TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s Steve Downie and Pittsburgh’s Chris Kunitz each have been suspended one game for hits they delivered during Game 3 of their first-round NHL playoff series.
The league announced Tuesday that Downie was banned for Game 4 for leaving his feet and launching himself at the head of Pittsburgh’s Ben Lovejoy in the first period of the Lightning’s 3-2 loss Monday night. Kunitz elbowed Tampa Bay’s Simon Gagne in the head later in the period.
The suspensions will be served Wednesday night. The Penguins have a 2-1 series lead.
A delayed penalty was going to be assessed on Downie’s hit, however the Penguins wound up scoring on Maxime Talbot’s goal before the Lightning regained possession of the puck.
Kunitz drew a minor penalty for elbowing Gagne about five minutes later.
