TORONTO - The NHL has suspended Anaheim Ducks forward Jarkko Ruutu for one game for his late hit on Nashville Predators forward Martin Erat in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarter-final series.

The incident occurred 4:00 into the second period of Wednesday's game. Erat went down immediately and lay on the ice for a few minutes before slowly rising with help. The centre went straight to the locker room and didn't return because of an upper body injury. He didn't travel with the Predators to Anaheim for Game 5 on Friday night.

The series is tied 2-2.