Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson has been suspended one game after being deemed an aggressor in an altercation with Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without defenseman Erik Gudbranson for one game.

The NHL's player safety department announced Monday that Gudbranson, 31, is suspended after an altercation with Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins in Sunday's match. It previously announced that Gudbranson would have a hearing under the NHL's aggressor rule.

"The aggressor in an altercation shall be the player who continues to throw punches in an attempt to inflict punishment on his opponent who is in a defenseless position or who is an unwilling combatant," states rule 46.2 of the NHL rulebook. 

The incident came after an earlier hit in the third period, with the score at 2-1 for Florida. In the first 24 seconds of the frame, Cousins was penalized for boarding Gudbranson from behind. The penalty was initially called a major, but it was rescinded to a minor penalty after a review. Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent told reporters after the game that Gudbranson was in a vulnerable position facing the boards and that he thought Cousins should've been assessed a major penalty. 

Just over six minutes later, Gudbranson found Cousins during the play, grabbed him from behind, threw him to the ice and punched him at least five times while Cousins was crouched over with his gloves protecting his face. Cousins was slow to get up, and Gudbranson was assessed a fighting major, a 10-minute misconduct and minor penalty for instigating and a game misconduct. The Panthers eventually won the game 5-2 with two empty-net goals.

"Gudbranson acknowledges that he is seeking retribution for hits thrown earlier in the game," said the NHL Department of Player Safety's full video explanation. "While we acknowledge his frustration, players are not excused from grossly violating league rules in retribution or retaliation for hits thrown on them, illegal or otherwise."

Gudbranson has two goals, eight assists and 10 points in 27 games this season. He leads the Blue Jackets in blocked shots, with 66, and hits among their blueliners, with 23. Along with a roughing penalty after Cousins hit him into the boards, Gudbranson's 29 penalty minutes on Sunday bring him up to 42 on the season, tied for 12th in the NHL. This is the second time in his 738-game NHL career that he's been suspended, with the first time coming in 2017 for boarding.

Gudbranson will be eligible to return to action on Dec. 16 against the New Jersey Devils and will forfeit $20,833.33 based on his average annual salary, which goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.