FlaHockeyNow just reported that Tom Wilson will not be suspended for his boarding hit on Sandis Vilmanis, and the Panthers beat calls it wrong.
Wilson was ejected Saturday in Washington after the hit, and Vilmanis had to be helped off the ice. We covered the ugly moment in real time with Tom Wilson's ejection for the Vilmanis hit.
The reaction from the Florida side came this morning, and it wasn't subtle. FlaHockeyNow posted that there is no suspension and added, in the post's own words, "That's Wrong."
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The league's explanation for passing on discipline is not in our sources, so we won't guess at it. No fine and no hearing has been reported either.
For readers outside Florida, Wilson is the 32-year-old Capitals right winger, a physical player who has 45 penalty minutes through 15 games this season. Vilmanis is a 22-year-old Panthers winger who plays a straight-line, north-south game himself.
Wilson has spoken about the play. RMNB relayed what he said after the game, including a message to the other room.
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According to RMNB, Wilson said, "I was trying to make a north-south hit," and he added that he reached out to Florida's locker room afterward: "I hope he's good, wish him well."
A five-minute major and a game misconduct are about as loud as an on-ice verdict gets, and the Tom Wilson no-discipline decision from Sunday left that as the only punishment. A hit that ends a player's night and a player's afternoon in an ejection deserves a longer explanation than silence. Panthers fans have every right to be angry about it.
What the ruling leaves for Vilmanis and the Panthers
Vilmanis, a fifth-round pick in 2022, has been a useful depth piece for Florida this season with 3 goals and 4 assists in 16 games. His status for tonight is unknown, and we won't speculate on it.
The Panthers are at Columbus tonight, riding a two-game skid after Sunday's 4-1 loss in Boston. The Blue Jackets are 28th in the NHL and just 1-5-0 on the road, but they are 6-3-0 at home, so Florida can't treat this as a gift.
Head coach Paul Maurice will get the first chance to say how his room feels about the ruling.
Quick hits
WINNIPEG JETS: Connor Hellebuyck won't start for the Devils in Winnipeg tonight, Chris Johnston reports, but he'll still hear the boos. The return was always going to be loud. Skipping the start won't mute the building.
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NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Jake Allen is expected to start in Winnipeg tonight against the Jets, James Nichols reports. That's a big spot for a backup on a night with plenty of noise around the other crease.
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NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Bo Horvat had a blunt message for the Islanders after last night's shootout loss in San Jose: get back to the team you were early on. When the captain says it publicly, the room has heard it already.
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Also read on Markerzone.com:
Tom Wilson gets tossed after a insane boarding hit on Sandis Vilmanis
