Tom Wilson has never been afraid to throw his weight around and he added Colorado Avalanche forward Nikita Zadorov to his growing list of victims.
The Washington Capitals bruiser hammered Zadorov with a devastating hit from behind the Avalanche net in the second period of Friday’s game. A woozy Zadorov stayed on the ice for approximately one minute before he was assisted to the dressing by teammates and Colorado’s athletic trainer. Wilson was not penalized on the play and it was later announced Zadorov would not return.
Heading into Friday’s action, Wilson had racked up 477 penalty minutes in 225 career NHL games. His 154 PIMs this season are second only to Derek Dorsett of the Vancouver Canucks.
Despite delivering many crushing (at times questionable) hits the 22-year-old has never been suspended.
Earlier this season, he was tossed for this hit from behind on Brian Campbell.
Six nights after his hit on Campbell he received a match penalty for this play on Curtis Lazar of the Ottawa Senators. After reviewing the play, however, the NHL rescinded the penalty.
Last season, during an opening-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, Wilson was given a charging penalty for this bone-crushing hit on Lubomir Visnovsky.
Two seasons ago, Wilson had a phone hearing for this hit on former Flyers forward Brayden Schenn. Wilson avoided supplemental discipline.
