Nikita Kucherov has been handed a one game suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Kucherov was ejected in the dying minutes of game two after he tripped Markus Nutivaara and then delivered a blow to the defenseman’s head as the Tampa Bay Lightning were in the midst of a blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Here’s the hit.
Uhhh, Nikita Kucherov 😬 pic.twitter.com/M4DaHebfJa
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 13, 2019
Without Kucherov in the lineup, here’s how the Lightning practiced.
Lines from #tblightning practice:
Joseph-Stamkos-Gourde
Palat-Point-Johnson
Killorn-Cirelli-Miller
Erne-Paquette-Callahan
Kucherov-MartelMcDonagh-Cernak
Sergachev-Girardi
Coburn-Rutta— Caley Chelios (@CaleyChelios) April 13, 2019
The Blue Jackets and Lightning return to the ice Sunday night at 7:00 for game three in Nationwide Arena. The Jackets lead the series 2-0.