TORONTO (AP) – Anaheim Ducks left winger Jarkko Ruutu was suspended for one game by the NHL on Thursday for a late hit on Nashville’s Martin Erat on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference playoff series.

Ruutu was given a minor penalty for interference on the second-period play in the Ducks’ 6-3 victory. Erat went down immediately and lay on the ice for a few minutes before slowly rising with help.

The center went straight to the locker room and didn’t return because of an upper body injury. Ruutu will sit out Game 5 in Anaheim on Friday night.

The series is tied 2-2. Ducks star Bobby Ryan will return from a two-game suspension for stomping on Predators defenseman Jonathon Blum’s foot late in Game 2.

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