Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was whistled for a five-minute slashing major and given a game misconduct after striking Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin across the neck with his stick in the second period of their game on Thursday.
After a bit of shoving back and forth in front of the Sabres’ net, Malkin took exception to a Dahlin cross-check and spun around to face the Sabres star before swinging his stick and making contact with the head of Dahlin.
Dahlin immediately braced himself after the hit and the players were separated moments later.
Malkin has a long history of playing on the edge, as the future Hall of Famer has been fined three separate times for on-the-ice incidents in his 20-year career, and has faced two suspensions.
In February of 2019, he was given a one-game suspension for high-sticking against the Philadelphia Flyers, and in April of 2022, Malkin was given a four-game suspension for cross-checking Mark Borowiecki in the face in a game against the Nashville Predators.
A third suspension for this incident would prove costly for the Penguins (31-16-13), who are in the thick of the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference but are already missing captain Sidney Crosby as he continues to recover from a leg injury suffered at the Olympics in February.
Malkin has 13 goals and 47 points in 45 games this season. He ranks second on the Penguins in points behind Crosby (59).
Josh Norris would score on the ensuing power play after Malkin was sent to the box, giving the Sabres a 2-1 lead early in the second period.
