On Sunday, Los Angeles Kings forward Milan Lucic was suspended by the NHL for one game for delivering a punch to the head of an unsuspecting Kevin Connauton of the Coyotes behind Arizona's net Saturday night.
Los Angeles' Milan Lucic suspended one game for a punch to an unsuspecting opponent, Arizona's Kevin Connauton. https://t.co/vg4AzwYQOo
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 24, 2016
Lucic received a game misconduct and missed the final 13:05 of the Kings' 3-2 loss to the Coyotes after he landed a right hook to the side of Connauton's head after Connauton slashed him on the left hand.
"Thankfully, X-rays came back negative,'' Lucic said after the game. "If I don't react, I don't even think he calls a penalty. Same guy, [referee] Brad Meier. I think that's the fourth time he's kicked me out of a game. It's always the same thing with him.''
Lucic missed Sunday night's 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks and forfeited $32,258.06 for the one-game suspension.
He has 12 goals and 17 assists this season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.