Tom Wilson suspended three games for hit on Zach Aston-Reese

The hammer has been dropped.

Washington Capitals’ forward Tom Wilson has been suspended three games for his hit to the head of Penguins’ forward Zach Aston-Reese in Game 3.

Aston-Reese was stickhandling near the Washington bench in the second period before getting blown up by the Washington forward. Wilson was not penalized on the play.

The Penguins’ rookie suffered a broken jaw and a concussion as a result of the collision.

“We lose a guy to a broken jaw that’s going to require surgery and a concussion because of another high hit to the head,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan after Tuesday’s loss. “At some point, we would hope that the league might do something.”

It was the second straight game Wilson made a controversial hit, having escaped supplementary discipline for a check to the head of Penguins’ defenceman Brian Dumoulin in Game 2. The 24-year-old is considered a repeat offender and has previously been suspended twice in his NHL career.

No player in the NHL has been penalized more since Wilson entered the league in 2013, as his controversial playing style has stirred up plenty of debate throughout his young NHL career. The top-line forward is eligible to return for Game 7 of the Capitals’ second-round series against the Penguins.