Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Dalton Prout received a one-game suspension without pay on Tuesday from the NHL for his sucker-punch on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov during Sunday's game in Nationwide Arena.
The 26-year-old Prout drew a 10-minute misconduct and roughing penalty. Kucherov was sent to the penalty box with a two-minute minor for roughing after the incident at 7:38 of the second period, which started when Jackets forward Nick Foligno tripped Lightning goalie Ben Bishop.
Kucherov shares the Tampa Bay team lead in points this season with 55. He came back into the game for one shift in the second period and didn't return to the Lightning's 4-0 victory.