The NHL needs goons and big hits that leave guys shaken up on the ice. I do NOT want the NHL attempting to make this game “purer” or anything like that. Fans like big hits. Big hits bring in new fans.

That being said, why is Washington’s Tom Wilson playing Tuesday night after that hit on Pittsburgh’s Brian Dumoulin?

Pretty sure that’s what it looks like when a guy intentionally driving his shoulder into another guy’s face.

Apparently the hit was deemed “unavoidable,” which according to NHL rules, makes that hit acceptable.

You look at the hit from the second angle and it looks like an avoidable hit to me. And again, Wilson clearly makes an extra effort to drill Dumoulin right in the mouth. Either way, someone from the Penguins needs to retaliate.