Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy slammed Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for what he called a “robbery success” on defender Brandon Carlo in Friday night’s game at TD Garden.
Carlo went down after Wilson went with his head to head in the corner behind the Boston net, hitting the defender’s head into the glass with 90 seconds left in the first period. Carlo absorbed a cross check from Jakub Vrana on the way to the ice and stayed there for a few minutes.
According to Cassidy, 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 he was getting it in his head. A defenseless player, a robbery of a player who has already done it,” Cassidy said of Wilson. “I do not understand why no punishment was called on the ice. They gathered, but I did not get an explanation.”
During his eight-year career with the Capitals, Wilson was one of the most penalized – and most suspended – players in the NHL. He is a tenth place among active players for penalty minutes, and only follows those who have been in the league five or more years longer than him.
He was not made available for comment after the match.
The music fell silent in the empty arena after Carlo was injured, and the Bruins bench Wilson could be heard speaking. When Carlo finally skated, the only sound was that his teammates were bumping their sticks against the boards.
No penalty was imposed.
When the teams ran out for the second period, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron switched to Wilson and spoke to him as he stretched out. Capital star Alex Ovechkin skates through to monitor the situation, as well as an official.
Players started pushing each other after the next whistle, and Capitals defender Brenden Dillon was sent off in a transparent make-up call for a rough position. With about six minutes left in the period, Jarred Tinordi and Wilson of Boston put down their gloves.
“Sometimes when things happen and there is no call, the players put it on the ice in their own way, and we feel like we’re pushing back and doing what we can and winning the hockey game, and trying to let that player know. that it was unnecessary, ”Cassidy said.
He added: “I assume it will be watched by the National Hockey League.”
The Bruins responded to the hit from Wilson with a second period of three goals and tackled another in the third to win 5-1.
‘Put the fight aside, the guys came out with four goals [in a row] there, ” said Tinordi, who only played his second game with the Bruins because they demanded his resignation from Nashville.
‘How close this group is, I’m not surprised to see the boys react in a big way after one of our guys left. You can’t not let guys take freedom with our players out there. ‘
The Associated Press contributed to this report.