Lightning's Nazarov Suspended

Right wing Andrei Nazarov of the Tampa Bay Lightning was suspended by the NHL Thursday for seven games and fined $1,000 for cross-checking Colorado defenseman Cam Russell.

Nazarov received a match penalty for the infraction, which occurred in the third period of last Friday's game.

"The action by Nazarov, in which he struck his opponent with a cross check to the face, was deliberate and reckless," NHL senior vice-president Colin Campbell said.

Nazarov served one game of the suspension, missing Saturday's game at Phoenix. He will miss Tampa Bay's next six games.

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