NHL suspends Lecavalier and Kovalchuk

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay forward Vincent Lecavalier and Atlanta forward Ilya Kovalchuk Friday were suspended one game each by the NHL for separate incidents.

Lecavalier, who has 35 points this season on 14 goals and 21 assists, was suspended after a high-stick on Rangers forward Dominic Moore in the second period of the Lightning's 4-2 loss to New York on Thursday.

Lecavalier was given a minor penalty for the incident.

Meanwhile, Kovalchuk, who has 46 points on 22 goals and 24 assists, was suspended for throwing his stick into stands early in the third period of the Thrashers' 6-5 loss to Washington on Thursday. Lecavalier missed Friday night's game against Buffalo.

Kovalchuk sat out Atlanta's contest at New Jersey.