The NHL Department of Player Safety announced today that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has been suspended for one game following his hit on Markus Nutivaara late in game two of the first round playoff series between the Lightning and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Kucherov threw the hit late in the game out of frustration likely over his team’s poor play and having just been called for a penalty. He argued with the officials multiple times during the game and was obviously losing his composure as the game progressed.