Red Wings’ Niklas Kronwall suspended for Game 7

Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall was suspended by the NHL on Tuesday for Game 7 of the Red Wings’ playoff series against Tampa Bay for charging Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. Kronwall knocked off Kucherov’s helmet with the high hit in the second period Monday in Detroit in the Lightning’s 5-2 victory in Game 6. No penalty was called and Kucherov took seven shifts in the third. “I thought it was a good hit,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said before the suspension was announced. Game 7 is tonight ( 4:30, NBC Sports) at Tampa Bay. The winner travels to Montreal for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday. – AP