Why Tom Wilson’s Hit On Anton Blidh Is A Clean Hockey Play That Resulted In No Call

Tom Wilson doesn’t have the best reputation in Beantown, and controversy broke out once again as No. 43 delivered a huge hit on Anton Blidh in the opening period of the Washington Capitals’ Thursday tilt with the Boston Bruins.

Blidh was in the offensive zone on the penalty kill and making a drop pass when Wilson came in for a big hit that send Blidh back and down hard to the ice. The Bruins forward was helped off the ice and down the tunnel alongside an athletic trainer. There was no call on the play — and there shouldn’t have been. Nor should there be any supplemental discipline, as the hit wasn’t a dirty play.

Ultimately, it’s a clean, textbook hockey hit.

First off, Wilson isn’t targeting Blidh’s head, nor does he pull off an illegal check to the head. Wilson lines up Blidh and goes in for the check, delivering a shoulder-to-chest hit. The Washington winger doesn’t leave his feet to make the play and glides into the hit. It doesn’t appear to violate the NHL rulebook, either.

Here’s another look at the play:

Tom Wilson with a big hit on Anton Blidh. Blidh to the locker room pic.twitter.com/6kkwcXeouz

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) January 21, 2022

Wilson has played a cleaner game this season and has not had any run-ins with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, nor has he received any suspensions. He has had just two major penalties so far this season, both of those being his only two fights of the season (one on Dec. 6 vs. Anaheim and another on Dec. 29 vs. Nashville).

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Instead, the Capitals alternate captain has been taking on more of a leadership role and focusing on top-6 production with Washington battling injuries up and down the lineup. Through 36 games, Wilson has dished 12 goals and 28 points, and he is on a three-game goal-scoring streak.