmo Kekalainenon Josh Anderson hit … “one of those hits that happens fast … I didn’t agree with the call, let’s leave it at that.”
On Wilson’s hit on Wennberg … “it was a dangerous hit."
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) April 13, 2018
Wennberg is “doubtful” for Game Two.
Alexander Wennberg is “doubtful” for Sunday’s Game 2 between Caps and CBJ.
Expecting an update on Kempny at some point today.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 13, 2018
According to Khurshudyan, Wilson avoided supplemental discipline because DoPS “could not determine whether or not Wennberg’s head was the main point of contact.”
Meanwhile, Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson will not be suspended for his check in the numbers of Michal Kempny. Anderson received a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.
Kempny bled from the face as he left the ice and did not return to the game.
Friday afternoon, the Capitals announced that Kempny is day-to-day. His status will for Game Two is unknown. “[Kempny] is being re-evaluated today by team physicians and we will have more on his status tomorrow,” the Capitals said through a spokesman.
