Wilson suspended 20 games

[bustaheims]

A few things worked in Reaves' favour here (other than who he hit):

1. As others have pointed out, Wilson's head is not the principle point of contact.
2. Most of the momentum for the hit was generated by Wilson - Reaves is basically skating in a straight line, and Wilson comes in from the side.
3. Reaves looks to be chasing the puck, rather than looking for the hit. Obviously, he took advantage of the opportunity, but, if his intent was to hit Wilson here, he masks that intent well enough to create doubt.

There was definitely some back and forth over the course of the night, which wouldn't have worked in Reaves' favour, but, all things considered (especially considering the league's quite recent history of not punishing Wilson for a more dangerous hit), not suspending him was the right call.

 

[cabber24]

The biggest problem I have with this hit is Reaves referring to himself as a lion in the jungle.

 

[bustaheims]

The biggest problem I have with this hit is Reaves referring to himself as a lion in the jungle.

Agreed. His knowledge of feline habitats is underwhelming.

 

[herman]

Well...

JUNGLE is a word in Hindi meaning "not an inhabited place". The word covers forest, wilderness, wold, waste, even the world (without human structures). The emphasis is on emptiness. Much of what is called jungle in India is steppe or nearly desert.
Jim McManus, Wheaton Aston, Staffs.

[...]

On this point it is true that the local word "jungli" means wild or uncivilised lands i.e. not inhabited by humans. However I would point out that there is tropical forest in the Western Ghats of India and that these did at one time hold populations of lions and many other wild creatures.
Afatab Hussain, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Very clearly shoulder to shoulder in this case.

I'm fine with there being no discipline here as it conforms to the pattern the NHL has set and, you know, it's Wilson but this does expose pretty spectacularly the idea that blindside shoulder to shoulder hits are any safer and that the NHL's discipline program has anything to do with protecting players.

Bill Masterton didn't get killed because he got hit in the head, he died because of hitting his head on the ice.

That's fine, how bout Wilson tightens down on the old chin strap. ....A shoulder to shoulder of that magnitude shouldn't cause the helmet to pop 8 feet in the air.