Tom Wilson's questionable decision on Wednesday could pay dividends in the Islanders' playoff push.
The New York Islanders, losers of their last five games, owe the Toronto Maple Leafs a thank you after they beat Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals 7-3 on Wednesday night.
A Capitals' win would have allowed them to leapfrog the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card spot, which would have put the Islanders four points back of a playoff spot with no games in hand.
Instead, the Islanders woke up on Thursday morning three points behind the Red Wings, whom they play later tonight.
A win, and the Islanders are a point out of a playoff spot with a game in hand.
Spencer Carbery's Capitals got back in the playoff picture out of nowhere, mainly due to the play of backup goaltender Charlie Lindgren.
Their upcoming five-game schedule, though, is an absolute gauntlet.
They play the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, the Red Wings on Tuesday, and the Maple Leafs on Thursday before the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
They'll need their top players at their best to survive that week.
However, there's a chance that Tom Wilson, who is currently riding a three-game point streak with two goals and two assists and the club's fourth-best point-getter, will time after high-sticking Leafs' forward Noah Gregor:
Wilson regretted his actions and quickly checked to make sure Gregor was okay. Regardless, that's as intentional a high stick as you see, and the NHL's Department of Player Safety certainly views it as "intent to injure."
That's why they've offered him an in-person hearing, which means he could be suspended for six or more games for his actions:
Egregious high sticks usually result in a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowed under the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement.
However, Wilson has been suspended five times in his NHL career, with three fines.
He was suspended 20 games in 2018 for an illegal check to the head of then-St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist.
If Wilson has to miss any time, that could really hurt the Capitals' progress. Given their list of opponents, his physicality and production would surely be missed.
The Islanders need to handle their business and find a way to stop their losing streak, but because they aren't in control of their own destiny right now, they need to rely on other teams.
And Wilson missing time, potentially the remaining 50 percent or more of the NHL season, is huge.