- The Washington Times - Saturday, September 23, 2017

Tom Wilson is already in midseason form.

The Capitals forward was suspended two preseason games for a hit delivered on St. Louis’ Robert Thomas in the third period of Friday’s 4-0 loss. He met Saturday with the NHL’s department of player safety, who handed down the ban.

Wilson was set to play in Saturday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, but became a late scratch because of his hearing. The department of player safety determined Wilson committed “interference,” or when a player uses his body to impede an opponent with no play on the puck.

Wilson delivered a blindside hit to Thomas near the Blues’ bench.

Asked if he was surprised Wilson earned a hearing, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said he was “a little bit.”

“I saw it real briefly on the monitor like I always do,” Trotz said. “I didn’t think much of it. Obviously, they did. … So I was a little surprised. Whatever decision that they have, we’ll handle it. They do a good job.”

Wilson also got into a fight with Blues forward Dmitrij Jaskin shortly after the hit.

After Friday’s game, Trotz said he had no problem with Wilson’s scrap, noting Jaskin initiated it.

“It energized our bench after that,” Trotz said. “Tom was competing on that, played it hard and good things happened from that. Tom is not afraid if someone knocks on his door, he’s not afraid to open the door.”

• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.

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