Pittsburgh Penguins center and franchise player Evgeni Malkin will miss five games during an important stretch. He was suspended for that amount of games Friday evening by the NHL for what was technically slashing on a play that also involved high-sticking.
There was no immediate indication that Malkin will appeal the ruling. He is expected to begin serving the suspension on Saturday when the New Jersey Devils visit PPG Paints Arena.
In a video posted on NHL.com, it is noted that Malkin, 39, is a repeat offender, having been suspended twice and fined five times in his career, with most concerning stick-related fouls. That includes a fine for slashing earlier this season. The five games is the longest suspension of his career.
The Penguins already are without center/captain Sidney Crosby, who is skating but remains on injured reserve.
Malkin got ejected from Thursday’s 5-1 loss against Buffalo early in the second period. In what seemed to be retaliation, he swung his stick and slammed the Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin up high. Malkin received a minor penalty for cross-checking on the play, a major penalty for slashing, as well as a game misconduct.
Malkin’s hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety Friday evening was by phone, meaning the most severe supplemental discipline he could have received was a five-game suspension — and he got that maximum.
In the video posted on NHL.com describing the incident and suspension, it is noted that, “Dahlin and Malkin engage by the Sabres goal, with Dahlin crosschecking Malkin, for which he was penalized. Then, facing Dahlin, Malkin steadies himself, brings his stick up with both hands and swings it downward onto Dahlin, striking him in the helmet and shoulder. This is slashing. It is important to note that this is not the case of an off-balance player bringing his stick down without control, a result of player whose movements were directly influenced by the opposing player, nor is it a case of a careless player accidentally making contact with an opponent. This is an intentional stick swing that strikes an opponent at a dangerous height and is delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline.”
Malkin will miss games against Philadelphia, Boston and the first three games of a critical road trip, against Carolina, Vegas and Utah. He is eligible to return March 16 at Colorado.
During the suspension, Malkin will forfeit $158,854, which goes to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.
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