Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy tore Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for what he called “a predatory hit” on defender Brandon Carlo in Friday night’s game at TD Garden.
Carlo went down after Wilson went hands-high to his head in the corner behind the Boston net, smashing the defender’s head into the glass with 90 seconds remaining in the first period. Carlo absorbed a cross check from Jakub Vrana on the way to the ice and stayed there for several minutes.
Cassidy said that Carlo left the arena in an ambulance and went to a hospital, but could not confirm that he had suffered a concussion.
“It seemed clear to me that he was getting it right in the head. A defenseless player, a predatory hit from a player who has done that before,” Cassidy said of Wilson. ‘I don’t understand why no penalty kick was given on the ice. They huddled, but I couldn’t explain why. ‘
During his eight-year career with the Capitals, Wilson was one of the most punished – and most banned – players in the NHL. He is 10th of the active players for penalty minutes and only follows those who have been in the league for five years or more than he is.
He was not made available for comment after the game.
The music went silent in the empty arena after Carlo was injured, and the Bruins’ bench could be heard screaming out for Wilson. When Carlo finally got to his skates, the only sound was his teammates hitting the boards with their sticks.
No fine was imposed.
When the teams came out for the second period, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron skated to Wilson and spoke to him as he stretched out. Capitals star Alex Ovechkin skated past to keep an eye on the situation, just like an official.
Players started pushing each other after the next whistle, and Capitals defender Brenden Dillon was sent off for roughing in a transparent makeup summons. With about six minutes passed in that period, Jarred Tinordi and Wilson of Boston dropped their gloves.
“Sometimes when things like that happen and there is no call, the players arrange it their own way on the ice, and we felt like we were pushing back and doing what we could do and winning the hockey game, and trying that certain player knows that was not necessary, ”said Cassidy.
He added, “I assume it will be watched by the National Hockey League.”
The Bruins responded to Wilson’s hit with a second period of three goals and went on another in the third to win 5-1.
“Put the fight aside, the boys came out with four goals [in a row] there, ” said Tinordi, who has only played his second game with the Bruins since they claimed him on waivers from Nashville.
“How tight this group is, I am not surprised that the boys react big after one of our boys goes down. You can’t have boys taking liberties with our players out there.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.