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Milan Lucic: Cheap shot by Blue Jackets' Dalton Prout was 'gutless'

BOSTON -- After the Boston Bruins' 2-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night at TD Garden, Boston forward Milan Lucic was asked about an incident that occurred during Friday's game at Columbus.

In the closing seconds of overtime against the Blue Jackets, Lucic had lost his stick and was jawing with Columbus' Dalton Prout. As Lucic approached, Prout quickly dropped his gloves and landed a punch to Lucic's face, dropping him and leaving him with a bloody, swollen mouth. The Bruins eventually won 4-3 in a shootout, but Lucic was not happy with what he and the Bruins consider a cheap shot, because Lucic never dropped his gloves.

"I didn't like it, but the good thing is we get to play them two more times," said Lucic, who added he had no intention of fighting since the game was basically over.

"I let him know that I wasn't going to fight him, so I wasn't prepared and I let my guard down and that's what happens sometimes when you let your guard down," Lucic said. "I've been in over 100 fights and I never took a shot like that, so like I said, we get two more opportunities to play the Blue Jackets and I'll be ready."

Lucic said that he's been on the other side of similar situations, but the key difference is he has held off after an opponent has refused to drop the gloves.

"I find it gutless," Lucic said of Prout's cheap shot.