The NHL suspended Tampa Bay Lightning forward Scott Sabourin for four games Monday for roughing Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad in a penalty-marred preseason game.

Sabourin was assessed a match penalty for his actions early in the first period of the game Saturday, which Florida won 7-0. A combined 312 penalty minutes were handed out -- 182 for the Lightning, 140 for the two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers.

On his first shift of the game, Sabourin delivered a legal check to Ekblad as the latter was preparing to collect the puck behind Florida's goal line. But before Ekblad could get back to his feet, Sabourin shoved Ekblad in the face, then removed his gloves and sucker punched him in the face -- directly in the view of a nearby official.

The NHL Department of Player Safety

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