Most of Tom Wilson’s play is above board. His latest controversy is beneath him.

But what happened Monday night wasn’t what “happens time and time again” with Wilson, despite what Quinn said. Wilson is unafraid to fight, to defend his teammates, but that’s not what normally draws ire. Here, it was avoidable. Given the status of his team’s compromised lineup, not to mention Buchnevich’s position below him on the ice, it would have been easy and appropriate for Wilson just to lie there, pressing his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame on him.