03/06/26 08:47:00
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03/06 20:45 CST Penguins' Evgeni Malkin suspended 5 games by NHL for slashing
Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin
Penguins' Evgeni Malkin suspended 5 games by NHL for slashing Sabres' Rasmus
Dahlin
NEW YORK (AP) --- Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin was suspended for five games for
slashing Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on the head, a punishment that will
cost the Penguins forward nearly $160,000, the NHL announced Friday night.
Malkin was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking, a major penalty for
slashing and a game misconduct 35 seconds into the second period of the
Penguins' 4-1 loss to the Sabres on Thursday night.
Video showed that Malkin and Dahlin made contact at the side of the Buffalo
net. Dahlin cross-checked Malkin, for which he was penalized, and Malkin
responded by raising his stick and striking Dahlin on his helmet and shoulder.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety noted that Malkin was not off-balance and
the contact was not accidental.
The 39-year-old Malkin has been fined five times and suspended twice previously
in his NHL career, one game for high-sticking Philadelphia's Michael Raffl in
February 2019 and four games in April 2022 for cross-checking Nashville's Mark
Borowiecki.
Malkin has 13 goals and 47 points in 46 games this season and 527 goals and
1,393 points in a 20-year NHL career, all in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins are already without captain Sidney Crosby for a minimum of four
weeks because of a lower-body injury as the team, currently in second place in
the Metropolitan Division, battles for playoff position.
Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and, based on his
average annual salary, Malkin will forfeit $158,854.15. That money goes to the
Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
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