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 Ja c ke t s 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 OT, 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 go up 2-0 in a series for just the third time in the last five years.

Braden Holtby stopped 25 shots, and T.J. Oshie also scored.

Game 3 is Monday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Predators 2, Stars 1: Craig Smith scored five minutes into OT to lift the Predators into a 1-1 tie in the first-round series.

Smith scored his first this postseason from the inside edge of the left circle to snap the Predators’ three-game playoff skid on home ice.

Rocco Grimaldi also scored for Predators, and Pekka Rinne made 22 saves.