Milan Lucic Suspended For One Game After Punching Kevin Connauton

Los Angeles Kings forward Milan Lucic is known for being a tough player on the ice during games. On Saturday night, Lucic showed his rather vicious side that could have caused serious injury to the opposing player.

During the third period against the Arizona Coyotes, Lucic was in front of the goalie crease going for the puck when Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton was slashing his left arm with his stick. When the play was called dead, Lucic went after Connauton and hit him right in the face with a hard right hook to the face with Connauton going right to the ground.

This resulted in a misconduct against Lucic and an ejection for the rest of the game with 13:05 to play still. “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.” The Kings ended up losing 3-2 against the Coyotes on Saturday night.

The NHL later suspended Lucic from playing with the Kings against the San Jose Sharks, with the Kings winning 3-2. He also had to forfeit $32,258.06 for the one-game suspension out of his salary.

Photo: GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 26: Milan Lucic #17 of the Los Angeles Kings in action during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on December 26, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Kings defeated the Coyotes 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Article by Ryan Kappy