Caps' Wilson to appeal 20-game suspension

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson will appeal the 20-game suspension he received Wednesday for a preseason hit on St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist, head coach Todd Reirden told The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan on Thursday.

Wilson received a match penalty for the hit to the head of Sunqvist in the final preseason game for both teams on Sunday.

The Washington forward has 48 hours from the time of the suspension to give written notice of an appeal to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, according to Khurshudyan.

If Bettman opts not to overturn or reduce the punishment, Wilson could then appeal to a neutral arbitrator. Either way, the Capitals pest would remain suspended throughout the process.

Wednesday's ruling was Wilson's fourth suspension in his past 105 games. The NHL's Department of Player Safety cited that fact in its explanation of the decision.