TAMPA, FL - APRIL 12: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning steps out to the ice for pregame warm ups against the Columbus Blue Jackets before Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at at Amalie Arena on April 12, 2019 in Tampa, Florida.

Kucherov suspended 1 game for boarding

Sean O'Leary
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Scott Audette / National Hockey League / Getty

Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov has been suspended one game for boarding Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara late in Game 2 on Friday night, the Department of Player Safety announced.

Here's the play, which occurred with less than five minutes remaining in the third period of Friday's 5-1 loss that put the top-seeded Bolts in a stunning 0-2 hole.

With Kucherov unavailable, here's what Tampa's line up looks like at practice Saturday:

After a league-leading 128 points in the regular season, Kucherov has been held pointless through two games versus Columbus.

Since jumping out to a 3-0 lead in Game 1, the Lightning have been out-scored 9-1, and they'll look to cut their series deficit in half without the Russian on Sunday night as the series shifts to Columbus.

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