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Capitals' Wilson blindsides Golden Knights' Marchessault

By Alex Butler
NHL Linesmen Devin Berg escorts Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) to the penalty box. Photo by Alex Edelman/UPI
NHL Linesmen Devin Berg escorts Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) to the penalty box. Photo by Alex Edelman/UPI | License Photo

May 29 (UPI) -- Jonathan Marchessault wants the NHL to review a blindside hit he took from Tom Wilson in the third period of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Machessault's Vegas Golden Knights were tied 4-4 with the Washington Capitals with about 14 minutes remaining in the contest when the collision occurred Monday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights star had just given a pass to Reilly Smith and was skating away from the action when Wilson came cruising in and laid him out on the ice.

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Marchessault doubled over on the frozen floor and went to the bench after the play. The Golden Knights tried to confront Wilson for the hit, but he was taken to the penalty box with a minor. Wilson registered nine hits in the opening game of the Stanley Cup finals.

"I had the puck," Marchessault told reporters. "I was trying to make a play. I see the puck going away. A couple seconds late. I don't really have to talk about it. I think the league is going to take care of it."

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Marchessault registered an assist in the 6-4 victory. Wilson scored against Marc-Andre Fleury 1:10 into the third period.

"He might have been a little bit surprised by it but it wasn't an aggressive hit," Wilson told reporters. "He looked fine at the end when he was yelling at me from the bench and wooing. It was just a hockey play."

"I believe it was a good clean hit. It's playoff hockey, there's going to be big hits, it's a contact sport."

Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant told reporters he thought Wilson deserved a major penalty.

"When you are watching it live, you don't see that. But when you see it on video, he hit him really late and really hard and he went after him pretty good," Gallant said.

Capitals coach Barry Trotz said he expects to have Wilson available for Game 2. The Golden Knights and Capitals face off at 8 p.m. Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Wilson was given a three-game suspension from the Stanley Cup playoffs earlier this month for a check to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese.

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