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Dalton Prout gets baffling one-game suspension for sucker punch (Video)

Occasionally, the contorted logic of this inherently violent game of ours gets to be a little comical. Such is the case with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety video explaining the one-game suspension of Dalton Prout of the Columbus Blue Jackets for injuring Evgen… uh, er, landing a punch on unsuspecting Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.

From the NHL:

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout has been suspended for one game, without pay, for punching an unsuspecting opponent, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, during NHL Game No. 1031 in Columbus on Sunday, March 13, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 7:38 of the second period. Prout was assessed a minor penalty for roughing and game misconduct.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Prout will forfeit $5,779.57. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Now, as the video shows:

* Kucherov was given a roughing minor for grabbing Nick Foligno from behind while Foligno was already engaged with a Lightning player.

* Prout comes in front the point. He sees two Lightning players basically mauling Foligno. Here is what he’s looking at as he skates in:

* So he delivers a punch to the head of Kucherov, whom the NHL said should not be expecting a punch to the head, because he shouldn’t expect a situation in which nearly every player is tied up in the corner after Ben Bishop gets roughed up to “escalate.”

* Kucherov, the NHL notes, isn’t engaged with Prout, because he has Foligno in a headlock while Foligno is engaged with another Lightning player. And he doesn’t see Prout coming, because he has Foligno in a headlock while Foligno is engaged with another Lightning player.

* Prout delivers the punch “without warning” to Kucherov. “I DO SAY MY GOOD MAN, AFTER I GLIDE IN FROM THE BLUEST OF LINES, I INTEND TO STRIKE A BLOW TO THE SIDE OF YOUR FACE. JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU FAIR WARNING ON THIS DEVELOPMENT, KINDEST REGARDS…”

* Prout claims he was defending his teammate, who let’s remember was getting mauled by two Lightning players. The NHL ruled that “this was not an acceptable method of doing so,” and it’s at this point when we all take a step back and realize that a player is being suspended for throwing one gloved punch in a sport where two men can bare-knuckle fight and merely get five-minute penalties because they’re looking at each other while doing so.

* All this said, Dalton Prout has been tap-dancing on a land mine for several months when it comes to player safety – please recall cross-check-a-palooza and  – so maybe this is one of those “sum total” suspensions. Because otherwise, one game for this “sucker punch” is a little flimsy from DoPS. Not really feeling this one.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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