Kucherov draws ban for Game 3

NHL leading scorer Nikita Kucherov has been suspended for Game 3 of the Lightning’s firstround series against the Blue Jackets.

Kucherov was suspended for boarding Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara late in the Lightning’s 5-1 loss in Game 2 on Friday night to trail 2-0 in the series. Kucherov was given a major penalty and ejected for hitting Nutivaara in a defenseless position with 4:26 remaining in the lopsided defeat.

The Presidents’ Trophy winning Lightning will have to try to win Sunday in Columbus without the player who put up a league-best 128 points during the season. They also could be without banged-up Norris Trophy caliber defenseman Victor Hedman, who didn’t practice Saturday.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he hopes Hedman can play.

But Kucherov is out after what the NHL called a “dangerous hit on a player in an exposed position.”

In a video announcing the suspension, the league said Kucherov’s action falls in the category of message-sending because it came in the final minutes of a one-sided game.

Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3: Brooks Orpik scored less than two minutes into overtime, Alex Ovechkin had two assists and the defending Stanley Cup champions moved to a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.

Ovechkin assisted on goals by Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson to help put the Caps up 2-0 in a series for just the third time in the last five years. In perhaps his final NHL postseason, Orpik scored 1:48 into the extra period of the Caps’ first overtime playoff game since they eliminated the Penguins in the second round a year ago.

Braden Holtby stopped 25 shots, and T.J. Oshie also scored. Holtby allowed goals to Lucas Wallmark, Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal, the last on a Hurricanes power play with 5 minutes left in regulation.

Game 3 is Monday night in Raleigh, N.C. It will be the Hurricanes’ first home playoff game since May 26, 2009.