Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson's suspension for his preseason hit to the head of the St. Louis Blues' Oskar Sundqvist has been reduced from 20 games to 14, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The league released an official statement on the ruling:

Wilson is eligible to play in Tuesday night's game against the Minnesota Wild. The team wasted little time in welcoming him back:

He has already missed 16 games, and while he can't get those two contests back, he can recoup that salary.

As ESPN.com's Greg Wyshynski noted at the time of the initial ban, a 20-game suspension would have cost Wilson $1,260,162.60. While that total will be lower, it will still be significant.

Meanwhile, the hit kept Sundqvist off the ice for the start of the regular season. He missed St. Louis' first eight games because of upper-body injuries.

Wilson has been in trouble with the league office several times over the past year-plus. He has been suspended four times since September 2017, including a three-game ban for breaking an opponent's jaw during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.

His hit on Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexander Wennberg during the first round of the 2017-18 postseason was also reviewed but did not garner a suspension. Wennberg miss timed as the result of a concussion sustained during the hit.

Wilson's return should provided a needed boost for Washington, which has gone 7-6-3 (17 points) in his absence. The 24-year-old recorded 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 78 games last season, helping the Capitals win the Stanley Cup with five goals and 10 assists in 21 postseason contests.

There is more to life than sports, something at least one Washington Capitals fan understands.

With Washington hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night, the Capitals decided to honor the victims of last month's anti-Semitic attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh that resulted in 11 deaths. The organization announced that it would donate half of the night's 50-50 raffle to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

That would not be the only amazing gesture on the night, though.

The jackpot wound up being $38,570, meaning the winner would win more than $19,000. However, the Capitals fan who won the 50/50 decided to match the team's act of kindness and donate their winnings as well:

Just an extraordinary gesture.

The Penguins tipped their cap to the Capitals for the support:

Behind the star power of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, Pittsburgh and Washington have been involved in one of the NHL's best rivalries for years. However, for at least one night, the two rivals were able to come together in the wake of a tragedy.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced Thursday he's upheld the 20-game suspension given to Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson for an illegal hit to the head of St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist during a preseason game in September. 

The league confirmed Wilson would forfeit $1.26 million of his salary for the 2018-19 season as part of the punishment. The money goes into the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

John Shannon of Sportsnet reported the 24-year-old forward has seven days to file a new appeal to a neutral discipline arbitrator or accept the remaining portion of the ban.

Wilson, who was punished as a repeat offender, has already sat out the Caps' first eight games of their Stanley Cup defense.

"It's terrible," Wilson told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post about the situation. "The guys go on a one-day road trip, and it feels like you haven't seen them in a month."

Meanwhile, the suspension decision was announced on the same day Sundqvist is expected to return from the injuries, including a concussion, suffered on the check, per Lou Korac of NHL.com.

Sundqvist told Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sunday it was a "pretty bad hit" and explained his mindset about the situation.

"We'll see what happens then, but I hope (Wilson) has learned his lesson," Sundqvist said. "I mean, this is not the first time. I think they want to show him that this isn't OK anymore. But I don't know. I'm trying not to think about it too much. Just trying to recover and get healthy and get back on the ice."

If Wilson opts to end the appeal process, he will be eligible to return on Nov. 21 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The NHL Players' Association filed an appeal on behalf of Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson on Friday.

According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com), Wilson is appealing the 20-game suspension he was dealt by the NHL for an illegal check to the head on St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist in the Caps' preseason finale.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will hear the appeal on a yet-to-be-determined date.

Wilson sat out a season-opening 7-0 win over the Boston Bruins and Thursday's 7-6 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 24-year-old is considered a repeat offender by the NHL since he has been suspended four times dating back to last season.

That included a three-game suspension during last season's playoffs for an illegal check on Pens forward Zach Aston-Reese.

If the NHL upholds Wilson's 20-game suspension, he will lose a total of $1.26 million in salary after signing a six-year contract extension worth $31 million in July.

Wilson is a sixth-year NHL player who is coming off his most productive season, as he registered 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points during the 2017-18 regular season, adding 15 points in 21 playoff games en route to Washington's Stanley Cup triumph.

He was also second in the NHL last season with 187 penalty minutes.

If Wilson's suspension is upheld, he will be eligible to return Nov. 21, when the Capitals host the Chicago Blackhawks.

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson received a 20-game suspension from the NHL for an illegal check on St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist during the preseason. 

NHL Player Safety announced the punishment Wednesday.

Wilson made contact with Sundqvist's head while delivering a crushing hit as the Blues forward cut into the middle of the ice during the second period of Sunday's exhibition contest. He was given a 10-minute misconduct penalty and ejected from the game.

St. Louis head coach Mike Yeo, who said the center was "in a bad spot right now" because of injuries suffered on the play, took aim at Wilson's style of play, per Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.

"It was predatory, and that is what he's done, and he's done that against us, so that's the way he plays the game," Yeo said. "We'll see what the league does."

Meanwhile, Caps general manager Brian MacLellan said Wilson must adjust his physical play in order to stay within the rules moving forward, according to the Washington Post's Barry Svrluga.

"He needs to be aware of how they're determining what's legal and what's illegal from the league's standpoint," MacLellan said.

Washington signed Wilson to a six-year, $31 million contract extension in July.

The 24-year-old Toronto native has 48 hours to appeal the decision. Dan Rosen of NHL.com provided further information about the process:

If Wilson accepts the 20-game ban, he'd be eligible to return Nov. 21 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The regular season hasn't even started and Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson is already in trouble for an illegal hit.

According to Emily Kaplan of ESPN, Wilson is set to have an in-person meeting with the NHL's Department of Player Safety, which could lead to a suspension of six games or more. The latest issue stems from an illegal check to the head against St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist during Sunday's preseason game.

Wilson was ejected from the game, which was the final preseason matchup before the regular-season opener on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sundqvist had to be helped off the ice after initially laying motionless.

"He's definitely hurt," Blues head coach Mike Yeo said of Sundqvist on Sunday, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "Obviously, he hasn't seen a doctor yet, but I would be surprised if he didn't miss a decent amount of time here."

Wilson is coming off his best offensive season in the NHL, with 14 goals and 21 assists. He was even better in the playoffs, with 15 points in 21 games during the Capitals' run to the Stanley Cup title.

However, his role as an enforcer is well-known as he ranked second in the league with 187 penalty minutes in 2017-18. He was also suspended three different times during last season, including a three-game suspension in the second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 24-year-old's history could lead to a larger suspension for the latest incident.

Hockey players who long envisioned doing a keg stand on the Stanley Cup may no longer have the chance to fulfill their dreams.

And they have the Washington Capitals to blame. 

Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post chronicled some of the Capitals' celebrations this summer after they won their first Stanley Cup and noted the team's players were the first to ever attempt a keg stand over the fabled trophy.

Even Jimmy Fallon participated in the celebration with Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby and Mike Smith:

Philip Pritchard, who is one of the Hockey Hall of Fame caretakers for the Stanley Cup, was quoted in the story as saying he has been "advising" Washington to stop the keg stands.

"We ask them politely not to do it," Pritchard said. "We're trying to preserve the history of the Stanley Cup. We don't want any unnecessary damage to it or a person, in case they drop the person or he presses too hard or something."

Khurshudyan noted "future champions could be prohibited from replicating Washington's trademark celebration."

The Capitals made history after putting an end to their 43-year championship drought, and they may have a hand in limiting the creativity with which future champions celebrate.

Washington Capitals forward Chandler Stephenson brought the Stanley Cup to Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada, on Friday.

According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com), Stephenson honored the 16 people who died in a bus crash in April.

The bus was transporting the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team to a playoff game in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, Canada. Ten of those who died were players.

Official Stanley Cup keeper Philip Pritchard tweeted a photo of the Cup at a memorial where the bus crash occurred:

Stephenson is a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, native who met privately with survivors of the crash before bringing the Stanley Cup inside Elgar Petersen Arena.

Per the Associated Press, the 24-year-old Stephenson is friends with crash survivors Kaleb Dahlgren and Brayden Camrud.

The visit was dubbed "Humboldt Hockey Day," and it was organized by the NHL and NHL players' union.

Last season was Stephenson's third with the Capitals but the first in which he appeared in more than nine games.

In 67 regular-season games, he registered six goals and 12 assists for 18 points. Stephenson also contributed two goals and five assists for seven points in 24 playoff games.

It has been an eventful summer for Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin both on and off the ice. 

In June, Ovechkin was able to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time 14 years after being drafted No. 1 overall. Fast-forward to Saturday, and the 32-year-old and his wife, Nastya, welcomed their first child, Sergei Aleksandrovich Ovechkin:

According to the Washington Post's Jacob Bogage, Sergei was named after Alex's late brother, who died when the Capitals star was just 10 years old.   

Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin won the 2018 ESPYs Award for Best Male Athlete on Wednesday.

He beat out 2017 American League MVP Jose Altuve, 2017 NFL MVP Tom Brady and 2017-18 NBA MVP James Harden.

Ovechkin had yet another terrific season, piling up 49 goals, 38 assists and 87 total points while leading Washington to the Metropolitan Division crown.

And while his regular-season numbers make him a worthy candidate, it's what he did during the postseason that put him over the top. The Capitals captain earned the Conn Smythe Trophy by netting a career-high 15 goals, 12 assists and 27 points while leading his team to its first-ever Stanley Cup title.

The path to the Cup was far from easy, though. Washington had to overcome a 2-0 hole against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round, overcome the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins in the next, beat the top seed in the East in the conference final and end Marc-Andre Fleury and the Vegas Golden Knights' Cinderella story in the final.

The 2017-18 season allowed Ovechkin to add the elusive championship to his resume. Now, the summer of Ovi continues with this latest accolade.

Ovechkin is the first NHL player to win the ESPY for Best Male Athlete. He snaps a dominant eight-year run by the NBA, and hockey becomes the eighth sport to produce a winner.