CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Pittsburgh Penguins middle Evgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin within the head and neck throughout Thursday evening’s sport.
The NHL made the announcement following Malkin’s 6 p.m. assembly with the Department of Player Safety on Friday. It marks the third time in Malkin’s profession the notoriously hot-tempered veteran has been suspended.
He is eligible to return March 16 in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche.
It couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Penguins, who proceed to play with out injured captain Sidney Crosby. The Penguins, at present tied for second place within the Metropolitan Division with the New York Islanders however solely three factors forward of the surging Columbus Blue Jackets, host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
Crosby did return to apply on a non-contact foundation Friday, and it seems attainable he might return to the lineup subsequent week. Because Crosby was technically working towards in a non-contact capability, he wasn’t accessible to satisfy with the media.
Malkin, the 2012 Hart Trophy and 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, is in his twentieth season in Pittsburgh, racking up 527 targets and 1,393 factors. In the ultimate season of his contract, he has produced 13 targets and 47 factors in 46 video games. He didn’t communicate with the media Thursday evening following the Penguins’ 5-1 setback to the Sabres, nor was he accessible to talk following Friday’s elective apply, through which he didn’t take part.
The 39-year-old Malkin lately met with Penguins president of hockey operations/common supervisor Kyle Dubas to debate the potential of returning to Pittsburgh after this season. Dubas additionally lately spoke with Malkin’s agent, J.P. Barry, concerning the identical matter. No contract phrases had been particularly mentioned, nonetheless, and all events agreed to reconvene following this season.