I'm looking forward to their "proof" the hit was illegal or initially to the head..
HELLS TO THE FUCKING YES. Great post here.
Exactly what the replay showed in slow motion. Wilson came in with speed, shoulder his shoulder and because of the angle of Reese and Wilson gaining height and lifting off the ground after contact, you'll notice here when he makes contact since this image is the exact moment that happens, his skates are both on the ice. The impact sends him in the air, and he rides through into the falling players head to make unfortunate contact.
As far as I'm concerned this is not a suspendable hit. I recognize the NHL is giving him a hearing, but maybe he'll just be fined or even just talked to. It could just be a stern talking to to pay attention. I'm not against the NHL trying to make the game safer, hell I'd even wouldn't of fought a 2 minute roughing penalty on the play, if only because the NHL wants to be more safe on shots that result in injuries or end up in the head. While I may not fully agree with it, at least that is consistent to the level of how Wilson was playing.
But Wilson wasn't trying to cheap shot this kid, he wasn't gooning him, and has been well reserved this entire series. The Pens have literally nothing to get up in arms about with Wilson. On the Dumoulin hit in one of the earlier games, it was clear the defender turned into Wilson as he was chasing him. Wilson almost looked to miss him, had Dumoulin been a man and just braced for Ovechkins check. Instead his recklessness and Wilsons to a slight degree combine for a unfortunate collison. Ovechkin coming in doesn't help that either, but that is the nature of a high speed physical game. Collisions happen. Unfortunate.
So for the Pens fans to paint this shit like Wilson has been cheap shotting their guys. Forget just diving on the ice that is some political ass play the system, play the social media reactions, bullshit. Wilson has played clean these playoffs. Again, if you want to protect the players and say Wilson has got to try to be a bit more away of who he is hitting size wise to try and avoid the head, and call it a 2 minute roughing on that with a warning. Sure. Absolutely. But Wilson is allowed to hit, and according to the rule book as it's written (principal point of contact on head shots is still the ruling) he was playing within the rules.
I also think it's hilarious how literally all of the Canadian Media is calling it a clean hockey check, the refs on the ice called it. Like the only people getting uppity are the Pens fans and then forcing it to be this big controversy. This is hockey folks, just because they have the weakest and whiniest Captain in a sea of tough hockey players doesn't make gritty players like Wilson goons. The fact that people on the Pens side demonize him is so harsh. It's hilarious to see them say he gets away with everything, when literally in the CBJ series he sneezed on someone and it was "roughing."
None the less, yes great image here. One hundred percent contacted the shoulder first, with arms tucked, leaned even to lower himself for the shoulder on shoulder contact. Wilson was not anticipating the velocity he had coming in, or that he'd rise, otherwise why would he lean like that to hit him clean? If Wilson WANTED to blast that kid in the head there in that situation he very much could of and it would of been a hell of a lot worse. He could of ended that kids career there honestly. Not saying he should of, but I just don't see how that isn't a clean check. The lean, the tuck, it's all clean. This controversy is so typical of the Pens fans, who seem to have embodied Crosby despite winning all these cups they can't show a hint of humility and just accept that they were out worked by some hard plays in Game 3.
