Tampa Bay Lightning
TAMPA — The Red Wings will play Game 7 without veteran D Niklas Kronwall, suspended by the NHL for an illegal hit to the head against Lightning RW Nikita Kucherov.
Kronwall was suspended one game following a hearing Tuesday afternoon.
Late in the second period of Game 6 on Monday, Kronwall launched himself for a crunching hit against Kucherov, who was playing the puck along the side boards. Kronwall was not called for a penalty, despite making contact with Kucherov’s chin.
But the league ruled that Kronwall elevated himself “unacceptably’’ before the hit and led with his forearm and elbow.