Panthers pay the price for Tom Wilson's reckless play

There’s a big difference between an aggressive forecheck, standing up for your teammates, and acting like you’re the ultimate UFC champion, ruthlessly trying to destroy an opponent. And then there’s Tom Wilson, ladies and gentlemen, a 14-year NHL veteran with a questionable reputation and six suspensions on his record.

Yet somehow, after all these years, the Washington Capitals forward still finds himself at the center of another dangerous incident.

This time, on Saturday afternoon in Washington, his target was 22-year-old Florida Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis (#22).

Brutal experience against a rookie

Let’s put a few things into perspective.

Wilson is 32. Vilmanis is 22. That’s a 10-year age…