Tom Wilson to miss three games vs. Flyers due to seven-game suspension

The Philadelphia Flyers won’t have to worry about Tom Wilson injuring any of their players this week. Unfortunately, it took a hit to the head by Wilson on a vulnerable Brandon Carlo to make that happen.

The NHL suspended Wilson for seven games for his hit to the head on Carlo.

Washington’s Tom Wilson has been suspended for seven games for Boarding Boston’s Brandon Carlo. https://t.co/kKEJL0v4Bq

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 7, 2021

This is Wilson’s fifth suspension in his NHL career.

“What separates this hit from others is the direct and significant contact to a defenseless player’s face and head, causing a violent impact with the glass,” the NHL Department of Player Safety said in their explanation video. “This is a player with a substantial disciplinary record taking advantage of an opponent who is in a defenseless position, and doing so with significant force.”

Carlo left the game and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The Bruins were understandably upset with the hit.

Here are some quotes from the Bruins after the game from our friends over at Boston Hockey Now:

“Well listen, it’s a fast game; they play hard, we play hard,” Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “But I mean you can see it, he clearly hit him in the head. Brandon’s in an ambulance; goes to a hospital obviously from that hit. It clearly looked like to me he got him right in the head. It’s a defenseless player and predatory hit from a player that’s done that before.”

“That was a bullshit hit,” said Brad Marchand during his first-intermission interview with NESN.

"That was a bull**** hit"

Brad Marchand responds to Tom Wilson's hit on Brandon Carlo. pic.twitter.com/HvdBMGKKN3

— NESN (@NESN) March 6, 2021

A seven-game suspension in a 56-game season is the equivalent of a 10-game suspension in a full 82-game season. That wouldn’t even have been Wilson’s longest suspension. He was suspended 20 games – which was then arbitrated down to 14 games – in 2018.

Wilson has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) and 25 penalty minutes in 21 games this season. He has 14 points and 96 penalty minutes in 30 games against the Flyers in his career. That’s the most PIM that Wilson has against a single team in his career.

Wilson will not be available for the Capitals’ three games against the Flyers this week. It is the Flyers’ first three meetings against the Capitals since their 7-4 win in D.C. on February 7th. That was their only other meeting so far this season.

The Flyers and Capitals will play Sunday, Thursday, and Saturday nights this week.