WASHINGTON -- Tom Wilson's knee-on-knee hit on Conor Sheary knocked the diminutive Pittsburgh Penguins forward out of Game 1 temporarily but could cost the Washington Capitals bruiser much more time in the second-round series.
Wilson sent Sheary helicoptering to the ice with his left knee four minutes into the third period of the Capitals' 4-3 overtime victory Thursday night. Sheary hobbled to the nearby bench in pain and missed a few shifts, while Wilson was not penalized.
The NHL department of player safety, which reviews all questionable plays, could call Wilson for a hearing about the incident.
"Those guys, they're pretty diligent with their job. I'm sure they'll look at everything," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "They'll do whatever they think is appropriate."
Game 2 is Saturday night.
Sullivan said he didn't get an explanation from referees Dan O'Rourke and Chris Lee about why there wasn't a kneeing penalty called on Wilson. He also wasn't concerned about that.
"We're just going to play hockey, and the refs are going to call it the way they see it," Sullivan said. "Our guys are going to play."
Capitals coach Barry Trotz said he didn't see the play because it was right in front of the benches and didn't want to comment.
Sheary said he had "some little things that were nagging" him after a physical five-game first-round series against the New York Rangers, so he didn't skate Tuesday or Wednesday. Sheary took 10 shifts after the knee-on-knee hit from Wilson and finished with 18:42 of ice time.