Washington Capitals veteran Tom Wilson was suspended six games for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

The incident occurred during the third period of the Capitals' 7-3 loss Wednesday. Wilson first checked Gregor from behind, then swung his stick with one hand, catching the winger in the face. Officials handed Wilson a double-minor penalty for high-sticking.

"I don't think he's trying to slash a guy in the face," Gregor told reporters, including TSN's Mark Masters, before the ruling Friday. "I really don't think anyone in the league is ever trying to do that. Probably a little reckless with the stick, and unfortunately (he) got me, but it ended up being OK. I'm fine, and the league will handle it from here."

This ban marks the sixth of Wilson's career and the first for high-sticking. He was last suspended in 2021 when he got seven games for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo.

All of his suspensions have come in his last seven campaigns.

Wilson was punished twice during the 2017-18 preseason: He was banned two games for interference against Blues forward Robert Thomas and four contests for boarding St. Louis winger Sammy Blais just over a week later. Wilson was also suspended three games for a headshot during the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

His longest suspension came during the 2018-19 preseason, when he received 20 games for hitting Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist in the head. That ban was reduced to 14 games by an arbitrator, but Wilson had already sat out 16 contests.

The 29-year-old's rap sheet also includes three fines, most recently in 2021 when he was docked $5,000 for roughing then-New York Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich. During that same scrum, Wilson slammed a helmetless Artemi Panarin down onto the ice. The Rangers criticized the Department of Player Safety for not suspending Wilson for his actions, and the organization was fined $250,000 as a result of the statement.

Wilson is the league's active leader in penalty minutes (1,419 - two minutes more than Corey Perry in second place) and misconduct penalties (27).

The Toronto-born winger ranks fourth on the Capitals with 17 goals and fifth with 32 points in 66 outings this season. He represented Washington at this year's All-Star Game, earning his second selection to the festivities.

Wilson is playing out the final season of a six-year, $31-million contract. He extended his stay in Washington last August, inking a seven-year, $45.5-million extension that will expire at the end of the 2030-31 season.

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