Tampa Bay Lightning: Dalton Prout Suspended 1 Game For Sucker Punching Nikita Kucherov

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout has been suspended for one game for sucker punching Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.

If you have been watching the Tampa Bay Lightning over the course of the last two weeks, you may begin to think Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov has been labeled as the punching bag of the team.

It was one week ago today when Nikita Kucherov would catch a rather questionable elbow from Boston Bruins defenseman, John-Michael Liles. On Sunday afternoon at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Nikita Kucherov would once again be the unwitting target of a questionable hit; or, in this case, a straight on, dirty sucker punch.

After Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Nick Foligno got tied up with Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop, sending Bishop tumbling to the ground, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Andrej Sustr stepped in to stick up for his fallen teammate. By his side was Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, who was seemingly attempting to put an end to the altercation by restraining Foligno.

This is where things escalated to a whole new level. As Kucherov had the whole of his attention focused on Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout would come out of nowhere and sucker punch Nikita Kucherov square in the head, sending his head into a collision with the boards. Needless to say, there was plenty of jawing going on between the two as they made their way to their respective penalty boxes.

Unfortunately, after serving his required time in the sin bin, Nikita Kucherov would not be seen for the remainder of the game. Thankfully, Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper announced this morning that Nikita Kucherov would be good to go tonight as the Lightning travel to the Air Canada Centre to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While this end of the situation may have reached its conclusion, there is still the little matter of supplemental discipline for the offender here, Dalton Prout. At the in-game level, Prout was handed a two-minute minor penalty for Roughing and a 10-minute Misconduct Penalty. As many of you know, this is not the end of the line for Dalton Prout.

Earlier this afternoon, Dalton Prout stood before the NHL Department of Player Safety to answer for his offense. According to the NHL Department of Player Safety, Prout claims he was simply sticking up for his teammate; however, in the eyes of Player Safety, this was not an acceptable means of doing so.

Given the fact Prout has no prior history of supplemental discipline, the NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout for one game. This means Prout will miss Thursday night’s encounter between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

In addition to his suspension, and in conjunction with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, Dalton Prout will be forced to surrender $5,779.57. As usual, this money will benefit the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Next: Nikita Kucherov Set To Return In Toronto

We would be lying to you if we said we weren’t pulling for at least three to five games for the sucker punch, considering Nikita Kucherov sustained no long-term injury and Prout is free and clear of any prior Supplemental Discipline, we can’t swing the ban hammer at him full force.