Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout has been suspended one game by the NHL after punching Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov on Sunday. Prout hit Kucherov while skating in to try and defend a teammate after a collision.
The league announced the news on Tuesday that Prout will sit, releasing a video from the NHL's Department of Player Safety explaining the suspension. The NHL wrote that Prout hit an "unsuspecting opponent" and will be "suspended for one game, without pay." The play occurred in the second period in the 4-0 loss against the Lightning.
The issue started when Blue Jackets winger Nick Foligno knocked into Lightning goalie Ben Bishop behind the net in the Tampa Bay offensive zone. Bishop fell to the ice and that prompted two Lightning players to get into a scrum with Foligno. Kucherov was one of those players. Prout skated in to help Foligno, punching Kucherov as he joined the scrum on the boards.
Prout was given a two-minute minor penalty for roughing and also was hit with a game misconduct call. Kucherov received a two-minute roughing minor for grabbing Foligno and left the game following the punch. Prout will be out for the Blue Jackets when they play against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. The next game that the defenseman will be able to play in is on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.
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Kucherov was able to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning in their next game despite leaving following the punch. Kucherov was able to take part in the morning skate and had no lingering issues. Prout said that he was trying to defend his teammate after the scrum started following the collision. The league said that "this was not an acceptable method of doing so" and that Prout "will forfeit $5,779.57. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund."
Prout has five points this season in 52 games, including two goals and three assists for Columbus. The Blue Jackets are currently in last place in the Metropolitan Division with a 28-33-8 record with 64 points. The team hosts the Red Wings at home on Thursday before playing a home-and-home with the Devils this weekend. The Blue Jackets will host the Devils on Saturday before visiting New Jersey on Sunday.
