Wilson on Stralman's hit: If I did that, '100 percent' I'm getting suspended

Tom Wilson thinks Anton Stralman's hit from behind on him in Tuesday night's game would be scrutinized by the NHL had the Washington Capitals pest been the one initiating the contact.

The Lightning defenseman drove Wilson into the boards about nine minutes into the first period of Game 3, and he was assessed a minor penalty as a result.

"I don't really know (what warrants supplemental discipline) any more," Wilson told reporters, including NBC Sports Washington's Tarik El-Bashir, after the Lightning cut the Capitals' series lead to 2-1 with a 4-2 win in the Eastern Conference Final. "I don't really know, but if anyone wants to feel the goose egg on the side of my head ... He leaves his feet, I'm in a pretty vulnerable spot, and he drives my head through the glass."

After continuing to state his case for why it should be examined by the Department of Player Safety, Wilson essentially said that entity has a responsibility to do so.

"It's their job to take a look at the hit, for sure. I think they're probably reviewing it. I don't know how much goes into it. I can tell you, if it's maybe the other way around, you better believe they're looking at it, and you better believe there might be a little more attention on it."

Wilson understands his reputation as a player who's been suspended for hits like this before - sitting out the final three games in the previous round for a headshot on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese - but he doesn't think his history is relevant when he's on the receiving end.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "It's a vulnerable position, and there's no doubt there was contact with my head. If I'm wearing a helmet from five years ago, I think I'm probably unconscious, so we'll see what they say. We're going to keep driving forward here, (and) we can't let that be an excuse. I'm not here to complain about anything. I'm just talking about it for the better of the game and for the better of player safety."

"Everything I've talked to them about this year, that's it right there," he continued, referring again to his history and Stralman's hit Tuesday night. "That's a lot of don'ts for me. From what they've been telling me, that's a lot of don'ts. If I make that hit, 100 percent (chance) I'm probably sitting out, so we'll see."

Wilson concluded by clarifying that he doesn't think Stralman is a malicious player "at all," but added that he thought it was a "pretty dangerous hit."