Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Dalton Prout has been suspended one game by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for his sucker punch on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.

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The incident took place in the second period of the Blue Jackets' 4-0 loss to the Lightning on Sunday. Prout was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing and was given a game misconduct.

Prout, 26, has scored two goals and five points in 52 games this season.

He avoided a suspension earlier this season after a questionable cross-check in December on then-Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sergei Plotnikov.