Tom Wilson Ejected for Boarding Sandis Vilmanis
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for a boarding hit on Florida Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Hockey
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson delivered a boarding hit on Florida Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis in the first period, drawing a five-minute major and game misconduct that was upheld after review. Vilmanis left the game after the hit, and Florida's Brady Tkachuk scored on the ensuing power play.
Why it matters
The penalty removed Wilson from the game and gave Florida a power-play opportunity that produced a goal, shaping the outcome of the contest. Wilson's history of physical play and penalties puts a spotlight on the league's handling of hits that injure players.
Wilson entered the game with 30 penalty minutes in 14 games and has the most penalty minutes in the NHL since entering the league in 2013, with 1,679 in 921 games. His longest prior suspension was 14 games in 2018, reduced from 20 on appeal, and he has not been suspended since March 2024.
The players
Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson is a Washington Capitals forward known for his physical style and high penalty totals since entering the NHL in 2013.
Sandis Vilmanis
Sandis Vilmanis is a 22-year-old Florida Panthers forward who had three goals and seven points in 15 games entering the contest.
Brady Tkachuk
Brady Tkachuk is a Florida Panthers forward who scored on the power play following Wilson's ejection.
The details
Wilson delivered the boarding hit on Vilmanis in the first period, and Vilmanis left the game afterward. The officials' major penalty was upheld after a review, and Tkachuk scored on the resulting power play for Florida.
Timeline
March 2024: Wilson's most recent suspension.
2013: Wilson entered the NHL.
2018: Wilson received a 14-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Oskar Sundqvist.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Boarding hit and ejection occurred.
Season Trajectory
Wilson's 2018 suspension for an illegal check to the head of Oskar Sundqvist, later reduced from 20 games to 14, remains his longest ban. This ejection marks another episode in a career that has accumulated more penalty minutes than any other NHL player since 2013.
Wilson's absence for the remainder of the game affects Washington's lineup for that contest and any roster or rotation decisions that follow. Fantasy managers tracking Wilson's penalty minutes and Tkachuk's power-play production should note the outcome.
The takeaway
Hits that cause injury and lead to ejections can change a game's outcome within minutes, as this one did with Florida's power-play goal. Following penalty totals and suspension history offers a clearer picture of how the league enforces physical conduct.
Further reading
Explore more Hockey coverage for context on league discipline and player conduct.
