Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson will face a phone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety Thursday afternoon for his hit on Philadelphia Flyers forward Brayden Schenn.
In the Philadelphia zone, during the second period of the Flyers’ 5-2 win over the Caps, Wilson accelerated into Schenn, who flew awkwardly into the boards.
Wilson was handed a five-minute charging major and ejected from the game. The game was tied 2-2 at the time Wilson was assessed his major and the Flyers ended up scoring twice on the power play.
On Wednesday, Schenn told reporters he had a stiff neck but was not diagnosed with a concussion and that his status for Thursday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets is questionable.
“I feel I got really lucky,” Schenn said. “I don’t think I have ever gone head-first into the boards without even getting my arms up or anything like that. I don’t remember much of the play. All I remember was how hard the top of my head actually hit the board. And I don’t remember trying to get up or anything bad. But the good thing is I don’t have a headache or any symptoms today, so that’s a positive sign.”
After the game, Capitals coach Adam Oates and the team’s general manager George McPhee said they felt the hit was clean, while Flyers coach Craig Berube called the play “reckless.”
According to Flyers beat writer Frank Seravalli (https://twitter.com/DNFlyers/status/413362773809446913), Wilson sent Schenn a text to apologize for the play and Schenn responded, saying it was a classy move.
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