PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – NHL rules Evgeni Malkin will miss five games for swinging his stick and connecting with the neck and head area of a Sabres player on Thursday night.
The slashing penalty resulted in a game misconduct penalty and Malkin’s ejection early in the second period in a 1-1 game against Buffalo. Malkin was cross-checked by Rasmus Dahlin and spun and slashed the Sabres oft-dirty defenseman around the head.
NHL Department of Player Safety pointed out that Malkin used both hands and was not off-balance. They ruled it was an intentional stick swing that struck at a dangerous height. It was also pointed out that Malkin has been fined five times and suspended twice, the majority of which have been for stick related fouls.
With Sidney Crosby still out at least another couple of weeks, the Pens will be without Malkin too for back-to-back games at home this weekend (Philadelphia and Boston) and then road games at division-leading Carolina, Las Vegas and Utah.