Lightning star Nikita Kucherov suspended one game
Superstar forward Nikita Kucherov has been suspended for Game 3 of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Kucherov received the one-game ban after boarding Blue Jackets defenceman Markus Nutivaara late in the third period of Friday’s 5-1 Columbus victory.
Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov has been suspended for one game for Boarding Columbus’ Markus Nutivaara. https://t.co/VcQW77cQd1
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 13, 2019
The NHL-best Lightning now face the tall task of climbing out of an 0-2 series deficit without the help of their best player and the league’s likely Hart Trophy winner.
Kucherov finished the regular season with 41 goals and 87 assists for an NHL-high 128 points. He has been held off the scoresheet through two games of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Game 3 of the series is scheduled for Sunday in Columbus.
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