Toronto Maple Leafs' Kyle Clifford suspended one game for illegal hit on Tampa Bay Lightning's Ross Colton

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford has been suspended one game by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for boarding Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ross Colton.

The decision makes Clifford unavailable for Game 2 of the Leafs and Lightning first-round playoff series on Wednesday. This is the first time in his 12-year NHL career that Clifford has been suspended.

The veteran wasn't around long before being ejected from Monday's Game 1, a 5-0 victory by the Leafs. During just his second shift of the first period, Clifford first put a legal hit on the Lightning's Jan Rutta, and then skated over to check the unsuspecting Colton from behind.

That sent Colton to the ice and Clifford out of the game with a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct.

In a video summary of why Clifford was suspended, the Department of Player Safety pointed out that the angle Clifford took on Colton made him «particularly defenseless» and still Clifford «finishes with force.»

«After Colton releases the puck, Clifford approaches from behind and having seen nothing but Colton's numbers for some time, delivers a forceful check to the defenseless Colton, driving him dangerously into the boards,» the video explains. «It is important to note this is not a case where a sudden or unexpected movement by Colton prior to contact changes a legal check into an illegal one. While we have heard an argument that Clifford does make some attempt to deliver this contact legally, this remains a forceful hit to a defenseless player who is no longer in possession of the puck.»

That Clifford was in Toronto's lineup at all for Game 1 had been a heavily scrutinized choice. The Leafs acquired Clifford via trade with St. Louis in November and he appeared in only 23