Capitals Tom Wilson Gets Big 6-Game Suspension For Nasty High-Stick As Caps Chase Playoff Spot

The Washington Capitals find themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot, but they're going to need to do it without Tom Wilson for six games.

The NHL announced on Friday that Wilson will have to sit out six games starting with Friday night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes thanks to a nasty high stick he committed this week when the Caps played the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Wilson got tied up with Toronto's Noah Gregor. Nothing wild there, but what was wild was when Wilson seemed to blast Gregor across the face with the shaft of his stick.

You can't do that, Tom. The NHL Department of Player Safety decided that was enough for a 6 game suspension.

Wilson claimed to have not done that on purpose, but the DPoS didn't buy that, and said in their video detailing the decision that Wilson was still "reckless"

"While we acknowledge Wilson's assertion that he did not mean to strike Gregor in the face, the fact remains that Wilson's stick is drawn back behind him, then swung forcefully and recklessly into his opponent."

Tough to argue that one. Of course, Wilson is no stranger to suspensions.

This is WIlson's sixth suspension since 2017.

However, this could be one of the most costly suspensions. Not for him, but for his team.

Despite his reputation, Tom Wilson has been pretty productive this season. He has 32 points this year (17G-15A). That's off the pace from his career-high 52 points which he tacked up during the 2021-22 season, but it's still good enough to make him the Capitals' fourth-highest scorer.

Of course, one thing they won't be missing? The fact that he's -20 on the +/- front (although, that actually ties him with Alexander Ovechkin for the worst on the team).

The Caps will need all hands on deck to wrestle their way into a playoff spot, and not having Wilson in the lineup for half a dozen games will make that tougher.