The NHL suspended Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson three games on Wednesday for an illegal hit on Pittsburgh’s Zach Aston-Reese.

The league announced the suspension less than 24 hours after Wilson broke Aston-Reese’s jaw with a violent collision near the Washington bench in the second period of Washington’s 4-3 Game 3 victory over the Penguins.

Aston-Reese was stickhandling near the Capitals bench when Wilson drilled the rookie with his left shoulder. The force propelled Wilson up into the Washington bench while Aston-Reese lay on the ice for several moments before skating off. He was later diagnosed with a concussion and a broken jaw.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety ruled Wilson made Aston-Reese’s head the initial point of contact during the collision Dak Prescott Jersey Womens , pointing out that Wilson did not have to pivot to his left side to hit Aston-Reese.

The league said Aston-Reese made no sudden movement at the last second that made contact unavoidable. The league pointed out several ways Wilson could have finished the play legally only to instead launch himself at Aston-Reese.

”He extends up and into the hit unnecessarily,” the league said in a video.

While Wilson was not penalized during the game, the league’s Department of Player Safety called for a hearing on Wednesday.

This isn’t the first time this season Wilson has been disciplined by the league. He was forced to sit out two preseason games following a late hit on St. Louis Blues rookie Robert Thomas and was suspended for the first four games of the regular season for boarding Blues forward Sammy Blais shortly after his return.

The league pointed out Wilson’s status as a repeat offender as a factor in the length of the suspension it handed out.

Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

—

A New Orleans-style goodbye for Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson began outside a seminary Wednesday, with fans dressed in black and gold singing and chanting as they entered the chapel where Benson's body will lie in repose for two days of public visitation.

More than three dozen people lined up to file through doors of Notre Dame seminary shortly after the casket bearing Benson's body arrived, accompanied by his widow Gayle, executives of the professional sports franchises he owns, and Archbishop Gregory Aymond Joe Montana 49ers Jersey , among others.

Some chanted a familiar cheer 鈥?"Who 'dat say they gonna beat them Saints" 鈥?as they waited for visitation to begin. Others began singing "When the Saints Go Marching In," as the line began moving inside.

"He just meant so much to the city," a somber but smiling Craig Preston, a New Orleans resident, said as he walked in.

The occasion brought back memories for Andrew Ferdinand, 22, who was 11 years old when a revitalized Saints team 鈥?led by coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees 鈥?beat the Atlanta Falcons in a newly repaired Superdome Michael Gallup Jersey , lifting spirits in the beleaguered city a year after Hurricane Katrina.

"Tom Benson's a big part of New Orleans," said Ferdinand, "After Katrina, he stayed. He put all of this work into New Orleans to make it thrive again."

Kenneth Collns, 54, sported Saints-themed garb as he approached the seminary with other mourners and well-wishers later in the morning. But it wasn't just sports that brought him to pay his respects.

He noted Benson's philanthropy, including financing of a cancer center at a local hospital. "He didn't have to do those things Scott Kazmir Jersey ," said Collins.

Benson's body was to lie in repose at the seminary chapel Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A private funeral Mass is set for noon Friday at St. Louis Cathedral.

The 90-year-old Benson's death was announced last Thursday. He had been hospitalized since Feb. 16 with flu symptoms.

Benson was already a success in the automobile business when he bought the Saints in 1985. Under his ownership, the NFL team achieved its first winning seasons and a Super Bowl championship. He bought the city's NBA franchise in 2012.

His death last week followed a public, acrimonious family split: Benson made it known in January 2015 that he intended for Gayle Benson, his third wife, to inherit complete control of the Saints and Pelicans. Greg Bensel, the senior vice president of communications for both clubs Adidas Jaden Schwartz Jersey , said the NFL and NBA have both approved Benson's succession plan.

Until then, Benson's daughter, Renee, and her two children, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, had been in line to take over the Benson business empire. An attempt by the estranged heirs to have Benson declared mentally incompetent failed in court.


.