Photo: NBC Sports Boston
Just prior to their game at the Washington Capitals on Sunday night (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally or NHL Network nationally), Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic was suspended two games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for sucker-punching Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kole Sherwood in the Flames’ 3-0 win at Nationwide Arena on Saturday night.
Lucic was suspended one game for a similar action in 2016 when he was a member of the Los Angeles Kings. He sucker-punched then-Arizona Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton. This is his fourth NHL suspension but first since 2016.
This means that the Flames will be without their top enforcer against a Capitals team loaded with heavy hitters such as forward Tom Wilson, forward Garnet Hathaway, and defenseman Radko Gudas on Sunday night.
The 31-year old was acquired by the Flames in a trade that sent forward James Neal to the Edmonton Oilers on July 19. Through only 16 games with his new team, Lucic has not been as productive as the team hoped for as he has posted just three assists and a -3 rating while leading the squad with 30 penalty minutes.
Flames head coach Bill Peters told the media prior to the game that the team will dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen if they were without Lucic.
By Harrison Brown
